World Land Trust, the international conservation charity, is celebrating 25 years of successfully protecting the world's most biologically important and threatened habitats with a VIP event at the Princess Anne Theatre, BAFTA, in London on 6 May 2014.

During the event, entitled 'Saving Paradise: An Acre-by-Acre Journey',guestswill be treated to an introduction by Sir David Attenborough, who has been involved with the Trust since its inception in 1989 and a patron since 2003. He will be joined by a number of the Trust's overseas conservation partners who will also give short presentations about the diverse conservation challenges and solutions in their countries. Orchid expect, Lou Jost, will also be highlighting the race to recognise and name new species before they are lost forever.

John Burton, CEO of World Land Trust, commented: “We are extremely proud to celebrate 25 years of saving some of the world's most important natural ecosystems, and are delighted to celebrate this milestone with our supporters and patrons. There is still a lot more to be done, of course, and we look forward to continuing to protect many more threatened acres in the years to come.”

Sir David Attenborough has previously commented: “I realised that John was someone who got things done. When he established World Land Trust in 1989, I believed that John would get funds to where they were most needed – to the people in the countries who were losing their tropical forests to the bulldozer. The support that is given to World Land Trust is support that goes directly to the places where it is needed. The money that is given to World Land Trust, in my estimation, has more effect on the wild world than almost anything I can think of."

Since its foundation in 1989, World Land Trust's main focus has been to fund the purchase and protection of critically important habitats on the verge of destruction. So far the Trust has managed to save 500,000 acres as nature reserves and leveraged the protection of much more. An essential part of World Land Trust's philosophy is to work through local conservation groups, and help build their capacity so that they are better able to protect the wildlife in their countries and the habitats on which they depend.

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For more information please contact:

McCluskey International 

Judy McCluskey / Sarah Salord / Jessica Meins

T: 020 8747 2170

E: worldlandtrust@mccluskey.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

About World Land Trust (WLT):

World Land Trust (WLT) is an international conservation charity, which protects the world's most biologically important and threatened habitats acre by acre. Since its foundation in 1989, WLT has funded partner organisations around the world to create reserves, and give permanent protection to habitats and wildlife. The mission of the World Land Trust is: To protect and sustainably manage natural ecosystems of the world; To conserve their biodiversity, with emphasis on threatened habitats and endangered species; To develop partnerships with local individuals, communities and organisations to engage support and commitment among the people who live in project areas; To raise awareness, in the UK and elsewhere, of the need for conservation, to improve understanding and generate support through education, information and fundraising.