London

London -- May sound a little strange or even frightening than traditional conservationist, but the Internet is gaining space as an instrument of protection of nature. The dissemination of information for campaigns in the network or through the call lists of e-mail is an effective tool for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Now, there are increasing environmental groups looking for virtual reality, such as Google Earth or Windows Virtual Earth to gain allies in their cause and even raise funds for conservation.

One of the most innovative projects is http://www.healthyplanet.org/Preview/Default.aspxbased in the UK and founded by Shaylesh Patel. His idea is that anyone can adopt an acre of land preserved in national parks around the world. The organization maintains on its Web site a list of small local projects working in protected areas. Visitors can access a virtual tour to the site of the project, via Google Maps or Google Earth, and select an area to make a donation, or even offer as a gift for a friend or relative.

In practice, nobody is buying a piece of the Amazon, or any other place. Only choose a place worthy to be preserved for future generations and to ensure that the NGOs working there have resources.

Mark Mulligan is the cofounder of Healthy Planet and Professor of Geographic Information Systems in King's College, University of London (England). He used his expertise to build a simple system in which people monitor the global network that occurs in the units of conservation. He offered a new tool for large NGOs, which, he says, politely refused the offer. "I think they are afraid of such a direct involvement with their donors"

Make donors more aware of what is the fate of their money is a priority for the authority of Mulligan. "I think that our proposal goes against the behavior of people who donate $ 10 per month for a large NGO and think they are good with their conscience," argues. Therefore, one of the requirements for small organizations to project with the Healthy Planet site is to produce reports in which those who adopted a hectare can literally see the benefits of conservation. So photos, data and satellite images provide a virtual walk in parks and other reserves.

If the result does not please, the donations may be canceled or relocated. "Even if the project is wrong, the experience will help people understand that conservation is not easy. Often, even with money, there are political factors that are not controllable, "says the professor of the University of London.

Moreover, guarantees Mulligan, the intention is not to make national parks rich enough to think that local governments do not need anything else. He says the projects are small, something around 5 thousand dollars, and enjoy the parks with basic equipment such as fuel, or instruct residents in the region not to seek firewood within the protected area. For now, theHealthy Planet has partnerships with NGOs in Thailand, Ecuador and Colombia. In Brazil, no initiative underway by now. For the original text click HERE