Procosara
will use the first half of your donation to expand and continue their
brave conservation work inside the San Rafael Reserve. Projects include
reporting fires and logging, environmental education, reforestation,
and management of forest guard stations.
Guyra Paraguay will use the other half of your donation to purchase forested land in San Rafael, to be protected forever by Guyra and members of the Paraguayan Conservation Alliance. Private landowners originally invested in the land for logging and farming purposes before the government labelled it "San Rafael Reserve." After designating it a natural area protected by law, the Paraguayan government prohibited the owners of the land from logging or farming on their own land. Since 1992 the government still has not compensated landowners, and landowners are reasonably upset with the government. This land trust project is a form of compensation for landowners, justice being practiced by private donors worldwide, supporters of Ride for the Trees, because a government took the first step toward saving the last bit of its country's Atlantic Forest but failed to take the necessary economic steps for its people. For years, Guyra and World Land Trust-US have been purchasing damaged and threatened land from land-owners who want to sell it. In plain English, here's how the process allows for better protection of the forest:
Let's say somebody reports illegal logging inside the forest on Mr. Jones' land. After living there, I know the local police do not care or were likely involved in the first place.
So, the environmental non-profits go to work. First, members of the Conservation Alliance must request permission from Mr. Jones to enter his land. If and when permission is denied, the non-profits go to the local police with aerial photos of the destruction. The police then pretend to care, but they will not hesitate to accept bribes from the deforesters, allowing deforestation to continue on Mr. Jones' land.
Permission is not necessary and the bribe process is hindered if the land is owned by Guyra and the Conservation Alliance.
(Note: If the Paraguayan Government ever turns San Rafael into a national park it means the Government will have to purchase the land, including the Conservation Alliance's land, in which case Guyra will use your donation for equally important reforestation projects in Paraguay.)