Annual Report 2009-2010

ARC WORKS TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE AFRICAN RAINFORESTS – AMONG THE OLDEST AND MOST BIODIVERSE IN THE WORLD.

Annual Report 2009-2010COUNTDOWN TO TWENTY

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As the Founder and President of the African Rainforest Conservancy (ARC), I am extremely proud of what the organization has achieved in its nearly two decades, and excited about our developing vision for the future – including expanding our activities and geographical reach during the next decade and beyond.

This first annual report is a milestone for ARC – evidence of our commitment to growth and to better communicate to our stakeholders the importance of the Eastern Arc and coastal forests of Tanzania. Working alongside our field partner the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG), we are currently supporting 146 villages that are working tirelessly to conserve more than 250,000 acres of sacred forest.

Conservation International has named the Eastern Arc as a “Biodiversity Hotspot,” due to the exceptionally high concentrations of species found in them and nowhere else on this planet – this includes 114 endemic vertebrate species and 1,500 unique tree and plant species. Despite their importance, these forests are under intense pressure from clearance for agricultural land, illegal logging, and fire. More than 70 percent of the Eastern Arc have been cleared. Deforestation rates in the coastal forests are even higher and some coastal forests have been cleared completely.

With a focus on grassroots projects that promote forest conservation and community development – tree planting, fuel-efficient cook stoves, Participatory Forest Management (PFM), environmental education, and alternative income generation – ARC is at the forefront of conserving these sacred

forests, and has been for the past nearly twenty years. We see opportunity where others confront despair; we see a future of thriving forests, abundant species, and empowered communities.

ARC arrives at this moment of opportunity, ready to rise to the challenge. And we are counting on you to be with us every step of the way.

Salaama,

Carter Coleman, President

ARC WORKS TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE AFRICAN RAINFORESTS – AMONG THE OLDEST AND MOST BIODIVERSE IN THE WORLD.

Annual Report 2009-2010IN THE FIELD

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MAKING REDD WORK ARC’s field partner TFCG, in partnership with the local conservation group MJUMITA, has been selected to implement a five-year pilot project to demonstrate how communities can contribute to and benefit from efforts to address climate change. Specifically the project is piloting a community-oriented approach to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, also known as REDD. The project, launched in September 2009, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from and forest degradation in Tanzania by developing a Community Carbon Enterprise. Preventing deforestation could reduce global CO2 emissions by nearly 16 percent. The Enterprise will aggregate voluntary emission reductions from its members and market them according to internationally recognized standards. Revenue generated from the carbon market will be paid to the communities, thus creating financial incentives for local people to leave forests standing.

CONSERVATION BY THE NUMBERS10 Million trees planted (1.3 million trees in 2009 & 2010 alone)275,000 people served250,000 acres of Eastern Arc rainforest conserved4,000 households have switched to fuel-efficient cook stoves200 schools participated in environmental education programs146 villages supported11 new Village Forest Reserves covering 25,000 acres of forest were established in 2009 & 2010

ARC WORKS TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE AFRICAN RAINFORESTS – AMONG THE OLDEST AND MOST BIODIVERSE IN THE WORLD.

Annual Report 2009-2010IN THE FIELD

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FOCUS ON: INCOME GENERATION ARC supports income generation activities that help move communities away from livelihoods that undermine the surrounding forest, such as charcoal production, logging, and evolving agriculture. One activity that has proven successful for hundreds of local farmers is honey production. An example can be seen in the village of Kwamtili in the East Usambaras Mountains where 130 beehives allow a community group to produce honey, selling at 3,000 TZS (approximately $2 USD) per liter in the local market. In order to increase the value of their honey production, TFCG has recently completed the construction of a honey processing center. Through modern processing techniques and packaging, farmers will be able to get a better price for their honey.

FOCUS ON: NEW VILLAGE FOREST RESERVES Supporting people to manage the forests that they live next to lies at the heart of what TFCG does. In Tanzania, national policy and law allows communities to establish their own “Village Forest Reserves.” Over the last two years, TFCG has assisted 11 communities with the steps that are required in order to meet all the legal requirements for establishing Village Forest Reserves. As a result, 25,000 more acres of forest are now legally protected and are being sustainably managed by the communities that own them, bringing it up to a total of 47 Village Forest Reserves that TFCG has helped established.

ARC WORKS TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE AFRICAN RAINFORESTS – AMONG THE OLDEST AND MOST BIODIVERSE IN THE WORLD.

