2009 Trans-Amazon Expedition in Support of Rainforest Partnership

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In September, a team from Austin, Texas will be departing to embark across the South American continent on an ambitious descent of the Amazon River. The trip will span three months and 2,500 miles through breathtaking rainforest ecosystems from Chazuta, Peru to the river’s terminus in Belem, Brazil. However, the spirit of the expedition lies not in exotic personal exploration but in the confluence of human curiosity and natural preservation.

The team is collaborating with Rainforest Partnership, an Austin-based nonprofit dedicated to reducing tropical deforestation. Rainforest Partnership has an innovative approach in that it links communities in the U.S. with rainforest communities to reduce tropical deforestation and its global impact on climate change.

The purpose is to simultaneously complete a coast-to-coast paddle and promote the mission of Rainforest Partnership. To facilitate this, the team will provide periodic communication along the way to followers on RP’s blog, Facebook, Twitter and Trip Trekker. Utilizing the strength of first-hand observation and raw photographic images, the team will reach a wide audience for which environmental responsibility may be an isolated concept, without personification. The journey will provide a personal account of a vibrant ecosystem facing living, ongoing issues of human-environmental interactions.

THE TEAM

Joseph Hochman is an undergraduate studying literature and philosophy at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. From a young age, he has been drawn to the outdoors and pursued travel avidly. Joseph has paddled over a dozen rivers including the Pacuare River in Costa Rica, the Futaleufu in Chile, and the Salmon in Idaho. These descents have introduced him to longtime friends and encouraged him to attain certification as a registered Wilderness EMT. When not floating in a boat he enjoys backpacking, snowboarding, and SCUBA diving.

Timothy Hawkins studied Geography at the University of Texas. As a lover of the outdoors his most recent travels have taken him to the backcountry of Alaska’s Denali National Park and to the summit of Mexico’s highest volcano, Orizaba. When not in the backcountry he lives and works as a geographer at the state health department in Austin, TX. Timothy has a passion for adventure photography and is always looking for the next location to shoot.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The team is supported by individuals, local businesses, and larger organizations alike to raise consciousness and financial support for Rainforest Partnership’s efforts. If you would like to join the 2009 Trans-Amazon team’s endeavors to support Rainforest Partnership and/or receive more information, please contact Maurine@rainforestpartnership.org or call 512-420-0101.

DONATION OPTIONS | Donate per mile – 1 mile is the equivalent of $10

Honorary Donor: Under 10 miles, $10 per mile
Tax deduction for your donation to a non-profit organization

Bronze Donor: 10 miles, contribution of $100
Above, plus recognition on Rainforest Partnership website

Silver Donor: 25 miles, contribution of $250
Above, plus your name or company logo on the expedition canoe!

Gold Donor: 100 miles, contribution of $1,000
Above, plus recognition at the Commencement Banquet

Expedition Partner: 500 miles, contribution of $5,000
Above, plus exclusive recognition in every news interview, article, and press release

Mile Marker Partner: This is a chance to stake your claim on key landmarks of the expedition! First mile, mid-way point, and last mile, contribution of $2,000

Same benefits as Gold Donors plus an exclusive shout-outs when the expedition arrives to the designated benchmark