Cardiff University’s Sustainable Places Research Institute has joined forces with Cardiff based organisations, Techniquest and printers McLays to support the Size of Wales project in a bid to help save the world’s rainforests.
The Size of Wales project is a unique scheme which aims to help sustain an area of rainforest the size of Wales, and is now a quarter of the way to its target of raising £2 million to help protect 2 million hectares of tropical forest.
As a new supporting member, the Research Institute will help to raise funds which will be spent on a range of actions that will help protect the forests – from buying tree seedlings to funding rangers and supporting local people to lobbying for land ownership and management rights
The world’s rainforests absorb almost a fifth of the planet’s man-made carbon emissions. Size of Wales aims to help protect an area of rainforest equivalent to Wales, and in turn, inspire other countries to do the same.
Supporters and partners of the project are currently linked directly to communities and projects in Africa. Organisers are urging everyone, whether individuals, employers, schools, colleges or community groups and organisations such as scouts and churches to get involved by raising awareness and money.
Rainforest destruction accounts for up to a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions. It’s estimated the whole population of Wales could fly to New York and back twice and make fewer emissions than by a single day’s deforestation.
Professor Susan Baker, from Cardiff University’s Sustainable Places Research Institute said: “It’s an exciting time to become a supporting member of the Size of Wales project, in the face of a changing climate, managing tropical forests sustainably will become increasingly important.
“The Institute is all about place based research around the world, and we are really pleased to be involved with a project that will showcase Wales’ contribution to help protect and promote the importance of forests in relation to climate change.”
Sarah Jenkinson, of Size of Wales, has welcomed the Research Institute’s involvement and bit insisted there is still a long way to go. Sarah said: “Our partners have done some great work to help us reach our quarter milestone and it is really brilliant to see what a positive impact the donations have already made all over the world.
“However, we still have a long way to go. Hopefully this milestone will show people what we are trying to achieve and that by all working together, protecting an area of rainforest the size of Wales really is possible. By acting now, we can support forest communities and help save the world’s climate.”