Annual Report 2009-2010ARTISTS FOR AFRICA

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On May 3rd 2010 over 150 guests came together in New York City at Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Center, to celebrate ARC’s 19th annual Artists for Africa benefit. The evening honored NASA’s top climate scientist, Dr. James Hansen, and raised funds through live and silent auctions of African artwork donated by two dozen contributing artists. Proceeds from the evening benefited ARC’s grassroots conservation projects in the Eastern Arc rainforests – a landscape that plays a key role

in mitigating global climate change.

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Joe Zammit Lucia

SPONSORS

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

White & Warren

ARC WORKS TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE AFRICAN RAINFORESTS – AMONG THE OLDEST AND MOST BIODIVERSE IN THE WORLD.

Annual Report 2009-2010PARTNERSHIPS

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Donates 10% of proceeds from its eco-friendly Tree of Life bangle to ARC. www.alexandani.com

Forum for member nonprofits working in Africa. Aid for Africa raises funds on behalf of ARC through the Combined Federal Campaign. ARC’s CFC # is 46974.www. aidforafrica.org

Connects donors with community-based projects that need support.

www.globalgiving.org

Connects donors with global philanthropic opportunities and shows them the impact of their donations.www.jolkona.org

Features the ARC logo on selected bottles of Earth 3.0 Spanish red wines,sponsors the red wine at the annual Artists for Africa benefit, and donatesa portion of profits to support conservation of the Eastern Arc.www.earth-wines.com

Partners with ARC to conserve the Ruvu South Forest Reserve. www.tusk.org

ARC partners with the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group in Tanzania and the African Rainforest Trust in the United KIngdom to carry out its mission of conserving the Eastern ARC rainforest.

ARC WORKS TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE AFRICAN RAINFORESTS – AMONG THE OLDEST AND MOST BIODIVERSE IN THE WORLD.

Annual Report 2009-2010LEADERSHIP

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Carter Coleman, President David Yamner, Treasurer Beth O’Donnell, Secretary Michele Clarke Jay Cone George Grayson Lindy Reilly Sheila Rooney Peter Wirth

ADVISORY BOARDEdward Burns Ann Dexter-Jones Matt Dillon Lisa Fox James Gandolfini Lauren Hutton Carolyn Meier Dr. Michael Oppenheimer Carolyn Roumeguere Christy Turlington Rachel Weisz Dr. Joe Zammit-Lucia

JUNIOR BOARD Jane Johnson Aimee MacCormac Flint Reilly Keenan Reilly Sam Wathen

STAFFKate McLetchie, Executive Director

In November 2009, ARC welcomed Kate McLetchie as its new executive director. With nearly ten years experience in environmental conservation, international development, fundraising, and nonprofit operations, Kate joined the ARC team from Morocco, where she had served for two years as Country Director of the High Atlas Foundation and previously as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Kate spearheads ARC’s fundraising and communications initiatives and runs the day-to-day operations of the organization. She holds a MS in marine and atmospheric science from Stony Brook University (2005), and a BA in biology from Wheaton College, MA (2001).

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

ASSETS

Cash and Cash Equivalents $92,221Contributions Receivable $952Prepaid Expenses $1,293 Loans and Exchanges $5,300

TOTAL ASSETS $99,766

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses $3,500

Unrestricted Net Assets $96,266 TOTAL LIABLITIES AND NET ASSETS $99,766

ARC WORKS TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE AFRICAN RAINFORESTS – AMONG THE OLDEST AND MOST BIODIVERSE IN THE WORLD.

Annual Report 2009-2010FINANCIALS AS OF 12/31/2009

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STATMENT OF ACTIVITIES

SUPPORT AND REVENUE

Annual Benefit $166,829Individual Contributions $70,499Grants $70,000Corporate Contributions $5,201Other Income $94

TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE $312,623

EXPENSES

Program Services $169,824Management and General $68,522Fundraising $26,002

TOTAL EXPENSES $264,348

Change in Net Assets $48,275

Net Assets Beginning of Year $47,991

NET ASSETS END OF YEAR $96,266

AFRICAN RAINFOREST CONSERVANCY560 BROADWAY, SUITE 202

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10012(212) 431-5508

WWW.AFRICANRAINFOREST.ORG

ARC WORKS TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE AFRICAN RAINFORESTS – AMONG THE OLDEST AND MOST BIODIVERSE IN THE WORLD.