Forest

Nearly 10% of the Earth's surface is covered by forests. They are some of the most biodiverse habitats and provide valuable ecosystem services: over 300 million people rely on forests for their livelihoods.

The impact of human activities has led to the loss of over half of the world's forests. As we extract wood for timber, fell areas for farming and hunt forest wildlife in the short term, we destroy soil integrity, water sources and carbon storage for the long term.

Both the greatest biodiversity and greatest damage occurs in tropical regions, where focuses ZSL its forest conservation projects. We are rebuilding conservation capacity, rehabilitating decimated habitats, building wildlife corridors and making forest conservation economically favourable for industry.

Wildlife Wood Project

Almost 40% of the Congo Basin forest in central Africa has been allocated for logging, and protected areas will not be enough for wildlife to persist. ZSl and partner's Wildlife Wood Project is helping industry to build conservation into their activities.
Find out about WWP

Forest Corridors: Sri Lanka

ZSL's EDGE launched a reforestation campaign in 2011 in the central highlands of Sri Lanka to protect both the Western and Horton’s Plains slender lorises. Plans are to plant 100 ha of scrubland with native species to create vital ecological corridors.
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Virunga National Park

Virunga National Park was listed a World Heritage Site in Danger in 1994 due to civil conflict. Working with partners, ZSL hopes to restore Virunga's biological integrity to benefit DRC's economic development and its myriad species.
Find out about Virunga

Gabon Rainforest

The rainforests of Gabon's Lope National Park contain the largest remaining population of the Critically Endangered western lowland gorilla as well as the African Forest elephant. ZSL has been part of dramatic conservation changes here.
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