Endangered Forests
These forests should be protected from industrial-scale resource extraction so that they may continue to provide the many goods and services they supply in their natural state and to maintain biological diversity in forest ecosystems.
There are four categories of endangered forests:
- Intact forest landscape mosaics
- Naturally rare forest types
- Forest types that have been made rare due to human activity
- Other forests that are ecologically critical for the protection of biological diversity
Endangered Forests are the most valuable forests on the globe, forests that would be irreparably harmed by industrial resource extraction. These forests comprise a large proportion of the world's remaining old-growth, primary and ancient forests in tropical, temperate and boreal zones. At Ahimsa International we feel that it is our duty to protect our most precious natural recourses and to educate our children in conservation methods in which to apply them.
Ancient Coastal Redwood and Habitat Preservation Plan
Ahimsa International is seeking the acquisition of ancient redwood forest properties in Northern California for the purposes of preservation, restoration, and conservation.
Of high priority is old growth forest habitats and the watersheds in this region, hosting pristine cool water and keystone forests, all necessary for the continued existence of endangered trout, salmon, and steelhead.
The redwood forests alone are home for more than 23 endangered and threatened species of plants and animals and a host of other species of concern. This depleted ancient forest harbors a genetic stock of some of the worlds most astounding trees, plants, and animals. We feel that it is important for immediate conservation efforts to strengthen in this region due to the immense diversity and ecosystem that this rainforest has to offer for a variety of endangered and threatened species. See list of endangered species by state.
Endangered and Threatened Species
Currently, there are 1, 244 species listed as threatened or endangered and 213 species are candidates are proposed for listing, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Federal Register. According to the National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition, 321 species are listed in California as threatened and endangered. Hawaii, has the highest number of endangered and California has the second.
This is often occurring due to habitat loss, pollution, and deforestation, thus the important need for conservation in these areas. While predators such as falcons and owls kill some murrelets and others die after becoming entangled in fishing nets or blundering into oil spills, the murrelets’ single greatest threat is the logging of old-growth forests where they nest. The northern spotted owl, the bald eagle, numerous fish amphibians, mammals and plants are at great risk.
Ahimsa Objectives:
- Effective Restoration of Indigenous Ecosystems:
Efforts will be planned to regenerate wild populations of local indigenous, threatened, and endangered species and to re-colonize degraded areas of important watersheds. With conservation management, spawning and nursery habitats along important watersheds, we hope to support larger populations of endangered species of salmon, trout, and steelhead.
- Research and Development:
¤ To study the Salmoninae mating patterns.
¤ To identify the spawning and behavior differences among the species and the conditions that lead to successful spawning events.
¤ To Manage an ongoing plant and animal research team.
Ahimsa will seek to broaden relations with local conservation efforts and will seek to extensively collaborate with the community and local universities in research studies.
- To Establish and Maintain a plant nursery and seed bank:
- To Establish and Maintain a Hatchery/Spawning Nursery for Fish and Amphibians:
Ahimsa is currently seeking properties, specifically those which play an important role in the preservation of these natural habitats needed to sustain endangered species. Ahimsa International will protect the ancient redwood forests through stewardship and management priority programs along with grant and community efforts.
Ahimsa ultimately seeks to strengthen coalition and conservation efforts to protect California’s pristine habitats for generations to come.
Please contact Ahimsa International for more information on how you can help save the Redwood Forests.
Bolivian Rainforest Conservation Plan
Did you know that $40 can save an entire sector of Bolivia's rainforest, along with a host of hundreds of thousands of diverse species of animals, flora, and fauna?
Well, it's true.
- Ahimsa is initiating rainforest conservation efforts in Bolivia's rich and diverse rainforest which is rapidly disappearing.
- Ahimsa is seeking the funds to purchase a large portion of rainforest which is still in pristine condition but is threatened daily.
- Ahimsa is working to generate viable alternatives of sustainable development while conserving the rich biodiversity and natural resources.
The Rainforest Conservation Plan will include the medicinal study of plants in the rainforest along with conservation and revitalization efforts. See Property Proyecto Integrado del Chaco for more information.
Bolivia is the fifth largest country in South America and one of the poorest and least developed. Progress has been made in recent years towards the development of a market-oriented economy. Current goals include attracting foreign investment, curtailing the cocaine trade, and strengthening the educational system. Unfortunately land clearing for agriculture and tropical hardwood logging are contributing to deforestation, and soil erosion from overgrazing and slash-and-burn agriculture is depleting land productivity.
Threatened and Endangered Animal Species:
Due to tremendous habitat diversity, Bolivia supports more than 40% of the total number of bird species found in South America. Relatively sparsely populated, Bolivia still has sizable populations of spectacled bear, jaguar, vicuña, llama, alpaca, anteater, tapir, rhea and condor.The Andean Community is home to almost 25 % of the world's total biodiversity.
Most of the nations are also among the 17 most biodiversity rich, or "Megadiverse" countries, on the planet. Home to many endemic and threatened species, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) 2000 Red List, records a total of 266 threatened terrestrial vertebrates in the region, including 34 that are listed as "Critically Endangered" and 86 as "Endangered."
54 threatened or endangered animal species.
70 threatened or endangered plant species.
1,374 species of birds call Bolivia home. Twenty-eight species of Bolivian birds are endangered.
The short tailed chinchilla is almost extinct. Extensive trapping led to the extermination of chinchillas in the early 1900s for their fur. Because of this, there were many attempts to breed chinchillas in cages in both South America and Europe, but without any real success. Today the short tailed chilinchilla is listed as "Critically Endangered." See Bolivia's Endangered Species List.
Forest People Threatened:
The indigenous people who live in these areas are primarily of tribal origins, now Spanish-speaking and Spanish-educated, these gentle and friendly people long ago gave up the lifestyles of their forest ancestors in favor of village life.
The people of these villages exist primarily on primitive forest agriculture and the gifts of the rainforest. They are very much aware of the fragility of their home environment and the need to protect it from exploitation as they try to
make the transition and adjustment to encroaching "civilization." Isolated though they are, their unique forests are still threatened by logging, petroleum and hydroelectric dam interests among other resources. This threatens not only plant and animal
species, but the livelihood and cultures of forest peoples of Bolivia.
Ahimsa International with the counsel and guidance of a dedicated team of biologists, botanists, environmental scientists, technicians and others from a variety of backgrounds are committed to providing much needed income, forest conservation, protection and rehabilitation methods in this area.
Other Ways You Can Take Action
- Donate property to Ahimsa International and turn that unused land into n plant nursery, conservation, research and study center for endangered species.
- Adopt an acre online.
- Make a donation to to the GEF Environmental Forum Fund.
- Write a letter to your congress person and state your request
for need to protect our natural resources.
- Donate your land with assurance via Conservation
Easment Plan.
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King Ashoka (230 BC) emperor of India and other regions of the middle east, organized traveling expeditions to monitor habitat and species biodiversity of the land, plant, the animals and maintained elaborate records of the these observations via a stewardship council. King Ashoka established medical treatment, farming techniques, established preservation efforts , and hunting restrictions in a very barbaric time where numerous animal sacrifices were common place. He actively participated in methods of higher education in his kingdom and brought their attention away from, slavery and violence and focused their attention on preservation and education.
