*** BIG MATCH FORTNIGHT HAS NOW ENDED SO DONATIONS ARE NO LONGER BEING QUADRUPLED, ALTHOUGH DONATIONS ARE STILL BEING ACCEPTED AS THE GUARDIANS OF NIMLA HA' APPEAL IS CONTINUING *** 

How donations up to the target of £5,000 can be quadrupled!

To enable donations to this appeal to be quadrupled, I am combining a matching scheme that my employer Ecclesiastical Insurance runs, with the World Land Trust (WLT) Big Match Fortnight matching scheme.

So for every £1 raised on this JustGiving page between 6 and 19 October 2021 (both dates included), up to my £5,000 fundraising target, my employer Ecclesiastical will double this to £2 and WLT will double this again to £4.

Why I support World Land Trust

I have supported WLT for many year's as they are charity that I can see are really making a difference.  All money from this appeal goes to purchase threatened rainforest, which is looked after by a local partner organisation -  FUNDAECO, who they have been working with for many years.  This ensures that the protection of the rainforest is sustainable and looked after by the people who know it best.  WLT also choose areas to protect that are of particular importance in terms of biodiversity.  The words of Sir David Attenborough, one of their patrons, also influences me - he is quoted on the WLT website as saying:

"The money that is given to the World Land Trust, in my estimation, has more effect on the wild world than almost anything I can think of."     Sir David Attenborough

This Year's Appeal

This year we can help WLT save Laguna Grande, the tropical home of more than 700 species and a major carbon sink of Caribbean Guatemala.  All donations to WLT's appeal Guardians of Nimla Ha' will be funding the three-fold expansion of the Laguna Grande Reserve, from 1,668 to nearly 5,000 acres. This is an area that has already lost 80% of its lowland forest but with your help, together we can make sure the destruction of nature doesn't go any further.

The area is home to many special creatures including Jaguar, Baird's Tapir, American (West Indian) Manatee and Neotropical Otter.  In total over 126 species of mammals can be found here, 20 of which are endemic to Mesoamerica.  The rainforest is also rich in bird life, with an estimated 359 species of birds, as well as being a perfect habitat for amphibians and reptiles.

Sponsored Birdwatch

This will be the fourth year that Ecclesiastical have provided matched funding, allowing me to do a sponsored birdwatch that means that people can quadruple their donations.  On 15 October (or earlier if the weather looks bad), I will be aiming to see as many species as possible between dawn and dusk.  Last year I managed to see a record 82 species, so this year I will be seeing how close I can get to that total.  I will post updates on this page to let you know how it goes.

Thank you so much for any donations you are able to make.

Andy