C: Is for Charities Saving the Planet!

Last night I had the privilege to attend the 17th annual benefit for The African Rainforest Conservancy's Artist For Africa at The Bowery Hotel. Matt Dillon, Amy Sacco, Rachel Weisz, Henry Buel, T-Salon owner Miriam Novalle and over 200 people gathered together to support protecting the world's climate and conserving our shared planet’s resources. ARC works to conserve and restore Africa's rain forest's through training, community development, education and research while empowering local men, women, and children, preserving the natural heritage for all present and future generations. Since 1990, ARC has been saving endangered species while helping the forests to come back. Carter Coleman is the passion behind this effort. Having lived in Tanzania from 1987 through 1991, where he re-launched the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group. A journalist who has written for several well know magazines, Carter is the author of two novels. Currently he is the managing director of InfEnergy Limited, a sustainable bio-fuels company. Every year ARC honors someone who makes a difference with a New Species Award. This year, previous recipient James Gandolfini awarded Gloria Flora seen in "The Eleventh Hour. The award was a photo of a new species named after her called "Nectophrynoides Florae" which is a toad. I had the great fortune to meet Gloria's childhood friends prior to the event and sat with this amazing women of substance that I am now proud to call my friend. In 2000 she called attention to antigovernment zealots engaged in the harassment and intimidation of Forest Service employees. Chris Wood, calls Gloria an American hero for her courageous stewardship of public lands. Receiving the Murie Award from the Wilderness Society, another award from the Natural Resources Council of America, and the Environmental Hero Award from Sunset Magazine. In 2004, she was selected as one of the nation's top environmentalists by Vanity Fair Magazine. Today Flora is the Director of Sustainable Obtainable Solutions, a nonprofit dedicated to the sustainability of public lands and of the plants, animals and communities that depend on them. She speaks on ecosystem stewardship, forest and public land sustainability, people's relationships to landscapes cultural, historical, social, and psychological, and on the critical role of leadership that strives to make a difference. Previous recipients include: George Plimpton, Peter Seligmann, Harrison Ford, Lewis H. Lapham and Professor Michael Oppenheimer. After this event ARC will be able to help over 130 communities in 4 mountain ranges.
Thousands of families will increase their income through small eco-friendly businesses–from fish ponds to bakeries to
maize milling machines.
The most innovative is butterfly farming. Every dollar donated saves 50 old growth trees for a year. $250,000 more yearly could end the devastation of the Rubeho, Nguru and Pare Mountains, three ranges where there is no conservation, where the forests and people need your help. This was a life changing event and I recommend getting involved. Deforestation contributes over 25% of global warming gases to the atmosphere. The forests they protect contain the highest number of endangered species anywhere on earth, and breathe in a 100,000’s of tones of carbon each year. Only 30% of the original forest remain...if they disappear, they're gone for good. Since 1990, 7 million trees have been planted by the villages ARC supports and the forests are coming back. Invest now in the future of the world's natural resources. EVERY $100 PLANTS 200 TREES and this is a F.A.C.T.