State of the Rainforest 2014

The tropical rainforest is a thermometer of the state of the planet. More than half of the terrestrial plant and animal species live there. It is “the main biological library of the earth.” Most of the information in this library is not even known to science. The forests also contain and store enormous amounts of carbon. The yearly destruction of the tropical forests results in emissions of more CO 2 than all cars in the world. The library burns. This is why the state of the rainforest concerns the whole world. Norwegians and people in other non- tropical countries may choose to live as if this did not concern them – but only for a while. As expressed by King Harald of Norway “If the rainforests disappear, they will not come back. Then the world will be an altered place to live.” For the peoples who have lived in and of the rainforests for hundreds or thousands of years the destruction of the rainforest is already a matter of life or death. This publication is dedicated to them. Rainforest Foundation Norway supports indigenous peoples and traditional populations of the world’s rainforests in their efforts to protect their environment and secure their customary land rights. RFN was established in 1989, and today we work with local environmental, indigenous and human rights organisations in 11 rainforest countries in the Amazon region, Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. RFN is an independent foundation, and part of the international Rainforest Foundation network, with sister organisations in the United Kingdom and the USA. GRID-Arendal aims to create environmental knowledge enabling positive change. This is achieved by organizing and transforming available environmental data into credible, science-based information products, delivered through innovative communication tools and capacity-building services targeting relevant stakeholders. GRID-Arendal also collaborates with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), supporting informed decision making and awareness-raising through: Environmental information management and assessment; Capacity building services; and Outreach and communication tools, methodologies and products.

For enquiries, contact: Rainforest Foundation Norway Mariboes gate 8, 0183 Oslo Tel. (+47) 23 10 95 00 rainforest@rainforest.no www.rainforest.no