BRONX ZOO - CONGO GORILLA FOREST

Grown-ups' Guidelines

Take the Rainforest Pledge and Save Wildlife

I'm only one person; what kind of impact can I have? Most people react this way when faced with a big problem like rainforest destruction. But every little thing you do adds up, and if everyone starts out with little things, it will eventually add up to lots of people doing big things together. You may want to do your project on your own or choose one with your family, a friend, your school class or a club you belong to.

Many things you do have an impact on habitats somewhere, whether that habitat is as far from you as the real Congo is from the Congo Gorilla Forest at the Bronx Zoo or as close as a neighborhood park. Print out your pledge card [link to pledgecard], so you can fill in the conservation activities you pledge to do.

Below are some ideas for actions that you can take. Pick just one action to start with and fill it in on the pledge card. Hang your pledge card somewhere that will help you remember. Stick to it!

When you feel ready to go on to the next step, add two additional pledges. At least one of your three pledges should be an action that will affect rainforests, and at least one should be an action that will affect temperate forests. Some actions may affect both of these habitats.

After you have been engaged in your pledged activities for a few weeks, make a poster, chart, drawing or report that describes what you've done.

Things You Can Do To Help Save Rainforests

Learn more about rainforests and share information with friends, family and classmates.
Become a member of an organization dedicated to saving rainforests and wildlife--like the Wildlife Conservation Society!
Volunteer at your local zoo or wildlife organization.
Avoid buying products made from tropical rainforest trees and keep a list of the products you avoided buying.
Avoid buying products made from ivory, animal skins, tortoise shells, or other wildlife products and keep a list of the products you avoided buying.
Buy forest products that grow back every year, like some kinds of fruit, nuts or rubber and keep a list of these products.
Support having only domestically bred animals as pets--not those caught in the wild. Write a letter to your school or local newspaper or design a poster for your local pet store, explaining why this issue is important.
Write letters to your elected representatives encouraging them to pass laws that protect wildlife.
Start a rainforest club at your school.
Hold a rainforest fundraiser with your classmates or friends and donate the money to rainforest action groups.

Things You Can Do To Help Save Your Local Forests and Wildlife

Most of the energy we use comes from burning fossil fuels--coal, oil and gas--which causes pollution and habitat destruction. The less energy you use, the less pollution you cause, and the air and water will be cleaner for all wildlife.

Conserve energy by turning off lights in rooms you are not using.
Ride the subway or bus instead of traveling by car; this saves energy and creates less acid rain.
Carpool as often as possible.
Ride a bike or walk when you can, instead of asking your parents to drive.
Use cold water in the washer as much as possible.
Do things by hand--like opening cans--instead of using electrical appliances.
Have your water heat insulated (for free!) by your utility company.
Turn down the heat and wear a sweater.
Turn down the air conditioning when you will be away from home.
Turn off appliances when you are not using them.
Make sure your home is well insulated.

When we use things, we have to think about the materials they come from. Making these materials often requires large amounts of energy, destroys habitats or releases toxic chemicals that pollute the environment. When we are finished with things, they often end up in landfills, which consume valuable habitat space and may pollute air and water. Think about how much you use and reuse things. By consuming fewer products, you leave more and cleaner habitat for wildlife.

Recycle all your cans and bottles, aluminum foil, plastic containers, paper and cardboard.
Reuse grocery bags for garbage instead of using new plastic ones.
Carry your lunches in reusable containers.
Take reusable cloth bags to the supermarket instead of using paper or plastic.
Buy things made from recycled materials.
Use both sides of your paper; use scrap paper for notes.
Reuse envelopes and boxes for mailing.

Avoid using chemicals as much as you can--especially pesticides and garden chemicals. Many toxic chemicals end up in wildlife habitat when they are discarded.

Use phosphate-free laundry and dish soap--check the labels.
Buy locally grown organic food--it takes less energy and fewer chemicals.
If you have a yard, pull up weeds instead of using chemicals to kill them.

Try improving or creating your own habitat for local wildlife.

Plant trees--they give us oxygen.
Grow a native plant garden to provide habitat for butterflies, bees and other small critters.
Grow native flowers that provide nectar or other food for butterflies, bees or hummingbirds in a window-box planter.
Build a frog pond in a local park to provide local wildlife habitat.
Plant trees--they give us oxygen.
Put up birdfeeders.

Spread the word!

Write articles about wildlife for your school or community newspaper or Web site.
Make a Web site with bigchalk's Community Tools