What have we been up to? How can you get involved?

We've been busy the past few month's jump starting the MACAW PROJECT - we've raised $9,600 of the first $30,000 goal to begin construction! Donate to help us break ground! https://www.donorbox.org/macaw-project

JUST ONE TREE - we've provided 12,315 almendro saplings on 7 islands and 4 areas on the main land in Bocas del Toro! Donate just $20 to sponsor a tree. https://www.donorbox.org/just-one-tree-10-000-tree-challenge

NATIVE FARM PROGRAM- We've visited 10 local communities - bringing plant starts, learning, cooking together with tropical super foods.

COMING SOON...RETURN TO OUR ROOTS! A project promoting plant-based eating and compassion to animals.

Butler Soy Curls are incredible!!! On the journey to eating plant-based, these are an incredible addition to our diet. They are high-quality protein, high fiber, low fat, and a texture like chicken breast (seriously, taste like chicken)

This month, Planet Rehab is thrilled to have hosted a short Expedition in Bocas del Toro, Panama. A group of 12 US veterans from LiboRisk joined us for an inspiring 2 day stay including tours of Green Acres Chocolate Farm.

I am Ivo, Spanish, art dealer, although I no longer work. 8 years ago I decided to stop working and live here in the jungle (in Bocas del Toro). I currently spend my time conserving this jungle space where I live, planting trees, protecting animals and any activity dedicated to spreading veganism and nature conservation.

Our Just One Tree Project grows saplings from our mature Almendro Trees which, with the help of our community partners, we transplant to bio-sensitive regions of Bocas del Toro, Panama where they are protected. To date we’ve supplied over 12,000 saplings for planting. Our goal for this year is to plant a total of 15,000.

A couple weeks ago we heard about this app, PalmOil Scan by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which is an invaluable tool for checking if things you might buy contain palm oil, which is often hidden deep in the list of ingredients; or if their parent companies don’t have a good track record with environmental practices. We downloaded the app, opened up the fridge…

With its recent achievement of over 10,500 Almendro trees planted over the Bocas del Toro providence, Planet Rehab started to focus on the next step which involves the Great Green Macaw restoration. Obviously, if the organization had tried to plant that many trees itself, it would have taken years. But it wasn’t alone. There were numerous other organizations, local groups, and individuals that help to make that goal come to fruition.

I’ve been traveling to Bocas del Toro several times a year for the past 3 years and first visited Green Acres Chocolate Farm and Botanical Gardens in early 2021. Gary, Planet Rehab’s founder, gives tours of the organic cocoa farm which highlight sustainable practices, the seriousness of climate change, and the urgency for us all to take action.

Planet Rehab has always tried to have education about important topics and issues be a cornerstone of its existence. It’s used articles, interviews, events, and social media to help bring these messages to the public. Just a few years ago, Planet Rehab’s founder, Gary Mitchell, relocated to Bocas del Toro, Panama. He brought his mission of education and passion for preservation with him.

We held our first Dockside Chat at the beginning of July 2023 and had a blast connecting with friends of our mission and discussing the impact we are making on the environment. We’re sorry we missed you, but hope you’ll be able to join at the next one (date to be determined). In the meantime, please don’t be a stranger and feel free to reach out if you have questions or want to join us in our work.

WATCH THE VIDEO FROM THE CHAT

Director Adam McKay’s satirical science fiction movie Don’t Look Up has quickly gained a lot of media attention since its release in December 2021. The film tells the story of two astronomers who discover a comet heading for Planet Earth, bigger than the one that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, and sure to end human society as we know it.

8,500 fires. Over 4 million acres burned. Nearly 10,000 structures destroyed. All in less than three months. California has never experienced a wildfire season this severe.

The state’s fire seasons have only lengthened and intensified over the past few decades—and even in the last couple years. Today, eight times more land is burned annually than was burnt in the 1970s.

The 2021 documentary film Seaspiracy by Ali Tabrizi, who has made a name for himself with his previous works Cowspiracy and What The Health, looks at the environmental impact that us humans have on our oceans. This includes the pollution of our oceans with plastics and – even more importantly – the destructive impact of commercial fishing.

A 2013 study conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization brings awareness to the effects livestock used to produce meats such as beef have on climate change. Not only does the production of beef contribute to global warming, but it also is costing us water supply that could be used to meet the need of billions of people around the world.