Most people know that Marines have
their own way of doing things. Hey, they aren’t called “the
Few, the Proud” for nothing. Marines are expected to
accomplish more with less support, less equipment, less information,
less manpower.
We have a term in the Marine Corps to describe plans, equipment,
and the mentality that allow us to live up to that reputation. It’s
called “high speed, low drag”. If something is
high speed, low drag, it provides the agility and functionality to
accomplish the mission without being weighted down by the unnecessary.
A high speed, low drag tent packs light and sets up fast, but you’ll
have to leave the pillows and inflatable mattress at home.
So what does high speed, low drag have to do with saving forests?
Consider that the most recent estimates of tropical deforestation
are about 30 million acres per year. That’s a lot of ground
to cover, even by Marine standards.
And when the forests fall, they’re taking with them
species of insects, birds, and mammals that no one has ever seen. Plants
that might hold the secret to the next big breakthrough in medicine
disappear before they are even discovered. By some estimates,
almost a quarter of
modern pharmaceuticals come from compounds derived from rainforests. But
that’s not all we lose. Tropical deforestation also destroys
the sustainable livelihoods of forest communities and leaves higher
greenhouse gas emissions, shifting weather patterns, depleted soils,
and spoiled watersheds.
It’s not that no one’s trying to address these problems.
It’s just that the situation isn’t improving fast enough.
Despite decades of conservation work, deforestation rates are almost
unchanged. Maybe it’s time to bring in the Marines?
Well, like Marines already know, a high speed, low drag plan is
the key to a successful mission. And that’s where we
come in.
Tropical Forest Group has a plan. We’re going to take advantage
of new developments in UN climate change policy [link to cc/tf article]
to prove that tropical forests are worth a lot more standing up and
protecting our climate and biodiversity than as a part of your desk,
or your dinner. We’re going to remind our national leaders
of the promises they made to protect tropical forests around the
world for the many benefits that they provide to us at home. And
we’re going to hold them accountable. High speed.
We’re not going to reinvent the wheel. TFG will directly
support forest conservation projects already operating on the ground—those that are successfully
protecting biodiversity, providing sustainable livelihoods for forest
communities, and fighting global warming. Low drag.
These activities are all a part of our strategic plan. But
when it comes down to it, Tropical Forest Group believes that the
answer to the world’s most serious ecological problem is you. Or
rather, us. We all do things every day that contribute to the
economic pressures to cut down tropical forests. We can change
some of these activities, but we all still cause greenhouse gas emissions.
We can reduce the impact of these by offsetting carbon dioxide emissions
through support of projects like Scolel
Te. At
Tropical Forest Group we focus on providing you with cool ways to
have a positive impact. We’re packing up the tent and leaving
the pillow behind. So please join us, by donating
to TFG , telling friends about TFG, emailing
the President , or calling the folks who provide you with soy for
your lattes . Do something right now that will help the most threatened
and important biome on Planet Earth.
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