How A Rainforest Rewarded Scientists, Wildlife And Conservation Groups, And Received Nothing In Return

                   In a country decimated by deforestation, we made a determined effort to save one of the last intact rainforests. This rainforest served as one of the last, and for some species, the very last, refuge for highly endangered species. Rare wildlife, including bat species on the verge of extinction, rare parrots, highly endangered owls, other raptors, hornbills ,other birds and more, inhabited this rain forest. Some highly endangered migratory birds also utilize this forest.
                   Native people living next to the rain forest gave up their ancestral land in exchange for a huge development project that forever altered their land. Some of the native people resisted, realizing that in exchange for money and short term benefits, they were giving up everything, including the death blow to their culture. The politics of exploitation that went into a people giving up their land, with questionable consent and tears by some horrified by the destruction of their land, is a lengthy topic beyond the scope of what will be addressed here.
                    We did not oppose the development project, only where it was being located. It was a massive alternative energy project that we knew would not only destroy land, but would decimate bat and bird populations upon completion. We also knew that once the native people lost access to their ancestral land, greatly increased damaging pressure would be placed on the rainforest next to their village. We knew that the loss of ancestral land would cause impoverishment long term. The finished project would be a source of  minimal or no employment, especially for unskilled workers.
                     We argued that this project should not be placed near a rare, and one of the last, intact rainforests and home to rare wildlife.  It should have been placed in an area where the land was already degraded, far away from endangered wildlife and the flight paths of endangered birds and bats. It should have been placed somewhere that would not deprive a native population of its ancestral land.
                     We had already fought a long battle to stop the development of a rare mangrove and coastal forest area, with the near complete indifference and non involvement by conservation and wildlife organizations and scientists.
                      This project was much larger, with an enormously harsh consequence for the rainforest, the indigenous people, and the endangered wildlife.
                        The more rainforest and land is degraded, the more there is destruction to biodiversity. The loss of rainforest and mangroves means human life is endangered by landslides, degraded water and air, reduced protection against the elements, including typhoons and other weather events. The more the land is degraded, the more wildlife is driven into extinction. The quality of human life is diminished and human safety is jeopardized.
                         With so much at stake, would it not seem certain that at the forefront to protect the rainforest and its wildlife, and the land of the native people, would be the wildlife and conservation organizations?  How about the scientists and environmentalists with their lucrative grants and research projects? How about the organizations that raise huge sums of  money proclaiming to be the protectors of bats, owls, parrots, endangered wildlife?  Did they at least try to protect the land, the endangered bats, birds and other species?
                           We know what transpired by our records and emails.
                           We need only look at what was built on land that was destroyed and that serves as a permanent monument to environmental failure. A monument that puts in harm's way bats and birds, and hastens the death of a rainforest.