Johan Eliasch, a Swedish billionaire and entrepreneur, bought approximately 400,000 acres of Amazon rainforest in Brazil in 2005, with the primary goal of preserving the land and preventing deforestation. Here’s a detailed look at his story:
Eliasch acquired the land, which included a plywood factory, from a Brazilian logging firm called Gethal Amazonas for around £8 million (approximately $11 million as of 2025). He promptly closed the factory, halting logging operations and preserving the land for future generations.
Eliasch estimated that his actions helped avoid the release of up to 80 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, a significant contribution to the fight against climate change. His conservation efforts have been recognised globally, highlighting the role private individuals can play in environmental stewardship.
Eliasch’s commitment to environmental causes extends beyond this purchase. He founded the Rainforest Trust, an international NGO dedicated to protecting threatened tropical rainforests, which has safeguarded millions of acres globally. He also co-leads Cool Earth, a nonprofit that supports indigenous communities in rainforest regions, empowering them to combat deforestation.
Eliasch’s interest in environmental issues stems from personal observations of the impact of climate change on his favourite skiing spots in Sweden. He believes that individual actions can make a substantial difference in global conservation efforts and has launched initiatives like the FIS Rainforest Initiative to offset carbon emissions from winter sports events.
Johan Eliasch (born February 1962) is a Swedish-British businessman, investor, sports administrator, environmentalist and philanthropist. He was the chief executive of Head, a sporting goods company, from 1995 to 2021, and is now its chairman. The Sunday Times Rich List put him in number 42 of UK’s richest in May 2025 with a net worth estimated at £4 billion.
Eliasch’s story serves as an inspiration for high-net-worth individuals to follow suit and contribute to global conservation efforts. His multifaceted approach to conservation underscores his belief in the interconnectedness of global ecosystems and the importance of preserving biodiversity.
The Royal Mail, UK. issued a set of 10 postage stamps, a miniature sheet and a prestige stamp book to commemorate the WWF’s 50th anniversary on March 22, 2011.
The WWF, originally known as the World Wildlife Fund, was founded in 1961 by wildlife experts to address environmental issues globally.
Each animal featured in the stamps set – the African elephant, mountain gorilla, Siberian tiger, polar bear, Amur leopard, Iberian lynx, red panda, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and the golden lion tamarin (monkey) – is classified as an endangered or vulnerable species (Amur River in Northeast Asia forms a border between China and Russia and flows into the Sea of Okhotsk).
The four-stamp miniature sheet focusses on four species native to the Amazon Rainforest, aligning with 2011 being the UN Year of Forests and the theme of Post Europ. They are: spider monkey, hyacinth macaw, poison dart frog and jaguar.
Postage stamp images courtesy Rainbow Stamp Club.
Image of Johan Eliasch courtesy Wikipedia.