Viva La Selva - community

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Issues leading to rainforest destruction

1. Palm oil from the rainforest
2. Soya products from the rainforest that are not certified organic or from an unsustainable source
3. Chicken, pigs and cows that have been fed on soya grown in the rainforest (e.g. Kentucky Fried Chicken)!
4. Bio-diesel from the rainforest that has been produced on rainforest land and caused it’s clearance!
5. Furniture made from wood from the rainforest e.g. Mahogany
6. Beef produced in the rainforest!
7. Leather taken from cattle in the rainforest that has grassed on the rainforest land and caused it’s clearance!

Do one of the following:
a) Buy organic, fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance certified products
b) Look at the source, and if it from Amazon, central Africa or Indonesia coutries, then think twice
c) Write to the manufacturers and ask.

How you can make a difference

1. Sponsor a bee or a hive with Viva La Selva, set up a funding project and support bee-keeping in the Amazon! We're working with indiginous people and the TreeSource Foundation, setting up bee-keeping projects "To Bee Or Not To Bee" to provide an alternative and sustainable income for the indiginous people, while safeguarding the land from intruders or profit-making business. If you'd like to get involved please contact us via email at donate (at) vivalaselva (dot) org

2. Sponsor a tree or an acre with Viva La Selva, set up a funding project and help to buy land in the Amazon! If you'd like to get involved please contact us via email at donate (at) vivalaselva (dot) org

3. Support organic farming and sustainable trade to save the rainforest!
Research the origin of the products you buy - check certification by an organic and fairtrade standards scheme - often products don’t show the origin and labels are misleading mentioning vegetable oil with no other indication!
From Rainforest Alliance Certified Farms
Organic Certification in different countries
Soil Association Standards (UK)

4. Buy furniture made from wood from sustainable forests that are specifically grown for the wood industry in Europe because they’ll be replanted and grow back faster! Buy local to save the rainforest! Forest Stewardship Council Protect biodiversity and promote sustainable and fairtrade for communities that live in the forest.
Search the International Database of FSC Registered Companies.
Search the United States FSC Registered Companies.

5. Become vegetarian! Being vegetarian is healthier for your wellbeing!
Where does meat come from?
Why it's green to go vegetarian
Go Veg
Hemp Global Solutions

6. Grow your own vegetables to save the rainforest! It can be a lot of fun and is rewarding!
Food Up Front

7. Cycle for the rainforest! Good for your health and the environment!
Join Otesha Cycle Tours!
Critical Mass London
How to start a Critical Mass Ride
London Cycle Campaign

8. Click to Protect Endangered Habitat!

9. Promote Sustainable Tourism!
Sustainable Tourism Criteria
Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council

10. Become an Eco-Hero with Viva La Selva!
Visit the rainforest and experience its biodiversity and the culture of its people by going on a conservation holiday.

11. Save the rainforest with Ecosia at http://ecosia.org - Each free web search saves about 2.4 yd2 of rainforest.

Tips for going and seeing the rainforest

1. Light and loose clothes as well as long sleeved clothes for the forest (the best protection against mosquitoes and other insects)
2. Natural products, organic soap etc.
3. To minimise our environmental footprint it is essential to be aware of everything you bring in to the forest. It's so important to bring biodegradable ‘products’. All plastic packaging and non biodegradable items (ie batteries) should be carried back to the city, ideally your place of origin to be disposed of/recycled properly as recycling is not really happening there yet.
4. Solar charger
5. Wind-up or solar Torch, candle, matches, lighter
6. Money belt
7. Water bottle
8. Pocket knife
9. Personal medical kit (surgical tape/lavender oil/teatree oil/propolis/ citricidal (aka grapefruit seed extract or GSE / wormwood, black walnut & clove tincture, B Vitamins (Marmite) and garlic keep insects away)
10. Citronella essential oil or other natural insect repellent
11. For serious any serious walks/trekking in the forest locals wear welly boots and carry a machete, always keep your wellys within reach! ;)
12. The traditional diet in the forest is white rice, maize, plantain & yucca with beans, fish chicken and eggs. If you have special dietary requirements it is suggested you bring foods from your country of origin as they can be extremely hard if not impossible to source anywhere out of the major cities in South America. Due to the invasion of the agro chemical multinationals organic foods are not very common. Bring your own organic and fairtrade food (e.g. dried nuts and seeds for vegetarians)
13. Dollars are widely used across South America and are a good interim currency especially with the current sterling dollar rates however euros are sort after and are becoming a solid and accepted currency.
14. Scan (or take photos with ur digital camera) and email to yourself all your important documents and details (passport, driving licence, travel insurance, flight details, switch/credit card numbers – inc the security codes on the back)
15. Travel light - nothing worse than having to carry a heavy backpack through the jungle

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