Supporter of the week: Dr John Hemming

Hannah Booth

09 February 2012

To celebrate Friends of the Earth's 40th anniversary, I've been talking to some of the supporters who've made it all possible. Dr John Hemming (right) is a writer and explorer.

"The rainforest gives the world three things.

• It absorbs our carbon.
• It provides rain for much of Brazil and Argentina, even parts of the Caribbean.
• And it has the richest biodiversity on Earth.

"I first saw the Amazon in 1961, aged 25, and fell in love. I was exploring the Iriri, then believed to be the world's longest unexplored river, with two friends and our Indian guides.

"The Brazilian government had authorised us to name landmarks, so we named them after our Brazilian girlfriends.

"We still haven't documented everything - if we continue to destroy it, we could be destroying a cancer cure. Protecting it is actually looking after humanity.

"It humbles you, too. In 1961, we had been there 3 months when my friend, Richard Mason, was ambushed and killed by a long-range hunting party of, at that time, uncontacted Parará tribesmen.

"There are still many uncontacted tribes in Brazil. One of the biggest threats facing them is deforestation.

"The construction of vast highways, to transport products like timber, beef and soya faster, is a big worry. Paving is a real killer.

"What can we do to help? Simple things like avoiding mahogany, eating ethical soya, and supporting organisations.

"We all have to be custodians of the rainforest."

To see all the supporters I've interviewed visit our 40th Anniversary Gallery.

Hannah Booth also writes Lives Less Ordinary.