I have helped save millions of rainforests acres, my name is Paul Salaman, AMA!

Between the World Cup and the upcoming Olympics, Brazil has been in the global spotlight lately, what is the Rainforest Trust doing to support the South American rainforest, and how does the global attention help or hurt the efforts?

Rainforest Trust has a number of projects all across South America, including Brazil to protect critical rainforest sites. We're working very close to 3 World Cup cities: Cuiaba, Rio, and Salvador.

Once you've set up a reserve, how difficult is it to enforce its protection? Take, for example, the wildcat gold mines in northern Brazil.

What's the best way to ensure an area gets protected - buy-in from locals? Support from the local government? Education, law enforcement...?

All of the above, really! The most important though is to establish a protected area in the first place, and then to work with the government and local community to ensure that it's protected. In some sites it can be difficult, where there continues to be logging and hunting, but getting the local communities and local governments involved helps a lot.

For example, our REGUA project is just outside of Rio: https://www.rainforesttrust.org/projects/urgent-appeals/atlantic-rainforest-protection-brazil/

Here’s another example of how our approach works. With the World Cup, everyone is focused on Brazil. And when people think of the rainforest in Brazil, they usually think of the Amazon. We do a lot of work in that amazing place. But we also work in Brazil’s other rainforest – the Atlantic Rainforest. It once covered 500,000 square miles from Brazil to Argentina. Now, only 7% is left. One of our project there is an area five times the size of Central Park. But it’s home to 12 primate species, 458 species of trees and 330 species of birds. With strategic purchases, we can expand existing protected areas and keep them from being logged, developed or turned into farms. https://www.rainforesttrust.org/projects/tropical-rainforest/strategic-protection-atlantic-rainforest/

I mentioned the work we are doing in the Pantanal, which is the largest tropical wetland on the planet: 10x the size of the Florida Everglades. It's home to the biggest jaguaars ever recorded. But only 2% of the wetland is federally protected. Some 95% is privately owned and used for cattle ranching. We're working with a local partner to purchase a 24,640-acre ranch located in the heart of the Pantanal.

Our project in the Pantanal is also working to save critical rainforest habitat in Brazil. https://www.rainforesttrust.org/projects/urgent-appeals/saving-pantanal-jaguar-brazil/

What's your favorite animal?

Tough question! I love so many animals it would be hard to say, but I really do enjoy birds - especially the Yellow-eared Parrot in Colombia that I have worked with for over 15 years to save.

How exactly do you save a rainforest? What work is involved in protecting the land?

We mostly focus on the purchase of private lands that are vital for endangered species.

We also assist local partners with the establishment of National Parks and indigenous reserves - again focused on saving the most important areas

How do you think you can get more people into protecting the habitat of the Rainforest and how long do you think it will take?

The more we learn about Rainforests - the more we realize that we had better hurry up and protect it.

The vast majority of rainforest still standing today remains UNPROTECTED and at risk... we have a small window - years, perhaps a decade or two - before it is too late

What are some of your favourite 'success stories'?

Just following on from the Yellow-eared Parrot - the species was about to go extinct - just 81 individuals in a single flock were left. I worked with our partner in Colombia to protect the species... Rainforest Trust helped purchase over 7,000 acres for this species (and many other rare species with it)... today the population rebounded and is thriving... more than 1,000 individuals :-)

How would someone go about beginning to work in your industry? Are there any undergraduate majors you would recommend and do you necessarily need a biology background?

Studies are not as important as a real commitment to make a difference, to work extremely hard and to receive very little pay! Volunteer and get stuck in...

100 years from now, what percentage of current rainforest acres do you think will be left on Earth? Do you feel that conservation efforts and awareness are increasing as deforestation continues to take place?

Sadly, most conservation efforts have moved away from protecting rainforest... rather towards sustainability, which sometimes is actually in conflict with protection. I'm proud that Rainforest Trust has spend 25 years protecting rainforests.

What are the differences?

