| WHO WE ARE
The Student Rainforest Fund (SRF) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), educational
organization that raises funds though private and corporate donations
to help underwrite expeditions to the world’s rainforests for college
students who are studying the health professions. These students get invaluable
experience and education on the “roots” of their chosen profession. The
students learn about medicinal plants, herbs, and botanicals in the world’s
greatest pharmacy (the rainforest). They also work closely with indigenous
healers in the field, learn about the ecology of the country and the need
for fostering environmental stewardship, and get a more holistic approach
to healing and medicine that could never be taught in the classroom.
OUR MISSION
To provide college students with the opportunity to explore the natural
history of medicine and evoke the “healing edge” of knowledge regarding
natural products and phytomedicinals in the world’s greatest pharmacy
- the rainforest. To pursue a more holistic approach to the healing of
the body, mind and spirit by learning from unique practitioners, and to
gain an invaluable international perspective by working with indigenous
peoples from different cultures.
2008 Peruvian Amazon and Machu Picchu
VALUES
The SRF team believes that conservation of bio-diversity and the
prevention of the extinction of species are ethical efforts for the preservation
of all life forms on the planet. We are committed to the preservation
of the indigenous peoples who live there. These wonderful and knowledgeable
healers, midwives, shamans, and bushmasters are our teachers. We strive
to protect not only their environment and traditions, but also their intellectual
rights. They have vast and time-tested knowledge of plant medicines and
we respect their way of practicing medicine without judgement. We believe
that science-based knowledge gained from our profession education and
training is also valuable, and our hope is to better integrate conventional
with complementary medicine.
Students participating
in a lab practicum
on medicinal plants |
VISION
We envision a world where plant life in a natural environment is abundant
and extinctions are rare. We recognize that nearly 80 percent of the world’s
people (mostly in developing countries) still mainly rely on medicinal
plants to treat their diseases and illnesses. We know that 20-25 percent
of all pharmaceuticals and drugs carried in pharmacies are still natural
products or come from semi-natural sources. We have learned that nearly
half of the pharmaceutical manufacturers in the world are making efforts
to go back to nature to possibly find new blockbuster drugs. They are
risking research dollars for that one in ten million chance that a plant
or tuber from the rainforest might produce a drug that can someday cure
AIDS, cancer, diabetes, or many other diseases that modern medicine has
no cure for. We fear that continued destruction of precious and bio-diverse
rainforests may eliminate any chance that these miracle drugs could be
discovered.
Belize 2001
Walking the savannah at
Payne's Creek National Park to see the Howler monkeys
NICHE
The SRF is the only organization of its type America that offers
college students studying the health professions this unique educational
and life-changing experience as an independent organization. SRF
is not affiliated with any particular university, foundation or organization,
although we work with any school or group interested in our mission and
philosophy. The SRF expeditions make the rainforest the classroom
and provides an educational experience to the student that is unmatched
in any college or university course. 
2003 SRF Faculty
Dr. Norbert Pilewski, Dr. Dan Wagner,
Dr. Rosita Arvigo, Dr. Steve Morris
|
About Us
country of Ecuador in June 2011. Ecuador has more biodiversity in its small land area (about the size of Colorado)
than does the United States, China or Russia. This trip will take the adventurous student
to the Amazon rainforest in the east (along the mighty Napo River), and then south to
the Sacred Valley of Vilcabamba, a mile high in the Andes Mountain range. It is well known
that the many centenarians of Vilcabamba lives to be 125 to 130 years old- the oldest in the
world! Is it the magical water they drink, the healthy air and climate, the vegetarian foods
they consumes, or the plant medicines that they have used for Millenium? We’re going to try
to find out. We’ll also be climbing Mandango peak. Legend says that this was a sacred
mountain to the Inca Indians from centuries ago. One thing we know for sure -- Mandango is
a brisk climb and the view from the top is breath-taking as you get a panorama of the entire
valley of Vilcabamba. It is never too early to reserve your spot for the 2011 SRF Green Expedition. 
