Payless Helps Plant Trees

The Nature Conservancy’s goal is to plant 1 billion trees in The Atlantic Forest of Brazil. The forest is in trouble; only 7 percent of the forest is left from its original size. It is considered one of the world’s most endangered tropical forest. Coastal development, urban expansion, agriculture, exotic plantations, ranching and illegal logging have all contributed to the depletion.

This forest helps regulate the atmosphere and stabilize global climate. Forests are needed to store carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air for us to breathe. The Atlantic Forest alone provides clean water and hydro energy to 120 million people in Brazil. It is also home to 23 species primates, 1000 species of birds and over 20 000 species of plants; many are found nowhere else on Earth.

The Nature Conservancy is working with local partners and government officials to restore 2.5 million acres of land and planting 1 billion trees over the next 7 years. This reforestation effort will not only help fight global warming but it will also remove 10 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. At this moment according to their website, so far they have planted 1,565,279 trees.

Payless Shoe Source has teamed up to help! Payless ShoeSource® will contribute $1 to The Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion Trees Campaign for each resuable bag purchased from 4/13/09 to 12/31/09. Payless ShoeSource® will make a minimum total contribution for 2009 of $100,000 from the sales in 2009.

To learn more about the Plant a Billion Trees Campaign, visit The Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion