Every day subsistence farmers in developing countries destroy more virgin forest to make room for their crops.  The world's forests provide the wood, water, and fuel needed by millions of people.  People in all countries rely on these forests to help maintain global temperatures.  Poverty, deforestation and global warming are advancing hand-in-hand.

But now, Floresta, a Christian non-profit organization, is helping farmers grow wood products and fruit trees in place of soil-destroying traditional crops.  These farmers are halting deforestation, starting reforestation and improving their incomes at the same time.  Floresta also has a vital Christian witness and encourages its farmers to participate in their local churches.

Mission teams from the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church have gone to the Dominican Republic and Mexico with Floresta to help plant trees, assist with Vacation Bible Schools and work along side our partners in community development projects. SBPC has entered into a long-term partnership with the hillside community of Lomas Chimedia, Oaxaca, a town where Floresta is working to improve farming techniques and help the community create programs that will increase the amount of protein in their diets.

Floresta currently has programs in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Mexico.

Contact:        Scott Sabin 
                      Floresta 
                      4903 Morena Blvd Suite 1215 
                      San Diego, CA  92117 
                      e-mail: ScottSabin@xc.org or floresta@xc.org 
                      phone: 619-274-3718 
                      fax: 619-274-3728 
                      web: http://floresta.org