We have an audacious goal: 
STOP the Amazon Rainforest from further destruction.
That is the simplest way to protect jaguars and countless other rainforest dwellers from extinction. 
(It will help humans prevent their own extinction too.)

Protecting the Amazon Rainforest

Every living being on earth needs forests to survive. The forests provide oxygen to breathe and fresh water to drink. Forests regulate the climate of the oceans and of the land and bring rainfall and winds. Without forests there is drought, and the temperature in the ocean and on land rises. Many species of plants, aquatics and animals are becoming extinct as the forests continue to shrink. 

By protecting the forests we have, and reforesting the land where forests once stood, we can begin to restore the balance necessary for a healthy planet. 

Twenty percent (20%) of the Amazon Rainforest has already been destroyed, with more being destroyed every day. 

If we shift to a sustainable economy, individually and collectively, we can alter this destructive course before it’s too late. 
How? 

• What we buy. 
• What we eat. 
• What we wear.
• What we plant.

What Hurts the Amazon

• ​Cutting down hard woods (big, old trees) that become furniture & flooring  
• Cutting down soft woods (trees) that become paper
• Cattle ranching to produce beef that is sold as fast-food hamburgers, steaks and processed meat
• Farming genetically-engineered soy and corn (GE or GMO) that is sold as livestock feed for the meat industry
• Mining gold legally and illegally in the rainforest 
• Oil exploration, drilling and pipelines used for industry and automobiles​​

​Beef Production is Killing the Amazon Rainforest

What Helps the Amazon Rainforest

Many products and foods from the Amazon rainforest are sold to countries around the world. Some of these products and foods are produced in a sustainable way, and purchasing them helps the rainforest and its people. 

Rainforest Alliance (RA) has been working for 30 years to advance sustainable land-use and business practices. The companies that work in partnership with Rainforest Alliance have a green frog on their products. When you see this RA green frog (logo image), you can know the product is helping the rainforest, the animals, and the people who live there.  

Sustainable Rainforest Products

• Acai berries (organic and sustainably grown)
• Bananas (organic and sustainably grown)
• Brazil nuts (organic and sustainably grown)
• Coffee Beans (organic Fair-trade coffee, sustainably grown)
• Cacao Fruits and Beans (raw chocolate, organic and sustainably grown)
• Camu camu berries (organic and sustainably grown)
• Palm fruits and oil (organic and sustainably grown)
• Vanilla beans, Cinnamon, Nutmeg (organic and sustainably grown)
• Yerba Mate Tea (organic and sustainably grown)

Rainforest Botanicals (Plant medicines)

• Camu Camu (sustainably harvested)
• Graviola (sustainably harvested)
• Pau de Arco (sustainably harvested)
• Sangre de Grado (sustainably harvested)
• Una de Gato (sustainably harvested)

It’s best to avoid buying or supporting the industries, products, and companies that are destroying the Amazon Rainforest.

Shifting to a Plant-based diet

​Eating healthy is good for you and good for the planet. The following websites offer great resources for eating delicious, nutritious, plant-based meals, at home or on the go.

One Green Planet
Super delicious recipes and intriguing blog posts.

Happy Cow
Traveling? Want to find veggie restaurants or health food stores nearby? 
You’ll also find fun posts, discussions, and tasty recipes.

Veg News
Great collection of news, recipes, videos, travel, and more.

Vegetarian Times
Gardening, online courses, recipes, health & nutrition.

Plant Pure Nation

Why Shifting to a Plant-based diet Makes Sense

For You
Live Longer
Live Healthier
Prevent or Reverse Heart Disease
Keep Your Weight Down
Build Strong Bones
Reduce Risk of Food-borne Illnesses
Have More Energy
Avoid Toxic Chemicals

Environmental Reasons
Avoid Excessive CO2 Production
Reduce Methane/Nitrous Oxide Production
Save Large Amounts of Fresh Water
Prevent Further Pollution of Rivers and Oceans
Reduce Destruction of Topsoil 
Reduce Use of Antibiotics, Growth Hormones and Chemicals

Protect Rainforests from Further Destruction
Reduce Destruction of Wildlife Habitats 
Slow or Stop Species Extinction
Reduce Ecological Footprint
Solve World Hunger
Put a Brake on Violence in the World

“Let there be Peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.” 
“For me, peace begins with my food choices each and every time I shop for food, prepare a meal, and say grace before eating. With the awesome abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables and grains available, why would anyone choose to eat dead food? If you have pets or have spent time with animals, you know they are sentient beings who experience fear and pain. As long as animals are tortured and slaughtered unnecessarily, our human societies will suffer from violence and war. It’s the karmic reaction. I pray for the day when animals are no longer looked upon as food, and all people enjoy delicious, wholesome, plant-based meals that nurture their bodies, minds and spirits. That’s how we can move quickly towards peace on earth.”​
Kosa Ely

“Every meal becomes a prayer for a kinder and more just world.”​
Bruce Friedrich of Farm Sanctuary

“People who consume saturated, four-legged fat have a shorter life span and more disability at the end of their lives. Animal products clog your arteries, zap your energy and slow down your immune system. Meat eaters also experience accelerated cognitive and sexual dysfunction at a younger age.”​
Michael F. Roizen, MD, author of The RealAge Diet: Make Yourself Younger with What You Eat

Videos worth watching

Cowspiracy
Forks Over Knives
Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead
Food, Inc. available on Hulu, iTunes and Amazon Video.
Supersize Me
GMO Roulette
What the Health?