Donor story: Rainforest protection as a baby gift
What do you give a child at the start of their life? For parents Laurens and Denise, it wasn’t a pile of gifts, but a message. A message about what really matters. About caring for the earth and looking beyond today. Their decision to set up a fundraiser for Adopt Rainforest around the birth of their children tells an inspiring story.
His involvement in nature conservation did not happen overnight. “I can’t pinpoint the exact moment when I decided to start donating,” says Laurens. However, his environment did play a role. His girlfriend Denise had been a donor to the WWF for a long time, which made him think.
At the same time, his life was (and still is) pretty full. Working as a soldier in the armed forces, teaching, and also working on a PhD program: it leaves little room to actively organize something for a good cause. “I simply don’t have the time to do that properly. That’s why I prefer to support people and organizations that can,” says Laurens. What was important in this regard was a shared preference for nature conservation goals. Together with his girlfriend, he came to feel that nature conservation is not an “extra,” but a necessity.
The feeling of a ‘point of no return’
Why nature in particular? For Laurens, the answer is clear. “I strongly feel that we are heading toward a point of no return. Once certain natural habitats have disappeared, they will never return.” That makes nature conservation goals fundamentally different from many other charitable causes. “Other causes sometimes feel temporary: you help improve or solve something, but then it’s done. With nature, it feels different. If we don’t take action now, it will only continue to deteriorate.” That urgency was the deciding factor. Not later, not someday, but contributing to protection now, before it’s too late.
Via Costa Rica to Adopt Rainforest
The road to Adopt Rainforest ran through Costa Rica. Due to COVID-19, a planned trip had to be canceled twice. During the preparations, he read extensively and searched for information about nature in the country. That’s how he ended up at Adopt a Rainforest online. “The website immediately appealed to me.” What stood out in particular was the broader approach. Not only protecting what is still there, but also investing in education and employment for the local population. “That felt like more than just sticking plasters. It’s not a short-term solution, but something that can really last.” That vision inspired confidence and led to a monthly donation.
“Since I’ve had children, I’ve become much more aware of this. You automatically think more about the world you’re leaving behind.”
Being a parent changes your perspective
The arrival of children changed something. There are now two young children in the family, and that brings a new perspective. “Since I’ve had children, I’ve become much more aware of this. You automatically think more about the world you’re leaving behind.” The first period with one child felt relatively straightforward. With two young children, time becomes scarcer, but motivation grows. Precisely because the future suddenly takes on a face. The idea of starting a fundraising campaign around the birth did not come out of nowhere. Through friends, there was already a family that had done this. “That stuck with me,” says Laurens.
A different kind of baby gift
A different kind of baby giftThe idea took shape when their daughter was born in January 2024. Even before she was born, her parents decided they wanted to do something similar. Not more stuff, but something that would have a greater impact. “We wanted to teach her right away that having lots of stuff isn’t the most important thing,” says Laurens. “That consumer society is not what we want to teach our children.” That is why they opted for a fundraiser for Adopt Rainforest as an alternative baby gift. A call was added to the birth announcement: anyone who wanted to give something could contribute to the protection of the rainforest.
The responses were positive. Many people thought it was a nice and original idea. “Most people responded very positively and enthusiastically.” At the same time, there were also people who asked questions. Why would you do that? Why not give a ‘normal’ gift? It was precisely those questions that proved valuable. “It sparked conversations,” he says. Conversations about what we find important, about sustainability, and about the world we are passing on to the next generation. A friend who had previously set up a similar campaign later said how special he found it to see that his idea had inspired others. That chain reaction felt like an added bonus for Laurens and Denise.
This choice has now been made twice. A fundraising campaign was set up for both children. This is no coincidence, but a conscious decision. “It’s important that the children can look back on this later. That they know: this was something we considered important from the start.” It’s not about perfection, Laurens emphasizes, but about intention. To show that you can make choices that go beyond yourself. That a gift can also consist of protecting nature, creating opportunities for local communities, and building a future.
Inspiration for others
This donor story shows that impact does not always have to be big or complicated. Sometimes it starts with a personal choice, at a special moment in life. By offering an alternative, you invite others to think along with you, and perhaps even join in. Adopt a Rainforest is proud of donors who contribute in this way. Not only by giving, but by telling a story. A story about caring for the earth, about responsibility, and about what we really want to leave behind for our children.
Would you also like to contribute to the rainforest in a special way? Be inspired and discover what your impact can be!
on with Utrecht University. The foundation was ready for a new step to professionalize the research project and Utrecht University was looking for a stable and reliable partner in Central America to conduct solid research in the rainforest. So for both parties this is a wonderful collaboration! Because of this we will make a big step in professionalizing our current research on biodiversity in our reserve. Together with the visiting students we will focus on scientific research in which the diversity and development of nature in our reserve, with an emphasis on flora, is central.