World Rainforest Day 2023

In a world threatened by climate change and rapid deforestation, protecting our rainforests has become an urgent global imperative. These lush and diverse ecosystems are not just natural wonders; they are the guardians of our planet’s health and biodiversity.

In 2022, FNPW purchased a parcel of land to extend the UNESCO World Heritage-protected Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. The Gondwana Rainforests date back to a period 500 million years ago, before Australia was formed. These rainforests connect us to the foundations of our country and its unique biodiversity.

Protecting 189 hectares of vitally important biodiversity is a crucial step in preserving our natural heritage. This act of conservation helps protects more than 200 threatened species, ensuring they can continue to thrive for generations to come. It is our duty to preserve rainforests for a number of reasons.

Rainforests are biodiversity hotspots

Rainforests are teeming with life, housing an incredible array of plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth. They are veritable treasure troves of biodiversity, making up only 2% of the Earth’s surface but harbouring more than 50% of all known species. Losing rainforests would mean the extinction of countless unique plants and animals, disrupting the delicate balance of nature and depriving us of potential life-saving discoveries.

Rainforests stabilise the climate

Rainforests act as natural climate stabilisers, playing a crucial role in regulating global temperatures. Through a process called photosynthesis, they absorb carbon dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gases responsible for climate change, and release oxygen. By protecting rainforests, we can help mitigate climate change and curb its devastating impacts, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and loss of agricultural productivity.

Rainforests guard the water cycle

Rainforests are like giant sponges, capturing rainfall and releasing it slowly over time, ensuring a steady supply of freshwater for rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers. They help regulate local and regional rainfall patterns, preventing droughts and floods. By preserving rainforests, we safeguard the primary source of water for millions of people, maintaining the delicate balance of ecosystems and supporting human livelihoods.

Rainforests support First Nations cultures and traditional knowledge

Rainforests are not just biodiversity hotspots; they are also home to numerous Indigenous communities with rich cultural heritage and invaluable traditional knowledge. These communities have lived in harmony with the rainforest for millennia, understanding its intricacies and relying on its resources sustainably. By protecting rainforests, we respect and honour the rights of Indigenous peoples, allowing them to preserve their ways of life and share their wisdom with the world.

Help us protect rainforests

Protecting rainforests is a crucial step toward securing a sustainable future. By preserving these magnificent ecosystems, we can stand as guardians of our green lungs for future generations.

This winter, FNPW is raising funds to grow national parks like the Gondwana Rainforests. Habitat loss and change of land use have created an extinction crisis for our native species. Please help us purchase and protect the places extinction cannot reach by making a tax deductible donation before 30 June 2023.