Last week, Rainforest Foundation UK Executive Director Simon Counsell (pictured second from left) participated in a lively and fascinating rainforest debate entitled ‘Are the rainforests for sale?', held at The Eden Project in Cornwall, as chaired by journalist and news presenter George Alagiah, and alongside a panel of experts. The debate sparked discussion on solutions to deforestation, ranging from global financial incentives to sustainable palm oil to ecotourism. A blog post regarding the event can be found on The Eden Project's website by thinking here.

Congratulation and Thank you to Anne, Alex, Kyara, Lila, Nicola and Sei Yon who yesterday completed the 2012 London Marathon in support of the Rainforest Foundation UK. Your efforts in training and fundraising have been hugely appreciated; together you have raised vital funding for our projects and we are extremely grateful for that. A second huge thank you is due to Tomas and Sheona, who provided massages for our weary runners and to our team of volunteers who did a brilliant job as usual.

We have a number of Gold Bond places for the 2013 Virgin London Marathon.
If you want to register early for next year to secure your place, email events@rainforestuk.org give us a call on +44 (0) 207 485 0193 and we will send you an application form and info pack to get you off and running!

There are two upcoming discussions about the world's rainforests on the calendar for April involving Rainforest Foundation UK staff or trustees, and both welcome the general public to attend as audience members.

The first is an event at the Eden Project in Cornwall called "Are The Rainforests For Sale?" from 7-9pm on Friday 20th April in the Gallery, at the Eden Project's Visitors' Centre. The event is billed as a live debate discussing the plight of the world's rainforests and solutions to protect them, with journalist and news presenter George Alagiah and a panel of experts including RFUK Executive Director Simon Counsell; Andrew Mitchell, Executive Director of the Global Canopy Programme; plant specialist Professor Sir Ghillean Prance FRS, who is also a Trustee of The Eden Project, and Dr Benjamin Beck, Director of Conservation at the Great Ape Trust. More information about the event including tickets can be found by clicking here for The Eden Project's website.

The second event is a panel discussion at Canning House in London called "Human Nature?' Man And The Amazonian Environment" from 6.30pm on Tuesday April 24th, and will feature an expert panel discussing the role which people have had to play in shaping the Amazon rainforest. The Amazon is often thought of in terms of a 'pristine' natural environment, and yet, some scholars point to archaeological surveys which suggest that human beings have played an important role historically in shaping the forest and regional landscape. The panel will include RFUK Trustee and acclaimed anthropologist Dr John Hemming, as well as academics Dr Jos Barlow from Lancaster University, Dr Toby Gardner from Cambridge University, and Professor Yadvinder Malhi from Oxford University, all considered experts in this field. This will be a free event, but more information can be found at www.canninghouse.org or by phoning Canning House on 020 7235 2303.