Camino Verde Missive, February 2010

Dear friends and supporters,

February 2010 has been an extraordinary month for Camino Verde, and I am pleased to share some of our news with you.  As I am writing this, some 600 trees are being planted at our center at Baltimori in the Peruvian Amazon.  And just yesterday, we sent off donations totaling over $5,000 to purchase school supplies for the victims of the recent flood disaster in the area of Cusco in the Andean highlands.  Thank you for your support, for these and other important projects.  We couldn't do it without you!

Wonderful things are afoot.  In the coming months there are many opportunities for involvement and participation in our work.  We are grateful for your interest!  Please check out some of what we have going on, and let us know what you think...

Land purchase opportunity-- Camino Verde has been presented with a unique opportunity to more than double the land we care for at our center at Baltimori.  $25,000 will secure over 100 acres, 80% of which is pristine rainforest.  The remaining 20 acres will be reforested by Camino Verde in the coming years as part of our Living Seed Bank program.  We are currently seeking 25 generous donors to commit $1,000 each to this one-time campaign.  Six donors have already made $1,000 contributions!  Be a part of preserving the Amazon.

Support flood victims in Cusco, Peru--  We are continuing to receive donations to provide direct aid to flood victims in Cusco.  Your donations will go immediately and in full to the people who need it the most, thanks to our partners at World Ayni and Ibanezackin.  All contributions are tax deductible.  Click here to contribute to the relief effort.

Come to Peru for our first-ever Permaculture Design course!--  Our dear friends at New Leaf Regenerative Design are offering their world-recognized Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) course at Camino Verde's center in Baltimori.  Come join us July 6-15 for the learning experience of a lifetime.  Find out more.

Camino Verde on the internet--  You have probably already noticed and enjoyed our new website, www.caminoverde.org.  Now you can make donations easily and quickly on our website through Paypal.  Also, Camino Verde can now be found on GuideStar, the internet's leading resource for non-profits.

Additionally, our ongoing programs are going better than ever.  We have already nearly reached our goal of 1000 trees planted in 2010, covering over 20 tree species.  And in the month of March we will work with Amazonian farmers to plant over 1000 more trees as part of sustainable agroforestry and reforestation systems on their land. 

Personally, I want to express my gratitude for your ongoing support of Camino Verde's work.  Many thanks!  And let us know what you think.

Warm regards,

Robin Van Loon
President and Executive Director, Camino Verde