Rainforest Foundation Calls For Crypto Donations To Protect the Amazon

As the Amazon burns, cryptocurrencies become the go-to means for donations. The Rainforest Foundation has launched an appeal to help protect the rainforest. 

Founded in 1987, the Rainforest Foundation US has called the cryptocurrency community to action. The charitable foundation announced the campaign today to find support in its efforts to fight the Amazon rainforest’s fires. 

The Foundation has been accepting cryptocurrency for some years now. They’ve even developed their own in 2014, called BitSeed. However, the recent fires have urged the Foundation to ask the crypto community for help. 

According to the Foundation, deforestation has risen by 75% since January of this year, with forest fires doubling compared to the previous year. In the effort to stop this devastation, they’re seeking up to $100 million, but no specific goal for the crypto appeal was set. 

They’re currently accepting Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and BitcoinCash. Also, they’re working with The Giving Block to form a coalition of crypto sponsors, donors and media partners.

Faced with a slow, bureaucratic and nonreactive “old school philanthropy”, they’re counting on the crypto community’s ability to think outside the box. The Foundation’s executive director, Suzanne Pelletier, spoke to CoinDesk and explained:  

“[Crypto is] filled with people that are thinking differently and trying to change the rules of the game. It’s so slow and so bureaucratic to raise support from foundations. It’s going to be too late. We don’t have enough time.”

Beyond the funds

According to Pelletier, the Foundation is also working with the crypto community because of the technology. Together with Regen Network, a smart contract system is being developed so that the Foundation’s physical work in the Amazon can be tracked. Donors can track progress and even reward local communities that are using crypto to protect their forests. 

Why crypto? Because they’re “very much a part of it”

Even though BitSeeds was “ultimately unsuccessful”, as per their website, the Rainforest Foundation considers themselves as part of the crypto community. 

Reportedly, they’re exploring different means to explore ways to leverage crypto and blockchain to advance their efforts. This includes exploring the idea of a Crypto Kitties “Jungle Kitty”, fundraising via CryptoCare and potentially becoming an EOS block producer. 

Crypto donations for environmental and humanitarian purposes

As more people use cryptos, the more its various purposes becomes known. We’ve followed how crypto-donations were used as a new model for humanitarian aid in Venezuela, and how an airdrop was leveraged to donate $1 million to the country.

In the Bahamas, after Hurricane Dorian left a trail of destruction this week, a local blockchain company is looking at the crypto and blockchain communities for relief. 

“PO8 has pledged 1 billion PO8 tokens to hurricane relief efforts. For every dollar worth of crypto donation, PO8 will match it 100%.”

To donate to the Rainforest Foundation US and help in their efforts to protect the Amazon, click here.