Help fight deforestation in Madagascar with Ajper and Brian

BARCELONA MARATHON MARCH 16TH

WHY? TO RAISE MONEY AND SAVE THE FORESTS IN MADEGASCAR.

Hello, my name is Brian Glover. I am a 26-year-old Master's student from Killinchy in Northern Ireland. As you might expect from being raised in a family from rural Ireland, I grew up harvesting our own land and rearing our own livestock, for self consumption. These experiences along with my educational background, have led me to develop a deeply rooted love and connection to nature and cultivate a knack for sustainable ways of living. However, in the context of our planet, I don't believe it is enough anymore to reduce only my own carbon footprint; I wish to widen my reach in any way I can. This is why I am hoping for your gracious donations.

In September/October 2024 I have earned myself the opportunity to volunteer for the non-profit organizations AJPER and BiopelletEnergy. They have joined forces to protect the trees and forests of Madagascar by promoting the use of wood-saving stoves in the rural communities of the island. We will go to villages on the island to teach local people how to make, use, and fuel these stoves, thereby promoting various other forms of sustainable practices. This is where the student volunteers, such as myself, come in.

In the past 20 years, 29% of Madagascar's forests have disappeared, with the primary cause being slash and burn practices for pasture and agriculture. By 2050, it is predicted that up to 93% of the forests present in 2000 will face the same fate.

Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, Madagascar is one of the world's primary biodiversity hubs, with over 90% of its wildlife being native to the island. These species are threatened by the accelerated rate of deforestation through illegal logging of precious wood, charcoal production, slash and burn agriculture, and anti-government forest arsonists. However, nearly 90% of the population of Madagascar relies on biomass, e.g., wood/charcoal, for their daily energy needs. Although the threat of deforestation is of immediate concern, it should not be the disadvantaged rural population that should suffer due to stringent conservation protections.

For me, to be able to help this country, its people, and the habitat, I need your help. The non-profit organizations don't have the capacity to transport and accommodate volunteers such as myself, as the funding goes to those who need it most - as it should. While most volunteers are receiving support from their governments, mine does not provide such a service, and thus I must find another way. And this Marathon is only the beginning of my plans, with bigger plans on the horizon. I hope you deem this a worthy cause to support, any amount is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time.