Sustainability is more how to utilize rainforests... which invariably includes logging, hunting and other activities. Protected Area establishment does not necessarily exclude some uses, but we prefer strict protection of forests and wildlife.

The issue is - Man is the solution and the problem. We need to protect lands with community support, yet the community can also present the greatest risks... So its finding a balance, but ultimately we need to set aside land for nature.

Are there rangers or people whom you hire to help protect various areas?

Yes! Absolutely, every protected area that is established has a team of people on the ground helping protect it and working with the local community. We support our local partners to hire and train local people as forest guardians to protect the nature reserves and parks that we help establish. Great question!

This is a tough one... If Rainforest Trust could - the majority of rainforest will be standing in 100 and 1000 years... but sadly I fear much more will be lost...

Do you have any advice for a first year college student at UCSC to make it into your fieldwork? I am an Environmental Studies and Biology major. Anything helps!

If an expedition is not possible - volunteer with conservation groups... we at Rainforest Trust are always looking for students or anyone with a passion to save rainforests and interested to work with a great team - we need the help!!

I started getting into rainforest conservation when I was a first year undergraduate, too! I led an expedition to Southwest Colombia to study the biodiversity in an area that needed protection. We raised funding from different small foundations and that got me on the path that I am presently.

I remember reading that NGOs used to buy up a lot of foreign government debt from banks for pennies on the dollar and offer to retire it in return for conservation concessions. Is that still a useful strategy (was it ever)?

Unfortunately, it is no longer a useful strategy. This was called 'Debt For Nature Swap' strategy but governments are no longer doing it. It was useful then, but it no longer exists. I was involved in one in Colombia in 2005.

Rainforest Trust, which used to be World Land Trust-US, and spun off from the excellent World Land Trust-UK, is a small, grassroots organization. How do you manage to do such amazing work with so little?

We do struggle, primarily as we want as much $$$ to get down to protecting rainforests and keeping to our mission... but this means we are short staffed, stretched and work long hours... but we love what we do and do it with a passion... That's what drives us forward :-)

If you could pass any (realistic) UN based 'Rainforest Rights' legislation all countries had to (at least pretend...) to keep, what would it be?

That would be fantastic, the problem is that most countries in the tropics don't adhere to UN legislation.

...but, if they did or you could?

It would be something that ensures all standing rainforests be protected and that if there was some use of rainforests, that it MUST be compensated in other areas. Rainforests are clearly the most important biome on Earth and support our planet in many ways, so there should be a treaty to prevent further logging and deforestation.

Do you find people are becoming more educated about the rainforest?

YES - I think you could walk up to just about anyone in the street and they will have heard of rainforests and many will know that they are the lungs of the planet...

[AMA request] Rainforest Trust is a small, intense, grassroots organization, working on a shoestring of funds compared to the deep-pocketed and enormous environmental organizations. How are you able to do so much amazing work with such a limited budget, of which almost 90% goes directly to the incredible habitat- and species-saving projects you sustain and are constantly expanding?

The big organizations do a great job, but the truth is that like large companies things start to become less efficient. We are a tiny organization - just 5% of our budget goes to admin, communications and fundraising costs... so 95% gets on the ground. Thankfully my Board supports those running costs so donations all go to rainforest protection.

One of our goals is to maximize efficiency to ensure all donations go directly on the ground to support our projects and the protection of rainforest acres. We do this by employing a small staff of experts who are knowledgeable and passionate about conservation. Also, we are strategically located just outside of Washington, DC, to ensure lower expenses and to minimize overhead so that donations can go directly to conservation.

I mentioned our shoestring budget. Historically, over the past 25 years, most of our funds have come from a relatively small group of dedicated donors who like the fact that so much of their contributions go directly to save endangered habitats. But we also want to reach out to a larger group of people. Our conservation model shows that even relatively small amounts of funds can make a real difference saving rainforest land and wildlife. That's why I'm so pleased to engaging with the Reddit community today.

[AMA Request] What impact do you observe on the world's rainforests of human-caused climate change / global warming?

