Brazil's Atlantic Forest

You can help protect one of the world's most beautiful and diverse rainforest habitats when you join the Plant A Billion Trees Campaign today.

Animal and plant life of every imaginable kind live under the lush, green canopy of Brazil's Atlantic Forest. High in the treetops, golden lion tamarins forage for food while woolly spider monkeys gather fruit and nuts. Blue-winged macaws, red-tailed parrots and countless other birds call out while elusive jaguars prowl the forest floor.

This Brazilian rainforest is home to 23 species of primates and 1,180 species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish. Harboring 1,000 species of birds, almost 200 of which are not found anywhere else on Earth, it is considered the most important place for bird conservation in the Western Hemisphere by the American Bird Conservancy. For millions of local people, the rainforest is critical for their livelihoods and provides clean water and hydro energy. For the rest of us, the Atlantic Forest helps regulate the atmosphere and stabilize global climate.

The Last Stands

Centuries ago, the Atlantic Forest covered nearly 330 million acres, an area roughly the size of the eastern seaboard of the United States. Today only 7 percent remains, much of which is in isolated fragments. Home to 130 million people, the Atlantic Forest has taken heavy hits from urban expansion, coastal and industrial development, agriculture, ranching and illegal logging. Despite the forest’s diminished state, 70 percent of Brazil’s population relies on it for its drinking water.

How The Nature Conservancy Works in the Atlantic Forest

The Nature Conservancy and a team of local, international, public and private partners have launched an ambitious campaign to plant a billion trees by 2015. To accomplish this, we will:

• Reforest degraded lands by planting one billion native trees
• Create forest corridors to protect, connect and buffer forested areas
• Establish and strengthen private and public protected areas
• Promote legal incentives and conservation easements to secure protection of privately owned lands
• Provide technical assistance for private landowners reforesting their lands
• Restore or preserve 30 million acres of rainforest by 2015

How Can You Participate in the Plant a Billion Trees Campaign?

One dollar plants one tree. It's that simple. When you give today to Plant a Billion Trees, you will help the Conservancy protect and restore the Atlantic Forest. You can also call 1-800-84-ADOPT to donate.

With your $50 donation to the Plant a Billion Trees Campaign, you will receive:

• Four issues of Nature Conservancy magazine to keep you informed all year about the many places the Conservancy is working to protect. (Plus, we'll rush the current magazine issue to you!)
• An invitation to create a personalized nature homepage on nature.org
• Great Places E-Newsletter subscription to our monthly e-communication with local conservation updates, enviro-tips you can use and stunning nature photography downloads.

Best of all, you'll get the satisfaction of knowing you're helping to protect this extraordinary wild habitat now and for future generations. Please help plant trees today!

Give Plant a Billion Trees as a Gift

You can also give Plant a Billion Trees as a gift. Your friend or loved one will adore this one-of-a-kind nature gift and enjoy it throughout the year. View all the benefits your gift recipient will receive.