The Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh has been awarded £200,000 at a charity awards gala in Edinburgh to begin a new project saving Tanzanian forests.
Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have given scientists from RBGE an opportunity to collaborate with Tanzanian experts to identify vulnerable forests and empower local communities in Tanzania with the knowledge and resources to safeguard forests for the future.
Professor Antje Ahrends
Dr Antje Ahrends, head of genetics and conversation at RBGE, said: “This special award from players of People’s Postcode Lottery will help save Tanzania’s forests.
“Illegal timber logging costs Tanzania an estiamted $60 million every year. But thanks to the players of People’s Postcode Lottery plant scientists and botanists from Scotland can now work with local experts and communities to tackle forest degradation, delivering a lasting impact on conserving biodiversity and alleviating poverty.”
An estimated 73 percent of the population is dependent on biofuels, African cities experience the highest urbanisation rate in the world and timber is exported to generate foreign revenue.
Tanzania faces massive forest degradation problems due to unregulated logging and this problem is increasing at an alarming rate.
Clara Govier, head of charities for People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “Players of People’s Postcode Lottery will be very interested to see how scientists from Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh use the £200,000 Extra Award to make a real impact in Tanzania for both the environment and communities.”
RBGE was also given a Surprise Award of £25,000 along with 56 other charities supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