Deforestation accelerates the impacts of climate change, which is long term. In the short term, deforestation causes the extinction of several endangered species every day (potentially 100s).

[AMA Request] ... climate change which is inexorably underway and our species shows no signs of getting off all fossil fuels?

New data suggests that potentially as much as 50% of all carbon emissions on earth actually occur from deforestation. Believe it or not, just stopping deforestation will greatly help the planet. Of course, it won't stop carbon emissions entirely - we still have to reduce emissions. But if we stop deforestation today, there would be an instant drop in carbon emissions and give us more time to reduce emissions from other sources (ie. energy, transportation sectors, etc.)

Does most of your work take place in South America? Are you going to start working in new places?

Yes, so far much of our work over the past 25 years has taken place in South America. Recently, we expanded to Africa and Asia to meet pressing needs in those regions. We recently announced a new project in Indonesia on the island of Sangihe, to establish its first protected area and protect its 9 endemic bird species, 8 of which are endangered - https://www.rainforesttrust.org/projects/urgent-appeals/save-sangihes-endangered-wildlife/

How do you choose new project sites to work in?

Good question! The key to a successful project is the local organization that's going to implement it. A good track record of working with local communities and the government and experience and committed conservationists is essential. Those ingredients and a track record of helping working toward protecting areas are key factors we consider. The next most important is that the area an organization would like to work in is strategically important for conservation (in other words, there are a lot of rainforests out there but with limited resources, we can't protect everything, so we have to prioritize). We focus on saving the most endangered species where we can. The presence of species on the edge of extinction that we can protect and save is very important.

Why haven't you changed your surname to Salamanca yet?

I got chased by someone with a gun in the Isla of Salamanca in Colombia, while bird watching, so I'd rather not change it to that...

But that was 1994 - things are much safer now in Colombia. We do actually have a Rainforest Trust project nearby at "El Dorado" nature reserve in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta that is absolutely fabulous for wildlife and one of the last refuges for many endemic species... the area was once notoriously dangerous and thanks [in a small part to our work] is starting to become touristy!!

https://www.rainforesttrust.org/projects/tropical-rainforest/saving-worlds-irreplaceable-biodiversity-colombia/

Is Cuiabá really warm as people say?

Yes, Cuiabá is VERY hot! I don't envy any of the teams playing there in the World Cup. In three days, my home country of Australia is playing in Cuiabá against Chile in the World Cup - we'll see how hot it is!

You have been doing this for a long time, do you ever get burnt out depressed by the continuing deforestation?

There's many challenges in trying to save rainforests, but having a lot of passion and drive to protect areas and stop deforestation keeps me going no matter what difficulties I face.

What is Rainforest Trust doing to protect the Amazon?

We're doing lots to help the Amazon. We focus on the Peruvian Amazon that is the largest area remaining that is heavily UNDER protected and at greatest risk. We are working to save a further 6 million acres over the next couple of years in the heart of the Amazon - at Sierra del Divisor... see more at: https://www.rainforesttrust.org/projects/urgent-appeals/peru/

[AMA Request] Given this new data, "that potentially as much as 50% of all carbon emissions on earth actually occur from deforestation. ..." can you comment on your recent work and urgent projects in Borneo and Indonesia (and ?Malaysia?) where palm oil plantations are destroying the rainforest--the fires can be seen from space -- and the orangutans, forest pygmy elephants, and all the other life forms in these devastated habitats are being driven extinct? I know Rainforest Trust is now working there--can you please tell us something about this?

Our work in Borneo has sought to create wildlife corridors to connect isolated populations of pygmy elephants and orangutans to make sure these species can survive despite the great threats that surround them, especially from African oil palm plantations. You can read more about our work in the area here: https://www.rainforesttrust.org/projects/complete-projects/borneo/

What made you decide that you'd dedicate yourself into saving forests?

