Why Preserve
the Rainforest?
Climate change — caused by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions — threatens species, biodiversity and life on Earth as we know it. According to Conservation International and other environmental experts, the destruction of tropical forests contributes 20% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and fuels climate change. But conserving forests — the lungs of the Earth — is one of the most important things we can do to improve the climate.
We invite you to join us in protecting the rainforest. Marriott has taken steps to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions through Spirit To Preserve, its five-point environmental strategy. To help offset its remaining carbon footprint, Marriott has committed $2 million to help protect the Juma rainforest reserve in the State of Amazonas, Brazil. Ten dollars will offset the carbon for your next ten roomnights at Marriott hotels and is tax deductible for U.S. taxpayers.
Marriott’s Carbon Footprint
To calculate Marriott's carbon footprint of 3 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually — or .031 metric tons (69.5 pounds) per available room — the company measured its electricity and gas consumption in guest rooms and public spaces at nearly 1,000 managed hotels worldwide, as well as at its headquarters building and regional offices. The calculation followed the World Resources Institute's Greenhouse Gas Protocol and has been independently certified by ICF International, a leader in climate change consulting services.
Based on these calculations, a $1 contribution will offset the average carbon generated per occupied guest room per night. Your $10 minimum contribution will help offset up to 10 roomnights.
About Juma
The Juma Sustainable Development Reserve encompasses 1.4 million acres of pristine rainforest (589,000 hectares) and is set along the Aripuanã river in the State of Amazonas, Brazil. It is rich in biodiversity, including reptiles, amphibians and mammals, including 21 species of primates. Nearly 2,500 people -- including 350 families -- call Juma home.
Through an agreement with the Amazonas Sustainable Foundation and the State of Amazonas, Marriott is helping to preserve the future for Juma’s residents, who in turn will help protect the rainforest from illegal farming and logging. Your contribution will help fund personnel and equipment to monitor and protect the forest, a school and education curriculum, medical facility, community center and more.
Without intervention, it's projected that up to 62% of the Juma rainforest will be lost to illegal deforestation activities by 2050, resulting in 4 million tons of carbon emissions in the first 10 years alone. These projections have been certified by TÜV-SÜD, an independent accredited environmental auditing firm, which awarded the project “gold status,” the highest rating according to the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards.
Questions?
1 – How much should I contribute?
You can contribute any dollar amount you choose, $10 or more. By collecting a minimum of $10 per transaction, we can minimize per-transaction costs and ensure that as much of the contribution as possible goes to protect Juma.
2 – Where does my contribution go? Does my entire contribution help save the rainforest?
Your contribution will go to the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region (CFNCR), a Washington, DC-based nonprofit, which will forward your contribution to the Amazonas Sustainable Foundation in Brazil to be used exclusively for the Juma project. We have partnered with JustGive.org, our payment processor, to minimize administrative and transaction costs, which are only 30 cents per transaction. Your credit card company will also collect a 4% processing fee, and CFNCR collects a standard 1 percent processing fee. Because CFNCR is a charitable organization under Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Tax Code, contributions by U.S. taxpayers are tax deductible (unless the donor exceeds individual contribution limits).
3 – Why do I need to make two separate transactions, one to book my hotel stay and one to make a donation?
To make the process as efficient as possible, your contribution to Juma is being administered by JustGive.org which will promptly process your donation for the Amazonas Sustainable Foundation and send you an email receipt for your tax records.
4 – How will the donation appear on my credit card?
Your donation to Juma will be listed on your credit card statement with the name of the payment processor, JustGive.org.
5 – Can I make a donation in a foreign currency?
When you charge your donation in U.S. dollars, it will automatically be converted to your local currency and will be shown on your statement.
6 – What if I need to cancel or change my reservation? Will that affect my contribution as well?
Your credit card will be charged immediately after entering "submit" even if you later need to cancel or change your hotel reservation.
7 – Other Questions?
Call Marriott Customer Care at 866-202-9015.
Marriott Spirit To Preserve
Preserving the rainforest and offsetting the carbon generated during a hotel stay is the centerpiece of Marriott’s Spirit To Preserve, our five-point environmental strategy, which also calls for:
- Reducing our water, waste and energy consumption by 25% per available room by 2018 through a range of measures, including:
- Installation of solar power at up to 40 hotels by 2017.
- Expansion of recycling programs already in place at 90 percent of hotels to include guest and meeting rooms, beginning with pilot hotels in six key cities.
- Greening our $10 billion supply chain by engaging the company’s top 40 vendors to supply greener products at no additional cost to Marriott or its guests.
- Creating green construction standards for our hotel developers to achieve LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
- Educating and inspiring employees and guests to support the environment through their everyday actions at home, while at work and on travel.
For the latest updates on how Marriott and its guests are going green, visit Marriott Spirit To Preserve and follow Green Marriott on Twitter.
