Rainforest Rescue

Mission / Objective

The Rainforest Rescue Mission is: To Protect Rainforests Forever. This is achieved by creating opportunities for individuals and businesses to support our successful projects that save or plant rainforests in Australia and internationally.

Projects in Progress

Full details on all our projects are available on our website rainforestrescue.org.au. The following is a short description of our projects outlining our objectives and achievements to date.

Daintree Buy Back & Protect Forever Project

Through our Daintree Buy Back and Protect Forever Project, Rainforest Rescue identifies and purchases precious rainforest at risk of development and establishes Nature Refuge status which protects it forever. To date Rainforest Rescue has purchased and protected 15 properties in the Daintree.

Plant a Rainforest Project

Our Plant a Rainforest project restores previously cleared areas of rainforests thereby protecting their precious biodiversity. Since 1999 Rainforest Rescue has planted over 148,000 trees within the Daintree and Northern NSW. The acquisition of our Daintree Rainforest Plant Nursery in February 2010 has enabled us to increase the propagation and planting of trees in the Daintree at a significantly reduced cost.

Big Scrub Restoration project

Rainforest Rescue has been supporting the Big Scrub Restoration project since 1999 with over $100,000 contributed towards rainforest restoration. Funds are used to engage professional rainforest regenerators who work in the remnants to remove weeds and facilitate natural regeneration of the rainforest. Members of the public are also able to participate through our regular community tree planting days.

Plant a Rainforest Project Indonesia - Gunung Leuser National Park, North Sumatra

Rainforest Rescue works with the Orangutan Information Centre (OIC) in north Sumatra to remove illegal Oil Palms from the National Park thereby restoring vital Orangutan habitat. Contributions by Rainforest Rescue have provided local employment through the establishment and maintenance of rainforest tree nurseries and the planting of over 5,000 trees in the National Park.

Habitat for Survival Project Indonesia - Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, North Sumatra

Rainforest Rescue provides funding to support Wildlife Protection Units (WPU) in Sumatra’s Buki Tigapuluh National Park. Our support has enabled the protection of 8,000 hectares of Orangutan habitat for one year through the employment of guards to patrol the boundaries of National Parks deterring illegal logging and clearing. Their employment supports local communities in developing a livelihood that benefits from conservation.

Plant a Rainforest Project Sri Lanka  -  Sinharaha Forest Reserve

Rainforest Rescue aims to protect Sri Lanka's last remaining rainforests by reducing pressures on rainforest resources through community education programs, property purchase and rainforest regeneration. Through our project partner Rainforest Rescue International we have assisted in the planting of over 15,000 trees through our Sri Lanka Plant a Rainforest project.

Ecuador “Save a Hectare” Project - Choco-Andean Cloud Forest Corridor

Our support for project partner Rainforest Concern is enabling the ongoing purchase and protection of land in this biodiversity hotspot. The Neblina Reserve in the heart of the corridor has now been expanded to over 1,000 hectares. Donations from Rainforest Rescue supporters have contributed towards the purchase of another 155 hectares throughout 2010.

CEO

Kelvin Davies, CEO

Kelvin is a co-founder of Rainforest Rescue and has been actively involved in rainforest conservation organisations since 1990. He has previously been employed with not-for-profit organisations involved in nature conservation including Conservation Volunteers Australia, Greening Australia, Wetland Care Australia and The Wilderness Society.

Board Members

• Madeleine Faught - Chairperson, Director
• Kelvin Davies - Director, Chief Executive Officer
• Kathryn Biggs - Director
• Tony Gilding - Director 
• Sue Higginson - Director

ABN

61 086 885 154

Tax Deductible

Yes

Wills and Bequests

Your generosity and foresight in leaving a bequest will not only assist us to confidently continue our work well into the future, it will also have a lasting impact on future generations who will benefit from your legacy in conserving our previous rainforests.

There are many ways to support Rainforest Rescue through making a bequest in your will and the following information will assist you.

 Why you need a Will

Everybody should make a will, whether they have few possessions or many. By making a will you can ensure that all your affairs will be settled exactly as you wish.

If you die without a will, your Estate will be settled according to the laws of the State who will in turn retain some of your assets. If no relatives can be traced, it may mean that your entire Estate goes to the Government.

How you make a will

It is necessary for wills to comply with a number of legal requirements. Whilst it is possible for you to prepare your own will, we recommend that you seek advice from a Solicitor. You can change your will whenever you like and you should review your will every few years to ensure that it is still relevant.

How to make your bequest to Rainforest Rescue

Here are some of the ways in which you can include Rainforest Rescue in your will:

• Leave the residue of your estate to Rainforest Rescue after specific bequests and gifts have been left to family and friends - this is the simplest way.
• Leave a nominated portion or a fixed percentage of your estate to Rainforest Rescue.
• Leave a specific gift to Rainforest Rescue such as money, property, shares, insurance policies, jewellery or anything of value.
• Leave your entire estate to Rainforest Rescue. This usually occurs when there are no living relatives and the Benefactor wishes to achieve something significant with their estate.

