Contxto – As the Earth’s most biodiverse region, the fact that the Amazon rainforest continues to burn should alarm everybody, startups included. Proving this, two Colombian companies recently established alliances with environmental agencies to combat the ongoing damage.
Rappi
Starting yesterday, the delivery empire Rappi began accepting donations on behalf of Act4Amazonia. Following the August 26 announcement, users can donate between 15,000 and 2 million pesos until September 6 for relief efforts.
“Starting today, (users) will be able to enter the app, and through the Act for Amazonia button, they can donate between 15,000 and 2,000,000 (pesos) to help rebuild the thousands of hectares destroyed by this environmental catastrophe,” said Rappi in a statement.
Since Saturday, the app has acquired over 30 million pesos, according to El Tiempo.
Nequi
On the other hand, alternative Colombian bank Nequi plans to reward clients for their donations. To do this, it has partnered with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). As if they were tax-deductible, users can receive up to 50 percent of their original amount until August 31.
Specifically, users must use the platform over their cellphone or request a virtual card from this link. According to Publimetro, donations of 35,000 pesos can be returned for 50 percent. Similarly, 35 percent will go back to 50,000 peso contributions and 17 percent for 100,000.
The severity of the situation
Farmers stand accused of setting the forest ablaze to make way for agriculture and livestock. In the process, fires have devastated over 500,000 forest hectares over the past few weeks. Often referred to as the “Earth’s lungs,” deforestation in this region could have long-lasting global implications if action isn’t taken soon.
Not only do we risk losing 10 percent of the world’s biodiversity but also irreversible climatic and humanitarian effects. Considering that thousands of fires are simultaneously burning, the amount of carbon coming into the atmosphere is also unprecedented.
Damaged natural cycles could ultimately affect more than 34 million people living around the Amazon. Many of these are indigenous communities struggling to protect their ancestral lands.
-JA
