The Story of a Real Life Lorax

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It turns out that The Nature Conservancy had partnered with Dow Chemical and the state of Sao Paulo’s Water Supply Managers (SABESP) to do massive chemically-supported tree planting along the water ways there. It appears this was among the reasons they didn’t want to buy organically grown trees from the small growers.

Once I pieced together what was going on, I went back to crowd-funding while searching for a fiscal sponsor that could help to support this network of small organic growers, who were bootstrapping their operations in the expensive state of Sao Paulo.

The next organization I spent time getting to know, WeForest, likes what these independent growers are doing, but can’t support the prices they need for their trees. They’re also not keen on covering the costs of trucking trees to a local NGO – 50 miles from the growers – that distributes trees to farm families and oversees that they are cared for once planted. I like WeForest (so much so, I served as their US Ambassador for several months) but they’re not an ideal fit for the people in this region who have already invested themselves in a system that really can work.

To prepare for this update, I researched which partners are doing the tree planting associated with “The Lorax” book and new movie. It’s Conservation International, which works in partnership with Monsanto. They’re even working in our Atlantic rainforest. Go figure…

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Therese K.

3:43PM PDT on Apr 17, 2012

Blessings to every honest action taker for environment and animal protection.
Thanks for that article.

April 17
send a green star

Sally W.

7:40AM PDT on Apr 14, 2012

I love what this guy and his group is doing, Thank you Thank you Thank you. I believe people like you will he the hero's of this world.

April 14
send a green star

Teddie S.

5:41AM PDT on Apr 14, 2012

If you are not aware enough, or computer savvy, you may not know to whom you are contributing. It is a sad situation, where you think you are doing good and you find out that it isn't necessarily true.
Keep googling.

Alana L.

12:48AM PST on Mar 10, 2012

Does anybody else find it interesting that the Lorax's non-profit partners are also partnered with Monsanto http://www.monsanto.com/ourcommitments/Pages/conserving-biodiversity-with-conservation-international.aspx, and Dow Chemical http://www.dow.com/news/corporate/2008/20080715c.htm, makers of Agent Orange, now being used to deforest the Amazon? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange

Monsanto's partner is Conservation International, whose partner is Dr Seuss: http://origin-www.seussville.com/loraxproject/ be sure to click through to learn more...

Dow's partner is The Nature Conservancy, whose partner is Universal for The Lorax: http://www.nature.org/aboutus/workingwithcompanies/companies-we-work-with/universal-pictures-the-lorax.xml

I don't think Dr. Seuss would really like that.... do you?

What do you suggest for an effective call to action?