Two of my friends have become active in a non-profit organization dedicated to saving a Costa Rican rainforest. While discussing their new interest, it has become a delight to know that people I know are doing more than talking in the abstract about saving the Earth. I’ve recently learned from my friends that Friends of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest has focused its efforts toward 
purchasing and preserving a 55,000 acre multi-elevation tract of land that is has far more than its share of threatened species. Consider the extensive biological diversity of this preserve:
- 154 species of amphibians and reptiles
- 121 kinds of mammals
- 450 bird species
- 3,000 different kinds of plants including 800 species of trees and 500 types of orchids
- 1 million insect species
If you’d like to learn more, or get involved, you can follow these links. You can even take an eco-tour. If you live in the St. Louis area, consider attending a talk by Dr. Peter Raven at the St. Louis Zoo on Thursday, April 26, 2012, from 6-8pm. Here’s a glimpse at Dr. Raven’s upcoming talk and his bio:
Saving the Forest, Saving Ourselves: An awareness and fundraising forum
BY DR. PETER RAVEN
Keynote speaker: Dr. Peter Raven, one of the world’s leading botanists and advocates of conservation and biodiversity, is described by TIME magazine as a “Hero for the Planet.” He is President Emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden after serving 40 years as Director. In addition, he is chairman of the National Geographic Society’s Committee for Research and Exploration, and chair of the Division of Earth and Life Studies of the National Research Council.