I just loved nature... since I can remember (5-6 years old) I was curious about wildlife... and gradually my love grew for nature and an instinct to protect it was born. I spent my free time as a kid watching nature... then helping it - clearing non-native invasive plants or digging ponds in nature reserves, etc.

[AMA Request] Could you use more volunteers and interns both in your near-DC headquarters and in the field? We're almost out of time--My deep thanks to you and everyone at Rainforest Trust for all you have done and are doing! May you never give up and may you go from strength to strength! With hope for life on Earth and the Earth who sustains us all...

Thank you very much for your kind words! We are in fact looking for volunteers and interns at our office in Warrenton, VA, about an hour outside of Washington, D.C. If anyone out there is passionate and committed about what we do, and wants to help, let us know! https://www.rainforesttrust.org/contact-rainforest-trust/

Love the Rainforest Trust mission. My understanding is that you buy land in coordination with local partners to prevent development. How do you deal with certain risks with that strategy, namely: - despite legal land ownership, a government might use "eminent domain" to claim land for development that is supposed to be protected - a local partner may change their mind in the future and sell the land - despite being owned for conservation, illegal hunting or timber harvesting occurs?

Land rights are well respected across almost all the countries we work in. However, all the land purchased we support is then registered with the government as "National Nature Reserves" that give them much more protection and recognition.

We have protected almost 8 MILLION acres at over 70 sites across the tropics in 21 countries... and we have yet to have a single problem!!!

But note - this is because we work with local NGOs and communities to ensure our reserves and parks are well protected.

[AMA Request] I've followed (and done my best to support your work for years), and the birds who you say have stirred your heart I've always loved--birds and trees--who with the earth they restore are the habitats of us all--the singers of the forest who teach us if we listen about every organism and whose singing joins us in the breath of life, of which the rainforests as you have said are the lungs... But how can those life forms be saved from our species greed and "development" and as you noted, the emphasis on "sustainability" instead of wilderness preservation? Can you say anything more on what feels sometimes like Sisyphus rolling the rock up the hill every day?

I sometimes think about the forest acres that have been lost every minute, and it breaks my heart. But, I'm an optimistic person and I feel that we can all make a contribution on this earth for the better, and each one of us can really make a difference - and we here at Rainforest Trust are trying our hardest! I appreciate the kind words and your support!

What "shape" is Mother Earth in? Where are we headed as a "species"? What will our environment look like in the next while? ...does humankind have a good chance at survival for the next few decades or are we doomed?

I believe we are at a CRITICAL point for the Planet and also for the survival and well-being of mankind. We can not undo what has been done, but what we do today and tomorrow will have a profound affect on ALL life on earth, so I believe we still have a chance to save ourselves and the planet.

Working to protect rainforests would be my ideal job, have been passionate and fascinated by them since I was a child. I will graduate uni with a 2:2 this September, and have studied burnt vs unburnt areas of tropical forest in Belize. I don't plan on doing any further education, so what you would suggest as a first step towards rainforest conservation? Also, what would help me stand out on my cv and in interviews as I'm looking for conservation/environmental jobs?

You have already taken the first important steps towards rainforest conservation going to Belize, but the next is vital - I recommend you intern or volunteer in international conservation organizations. I suggest you study the various NGO's and identify the group closest to your interest, then email a targeted email to a person in the group that you think could help. Some NGOs have established programs, others may not, but they welcome help from individuals that are passionate and committed to the cause. Doing your homework on an NGO will always impress staff!!

Currently partaking in an environmental based degree and my last hand in is today. Any tips or favorite areas of volunteering in the UK?

Tip and tricks for my future are welcome! Very interested in conservation work but am finding it hard to put my foot in.

Volunteer with the RSPB - they have a great set of reserves and doing a fantastic job in the UK https://www.rspb.org.uk/volunteering/

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My very first nature reserve! When I was 19 years old I raised the funds needed to buy a property and establish a community nature reserve... I was rather naïve and made some mistakes, but pleased that today over 15,000 acres has been protected around that original property with Rainforest Trust and other support.