WILD

Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition

In case you haven't heard, our partners at the Florida Wildlife Corridor began their expedition on January 17th. This trek is set to cover about 1,000 miles over 100 days and starts by traversing the Everglades ecosystem into Big Cypress, over to the Everglades Agricultural Area, back to the Okaloacoochee Slough, across the Caloosahatchee, over to Babcock Ranch, back along Fisheating Creek toward Lake Okeechobee, up the Kissimmee River with excursions toward the Lake Wales Ridge, up the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, east around Orlando into Ocala National Forest, and north along the O2O corridor ... Read More

The fishing cat wants to swim…Pass it on!

Sob stories about endangered species are so 2011. So instead we’re sending you a tale about a CAT in WATER. A story about how community, photos and film are giving an endangered animal, the aptly named fishing cat, a chance at survival. Read More

Help us save the Fishing Cat!

Morgan and Joanna of our CAT in WATER team sent us the latest update on their field expedition in Thailand. The girls are making great progress on tracking the fishing cat and even captured their first glimpse on the camera trap! Read what the team has to say about their obstacles and possible solutions...will you help us save the fishing cat? Read More

CAT in WATER Update & Adovcacy

The adventurous CAT in WATER team is gearing up for their travel to see the fishing cats in Thailand.  And, as they prepare, the fishing cat's visibility in the international conservation world continues to grow.  The latest news, as reported by Mongabay.com feature, highlights an urgent issue for the fishing cats. US food giant DOLE is cited with illegally growing bananas in the Somawathiya National Park in Sri Lanka, a known safe-haven for the fishing cat. See the satellite imagery > Read More

Make Your Voice Count for the Spirit Bear

Yesterday, our colleague Simon Jackson (founder and chairman of the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition), circulated an call for help with the Spirit Bear Campaign.  Currently, there are two major preventable threats to the spirit bear: an urgent need for a meaningful sanctuary in their last intact ecosystem and the long term concern of oil spills from tanker traffic in the waters within this wilderness.  Today, you can speak up to help prevent oil spills from tanker traffic --- and your voice is urgently needed! Here is the call-to-action from the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition and their partners: We are asking you, on ... Read More

“I Imagined” – Poem from Recent Umzi Wethu Graduate

Below is a poem by recent Umzi Wethu graduate Geovalda Cupido, who was part of the Umzi 8 Conservation Academy.  Umzi Wethu, a program run by the Wilderness Foundation (Africa) is a cutting edge program for AIDS orphans and disadvantaged youth that uses the power of the wilderness, promotes personal wellness in a nurturing home context, provides credible training, and secures sustainable job placements in hospitality and eco-tourism establishments - while extending the program's social outreach to others. Last week, Umzi graduated it's eight class -- which Geovalda was a part of.  Here are her words... Read More

EcoSchools at Isandlwana

On of the ongoing programs in the Isandlwana Village (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) is Eco-Schools.  This program brings environmental learning and action into the classrooms in a constructive and participatory way.  The Isandlwana primary school is one of the local leaders in the program, having earned a silver certificate for their efforts in their gardening projects. Read More

My Journey “In the Tracks of Giants” – Art & Conservation

"Strictly speaking, there is no such thing as human nature.  There is only Nature and the very human expression of it.  To understand this is to understand the significance of what we need to do if we are to restore the lost balance.  Our task is not to go back to Nature but to give back to Nature.  How about half of our energy, our thoughts, our language and our hearts?  Nature needs it and Nature will give back," Ian McCallum, UNTAMED, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town (South Africa). When wild-nature seems far away - either physically because we have not ... Read More

My Journey “In the Tracks of Giants” – Transboundary Conservation

Animals, seeds, air and water move freely across landscapes --- only humans feel the need to define our landscapes with political boundaries.  Transboundary conservation areas, or conservation areas that span these defined political boundaries, are vitally important to ensure that nature survives and thrives.  WILD is deeply committed to connectivity and it is a core principle to the vision of Nature Needs Half. Global climate change and ever expanding human development increases the urgency for consciously connecting protected areas. The Peace Parks Foundation, based just outside of Cape Town, South Africa, is one of the leading organizations world-wide working on transboundary ... Read More

My Journey “In the Tracks of Giants” – World Heritage Designations

Today our group arrived in Cape Town and I was surprised by how large the city is! We settled into our accommodation at the Harfield Guest Villa and got set for a few days of meetings and fun. One of our longtime colleagues, Dr. Karen Ross, is joining us for several meetings and events over the next few days. Karen is undoubtably one of the world’s leading experts on the Okavango Delta in Botswana and is currently working on elevating the level of protection for the Okavango by pursuing World Heritage status. Read More