Rainforest educational resource launched in 19 languages
Rainforest educational resource launched in 19 languages
mongabay.com
June 5, 2007
Mongabay.com, a leading tropical rainforest information web site, today announced the availability of a rainforest educational resource in 19 languages at world.mongabay.com. The site explains what constitutes a tropical rainforest, why they are important, why they are threatened, and how they can be saved.
“world.mongabay.com is geared towards children but is useful to people of all age, including ecotourism guides in tropical countries” said mongabay.com founder Rhett A. Butler. “The resource is also available in PDF form for free distribution. I hope to reach as broad an audience as possible with this information”
The site is currently available in Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, Danish, Spanish, English, Farsi (Persian), French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Malay, Marathi, Polish, Russian, Swahili, andSwedish.
 Orangutan in Borneo. Photo by Rhett A. Butler (Click image to enlarge)
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“I plan to add more languages in the near future, though I’m always looking for native speakers to help with translation,” said Butler. “I believe a key part to rainforest conservation is education—both in local communities around forest areas and in industrialized countries where consumption decisions can drive deforestation. However, I also think that it is important to extend beyond rainforests, stimulating a greater appreciation of natural and wildlife in general. It’s hard to miss something if you don’t know it’s there in the first place.”
Mongabay.com is well regarded by conservationists. The site features conservation and environmental science news, interviews with prominent conservation scientists, and tens of thousands of nature and wildlife photos. Mongabay.com also has an extensive library of images and charts on topics ranging from deforestation to energy use to carbon dioxide emissions.
“Mongabay.com is dedicated to providing necessary communication to those interested in the fate of our rainforests,” said Ira Rubinoff, director of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). “It has a scientific base that should provide reliable information to all who share an interest in the future quality of life on this planet.”