Message from Director

Dear Friend,

As EcoLogic enters its 15th year, I am heartened by the positive impact we have had on landscapes and livelihoods in rural Latin America, one village at a time. At the same time, a conceptual leap is being made at the global level in the recognition of the critical role forests and forest communities play in the solution to climate change.

Since 1993, EcoLogic has partnered with rural, often indigenous communities to link environmental stewardship to economic development. These partnerships are strengthened by the technical and financial resources that flow directly to communities, and by the vibrant organization, talent, and local knowledge these stewardship communities provide. The resulting conservation is sustainable precisely because it belongs to the community: it is their effort and their success. And, as the world increasingly understands, this success - the sustainable management of critical natural resources in rural Latin America - benefits us all.

EcoLogic's work in carbon sequestration hinges on what scientists have known for centuries: the health of our planet makes us interdependent. Protecting the forests of Mesoamerica is an important part of the solution to decreasing greenhouse gases that exacerbate global warming.

In 2008, we will launch our Carbon Plus Program, leveraging the expertise we have gained in producing carbon credits through the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism, to offer credits to organizations voluntarily seeking to offset a portion of their carbon emissions. Producing carbon credits through our projects not only brings concrete social and economic benefits to local communities, it also reinforces the global value of the stewardship these rural communities provide.

We have many exciting developments in the months ahead and hope you will be able to join us in celebrating and supporting the progress being made!

Sincerely,

Shaun Paul
Executive Director