- Prev
- 1 of 2
- Next
South Staffordshire College is playing a key role in helping save one of the world’s tropical rainforests.
Students from the College’s Rodbaston Campus have been collecting cans for Cans for Corridors, a project designed to help save the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil and for every 50 cans recycled through the scheme, one tree is planted in the Atlantic Rainforest.
Visitors to the College’s Animal Zone, based at Rodbaston Campus, have also contributed to the cause by donating money during their visits.
The money raised over the last three years will pay for 640 trees to be used in the Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (Institute of Ecological Research) tree corridor planting project to rebuild the habitat of the black lion tamarin.
The Atlantic Rainforest is one of the most biologically unique and species-rich on the planet, and the tree planting programme, which is carried out by 500 local families in Brazil will protect the animals and plants of the area for the future.
South Staffordshire College has been working with Dominic Wormell from the Durrell Wildlife Park (formerly Jersey Zoo) and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, a charitable organisation.
Dominic is delighted that the association is working so well, saying “Thanks to efforts of South Staffordshire College 640 indigenous tree samplings can be planted in the Brazilian state of Sau Paulo. The trees will be part of vital forest corridors which will link the last remaining forest fragments of the one of the most threatened habitats on the planet. Only 2% remains of the interior Atlantic rainforest, and in those tiny patches of forest the black lion tamarin clings on to survival. The planting of these trees is vital to the long-term conservation of this endangered primate and many other endemic animals and plants to that region.”
South Staffordshire College has been presented with a certificate to acknowledge its contribution and David Riley, Animal Centre Manager, is keen to continue the good work. “The students are really thrilled to know that their efforts will make a difference and we will continue to support this amazing project with more fund-raising activities later this year.”