News Releases

Supporters Can Tackle Climate Change and Help Save Madagascar’s Wildlife

June 15, 2017

Julie Larsen Maher_9559_Red-ruffed lemur_MAD_BZ_06 06 08_hr

SAN FRANCISCO–Cool EffectTM, a non-profit organization curating the world’s premier carbon reduction projects, announced the addition of Madagascar’s Makira Natural Park Project to its platform in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Individual contributions to the project will reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and conserve the rainforest’s endangered plants and species.

Through Cool Effect’s digital platform, individuals can now support the Makira Natural Park Project by making a one-time contribution or a monthly pledge. Continued conservation efforts protect the park’s biodiversity, which is home to an incredible array of wildlife, including four lemur species that are critically endangered. Support of the project will also directly benefit the local community by improving infrastructure, providing health and education services, and supporting the training and continued implementation of sustainable agricultural practices.

“WCS is delighted to partner with Cool Effect to fight climate change by helping safeguard the carbon-rich Makira forest, Madagascar’s most biodiverse protected area” said Todd Stevens, WCS Executive Director of Markets, Conservation Solutions. “Not only will the Cool Effect community be doing its part to keep the climate cool, but it will also help save incredible wildlife including 20 species of lemurs and more than 50 percent of Madagascar’s plant diversity.”

Launched in 2005, the Makira Natural Park Project was developed by WCS in partnership with the Government of Madagascar as a REDD+ project (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation “plus” conservation). Upon its inception, the project was the first sale of government-owned, government-led REDD+ credits in Africa. Makira Natural Park covers a total of 372,460 hectares, is one of Madagascar’s largest protected areas, and is home to an estimated 1% of the world’s biodiversity. With consistent funding to the project, Madagascar’s government hopes to protect the forest and foster sustainable development.

“The addition of the Makira Natural Park Project further maintains the promise to our Cool Effect community that we will continue to bring them only the highest quality carbon reducing projects,” said Marisa de Belloy, COO of Cool Effect. “We are excited to partner with WCS to support the project and Madagascar’s efforts to protect this valuable, biodiverse habitat.”

Cool Effect currently features eleven projects on the platform all across the globe, verifiably reducing carbon with simple technology such as efficient cookstoves, wind turbines, and biogas digesters. The price per tonne varies by project and ranges from $4.12 - $13.18, with 90.13% of the funds dedicated directly to the projects and the remaining 9.87% covering transaction charges and Cool Effect’s operational fees – the minimum needed to operate as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. To learn more about what a tonne of carbon is, please visit cooleffect.org.