"GEO Rainforest Conservation" was founded in 1989 as an independent non-profit society, initiated by staff members of GEO magazine. The recognized non-profit association is committed to the preservation of rainforests and improvement of economic and social living conditions for their inhabitants. In order to achieve these goals, the association supports selected development projects.

Since then, the association has initiated, organized, supported and funded more than 50 conservation and development projects in tropical countries. The association granted Amazon Indians legal aid in disputes on the question of land ownership and played a role in ensuring iguanas can be legally used as a source of meat in Costa Rica. It co-financed an environmental newspaper in Indonesia, helped protect mountain gorillas in Uganda and supported a chimpanzee project at Taï National Park in Côte d´Ivoire/Africa.

All activities are being implemented in cooperation with local non-governmental organizations. GEO magazine frequently reports on the project work.

The main objective is to encourage integrated projects which enable native inhabitants to conserve their natural resources and promote sustainable development. The projects improve the economical, social and health conditions of the people and help protect their natural environment.

The projects may include the following aspects:
Drinking water supply, increase of electrical power supply from renewable energy sources, agricultural education, novel income-generating activities, environmental education for children and adults, forest protection and conservation, reforestation, reproductive health and family planning, AIDS-prevention, support to establish organized structures in villages such as cooperatives, women's groups, village councils, organizing small loan programs, establishment of market access for agricultural products.

In Guatemala, GEO ran a development program for locally adapted agriculture, with which it managed to enable the effective protection of the rare Quetzal bird in the remaining forests. The hyacinth macaw of Brazil, the table mountain rain forests in Venezuela and Vietnam´s variety of birds have all also profited from GEO sponsorships. New projects in Cuba, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Nepal, Venezuela and Ecuador were initiated in 2001 alone.

The highlands of Ethiopia are a place where a unique and wide variety of Coffea arabica still grows wild. An endangered botanic treasure, say the scientists. In order to turn the harvesting of wild coffee into a profitable endeavor for the farmers of the Kaffa province, "GEO schützt den Regenwald e.V." imports the high-quality product. Parts of the proceeds are used to support development projects in the highlands of Ethiopia.

For more information, please visit the homepage of "GEO Rainforest Conservation": www.regenwald.de