 An example of wording is as follows:

Your solicitor will recommend appropriate wording or ask your solicitor to contact us to discuss your wishes.

An example of legally acceptable wording that can be included in your will is:

"I give devise and bequeath the rest and residue of my Estate to Rainforest Rescue ABN 61 086 885 154, free of all duties and taxes payable upon or in consequence of my death, and that the receipt of the Treasurer or other proper Officer of Rainforest Rescue shall be sufficient discharge to my executor for this Bequest, which is to be applied to the general purposes of the organisation;

Tax Issues

Changes to tax laws mean that bequests to Rainforest Rescue are now exempt from capital gains tax. Also, gifts of property (land, shares, building, machinery etc) made during your lifetime can now be claimed as tax deductions. For more information on tax legislation affecting gifts to conservation organisations, read "New incentives for Tax Deductible Donations" or www.environment.gov.au/psg/ppu/apportionment.html

Changing your will

If your existing will is satisfactory but you would like to include a bequest to Rainforest Rescue, you can add a codicil, which must be signed and witnessed the same way as your will. Consult your solicitor or the Public Trustee for assistance.

To make your bequest to Rainforest Rescue you may like to use some of the following wordings:

"I bequeath (free of all duties) ... % of my estate ...

"I bequeath the residue of my estate ...

"I bequeath the sum of $ ...

"I bequeath Life insurance Policy / Bond etc. No ... with ... Limited..

"I bequeath ... shares in ......... Company

";I bequeath the property .........

...to Rainforest Rescue ABN 61 086 885 154, with the written acknowledgment of the Secretary or other proper officer of Rainforest Rescue to be accepted by my executors as a full and complete discharge."

Please let us know

It is a great help in planning Rainforest Rescue future projects - and provides the opportunity to discuss donors' wishes - if you advise us of your decision to make a bequest to the Rainforest Rescue. Such information will be held in the strictest confidence and please don't hesitate to contact us if you require more information or wish to discuss your bequest wishes.

Thank you for thinking of Rainforest Rescue.

General Donations

As a not-for-profit organisation, Rainforest Rescue depends on the generosity of its donors and business supporters to help us achieve our mission to Protect Rainforests Forever.

Your donation helps us to purchase and protect high-conservation value rainforest; re-establish rainforests through planting, maintenance and restoration programs; and educate future generations on the importance of rainforests and their biodiversity.

You can choose to make a one-off donation in support of any of conservation projects, or you may wish to become a Rainforest Rescue and support our work by donating on a monthly basis.

Joining our Ongoing Giving Program as a Rainforest Rescuer is a simple but effective way for you to support our mission and to make saving rainforests a part of your everyday life.

Your Ongoing Gifts- Efficient and Effective

By donating on a monthly basis, you gain satisfaction knowing that you are:

• giving us the security to make long-term commitments to protecting rainforests in Australia and overseas by creating a sustainable funding base;
• providing continuity on our conservation commitments and research programs;
• reducing our administration costs so more money goes into protecting rainforests;
• ensuring the long-term viability of our environmental outcomes;
• allowing us to budget and prepare for new opportunities to save endangered rainforests
• spread the cost of your budgeted donation over the year by making smaller donation amounts on a monthly basis but still significantly contributing to rainforest protection;

Start Easy and Affordable Regular Giving

• express your commitment to protecting rainforests by specifying the amount you are able to donate which suits your lifestyle and financial circumstances;
• have all your donations summarised for you on one convenient tax receipt that is mailed to you at the end of the financial year;
• decide how much information you require throughout the year to keep you up-to-date on where your money is being spent and our environmental outcomes;
• save time and money through not having to mail in your donations.

Your monthly donation will be deducted from your nominated credit card or bank account on the 1st of every month (or closest business day).

Give Monthly Donations-Save More Rainforest

By giving on a monthly basis you can be sure that your donation is directly contributing to real conservation outcomes. For example, a donation of $25 per month will:

• purchase and protect 5m2 of high conservation-value Daintree Rainforest
• plant and nurture to maturity one rainforest trees in northern NSW
• protect 25 hectares of rainforest in Sumatra’s Bukit Tigapuluh National Park
• plant 20 rainforest trees to restore vital Orangutan habitat in northern Sumatra
• plant 25 trees in Sri Lanka to restore the Sinharaja Forest Reserve
• purchase and protect just under 800sqm of Ecuador’s Cloud Forests

Contribute NOW to Saving Rainforests Forever!

Becoming a Rainforest Rescuer is as simple as calling us on 1300 763 611 or visiting our website at http://www.rainforestrescue.org.au/howtohelp/

All donations to Rainforest Rescue are tax deductible and you can indicate your preference for supporting specific projects.

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