As Human-i-Tees releases its new The Living Forest tee, we’ve begun to examine the organizations working hardest to protect the ecosystems that these designs are meant to honor:
The rainforest is often described as the lungs of our planet. It breathes life into our climate by absorbing massive amounts of carbon dioxide, regulating global weather systems, and sustaining millions of species found nowhere else on Earth. Yet every year, deforestation continues to strip away these vital ecosystems—driven by logging, agriculture, and development. Protecting the rainforest is not just about saving trees; it’s about preserving biodiversity, stabilizing our climate, and ensuring the survival of communities who depend on these forests every single day.
One organization that has been at the forefront of this work is the Rainforest Trust. Founded in 1988, Rainforest Trust has refined a conservation model built on permanence, community engagement, and targeted focus on the most threatened areas of the world. Since its inception, the organization has helped protect more than 57.8 million acres across 64 countries through the creation of reserves and community-driven conservation projects. Their impact is not simply a matter of scale but also of approach, which emphasizes efficiency, transparency, and partnership.
At the core of Rainforest Trust’s work is the acquisition and legal protection of land. The organization identifies areas under imminent threat that are also irreplaceable for biodiversity and climate stability, often within tropical “Key Biodiversity Areas.” By purchasing or securing legal protections for these lands, Rainforest Trust ensures they remain intact and safeguarded for generations to come. Their claim that 99% of the land they protect remains standing is a testament to both the durability of their model and the long-term benefits of prioritizing permanence.
What makes this strategy effective is the way it integrates local communities. Rainforest Trust doesn’t impose top-down solutions. Instead, they build partnerships with local NGOs, indigenous groups, and community leaders. These partners receive training, resources, and technical support, ensuring that conservation is more than just a legal designation—it is a lived, daily reality. This local legitimacy means protected areas are not abstract lines on a map but working landscapes where communities play a central role in stewardship.
Their prioritization process is equally rigorous. Using datasets like the IUCN Red List and spatial threat models, Rainforest Trust determines which regions offer the highest returns for conservation investment. Monitoring continues after protection is secured, with ongoing oversight and enforcement. This data-driven approach is one reason the organization consistently receives high marks from watchdog groups, including a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. Another distinguishing feature is their financial structure: 100% of project donations go directly to conservation work, with operating expenses covered separately by board members and other funding streams. For donors concerned about efficiency, this is a strong signal of credibility.
Still, no model is without risks. Rainforest Trust’s success depends in part on local political stability; shifting government policies can threaten enforcement. Conservation also requires continuity—funding interruptions could weaken protections over time. Measuring the true counterfactual impact (what would have happened without their intervention) is difficult, and in some regions, land rights conflicts pose challenges to permanence. Yet even with these caveats, Rainforest Trust stands out in an effective-altruism framework. Their work is measurable, their interventions are durable, and their strategies offer high leverage per dollar.
For those who prefer to make changes in their daily lives rather than through direct donations, there are still meaningful ways to protect rainforests:
- Choose certified products with Rainforest Alliance or FSC labels that ensure forests are not being exploited.
- Rethink your diet by cutting back on beef or soy, two of the leading drivers of deforestation.
- Check for palm oil in foods and cosmetics, opting for alternatives when possible.
- Support reforestation efforts by volunteering or donating to groups planting trees and restoring ecosystems.
- Spread awareness by sharing what you learn and starting conversations with friends and family.
The takeaway is clear: protecting rainforests is both urgent and possible. Organizations like Rainforest Trust demonstrate how targeted, transparent, and community-centered action can make a measurable difference, turning even modest contributions into outsized benefits for our planet. For those who choose not to give, everyday choices—from what we buy to what we eat—still ripple outward. The rainforest may be the lungs of our planet, but we are the breath that determines whether it continues to thrive.
**Photo by Leonardo Carrato, Bloomberg. “Healthy vegetation sits alongside a field scorched by fire in the Amazon rainforest.”