People in Wales have big hearts. They belong in a small country but, oh man, they really have the kick of a mule!
Desmond Tutu.
‘An area the size of Wales’ is frequently used to measure the rate of forest destruction. Through Size of Wales, we are turning that negative use of the country’s size on its head.
Thanks to the brilliant support of Wales, Size of Wales successfully reached the target of helping to protect 2 million hectares of forest (the size of Wales!) in 2013. Soon after, we decided the obvious next step was to double this impact, and aim to protect an area of rainforest twice the size of our nation!
Size of Wales encourages the people of Wales to help tackle climate change by taking simple positive actions. We work with schools and businesses to raise funds for forests and raise awareness of the importance of forests in tackling climate change.
Deforestation and degredation of the world’s forests causes more CO2 emissions than all the world’s transport combined (meaning planes, trains, cars, vans and ships!). Size of Wales works with forest projects in Africa and South America to help conserve existing tropical forests and support sustainable management of forests. All our projects work directly with forest communities in country. Our projects in South America currently equal over 2 million hectares, and we are now aiming to protect another 2 million hectares in Africa. Find out more about the projects we work with on the project map on our homepage.
We also work with a flagship tree planting project which aims to plant 25 Million Trees and increases forest cover in Uganda. This project also plants a tree for every child born or adopted in Wales, as part of the Welsh Government’s innovative Plant! scheme. For more information on the Plant! scheme see here.
After a long history of deforestation in Wales, we are now gradually increasing our forest cover and protecting our existing woodland. However, from both a climate change and poverty reduction perspective, it is the destruction of forests in the tropics which truly threatens the world’s climate, as well as the basic needs of food, shelter and livelihoods for people living there.
Initially set up by the Commissioner for Sustainable Futures, Peter Davies and Chair of the Waterloo Foundation, Heather Stevens, as part of Wales’ response to the dual challenges of climate change and international poverty reduction, Size of Wales is now an independent charity.
Give what you can and join Wales’ national response to help tackle climate change.
Don’t forget to tick the Gift Aid box! This will top up your donation by 25% if you are a UK taxpayer.