WILD

The WWC Chronicles – Alfred Sibango

“We are only borrowing resources from our children…everything is in our hands for the future generations.” This powerful and thought‐provoking message comes from the personal account of Alfred Sibango, manager of the Kasika Conservancy on the eastern Caprivi floodplain (Namibia), following his great journey North to participate in the 8th World Wilderness Congress. On a personal level, Alfred was struck by the novelty of coldness and the necessity for warm clothing in the great north of Alaska. On a professional level, the experiences of the Congress have transcended Alfred’s work with Kasika Conservancy – the Congress served as an ... Read More

The WWC Chronicles – Megaron Txukarrama

Megaron Txukarramã is no stranger to the perilous battle that wilderness conservation is at times. Megaron is a local chief of the Kayapó Nation, an astonishingly strong and intact traditional society that lives within, protect and manage the Xingu Indigenous Reserve in the Brazilian Rainforest. The Kayapó have warded off numerous development threats, and continuously battle the threats of cultural destruction, food security, habitat degradation and the list goes on… Megaron journeyed with three other Kayapó to Anchorage for the 8th World Wilderness Congress, as part of a sponsored delegation. While in Alaska, they actively participated in the first meeting of ... Read More

Off the Beaten Track – The World’s Least Visited Parks

We all know about the popular park destinations such as Yellowstone NP (USA), Banff NP (Canada), Grand Canyon NP (USA), Sergengti NP ( Tanzania), Sagarmatha National Park (Mount Everest, Nepal), Mount Fuji NP (Japan) and the list goes on.  But, with over 6,555 national parks world-wide (IUCN figure, 2006), there are surely more than a few that are truly "off the beaten track." There are many parks with "wilderness areas," however you define it - but many have no services, no water, no campsites, few trails and are only accessible by floatplane, charter plane or on foot!  These are adventures for ... Read More

Education Without Borders Conference Invites Andrew Muir as Leadership Mentor

Mentoring youth is something that Andrew Muir is very familiar with.  As the Executive Director of our sister organization The Wilderness Foundation (Africa) Andrew is a positive role model and leadership mentor for all of those enrolled in Umzi Wethu. The Umzi program trains AIDS orphans and displaced youth for jobs in the conservation field -- and has a huge wilderness experience component.  These wilderness experiences harness the healing power of wild-nature, and also provide the students with essential leadership tools such as team-work and self-confidence.  Andrew received a 2008 Rolex Award for this ground-breaking and life-changing program. From March 29 ... Read More

A WILD year

Now, I know that WAY too many things happened here at WILD in 2008 to possibly recap in one blog. But I thought I'd go ahead and give a few highlights. This year, we: Provided urgently needed conservation supplies to Angola's Kissama National Park and Chad's Zakouma National Park (Northern Africa); With the International League of Conservation Photographers, launched and implemented Rapid Assessment Visual Expeditions (RAVE) in Bioko and Wyoming; Read More

The Obama Presidency…A Potential Ecological Paradigm

Perhaps we are getting over the "messianic" phase of  the immediate, post-election era.  It is becoming very clear that President-elect Obama will be as pragmatic as he will be change-oriented. We'll thankfully see a whole new attitude on environmental matters--that will not be difficult to accomplish!--but his administration will not be the font of all environmental solutions.    That said, Obama is a transformational figure in US and world politics.  His integration of empowerment, leadership, and diversity is a formula for necessary and potential change, the likes of which we have not seen for very many years.  The environment is one of ... Read More

Wisdom Book

Watch the insightful video here! Read More

AmaDiba Coastal Residents Take a Stand Against Dune Mining Plans

"It's a classic showdown that has rural villagers and traditional leaders on the Wild Coast tackling the South African government for not protecting their land against mining practices which they consider exploitative and rapacious," (Kockott, Sunday Tribune). The Wild Coast, a breathtaking and richly bio-diverse region on the South African Coast, has battled nearly constant threats from mining. The promise of heavy mineral sands, typically consisting of industrial metals and precious stones such as diamonds, sapphires and other gemstones, keeps the interest of international mining companies. What hasn't kept the interest of these mining giants is the impact of extractive ... Read More

A few good days in Barcelona

Everything is relatively quiet right now...but I'm positive that very soon it will not be so.  This evening (Sunday evening, Barcelona time), is the official opening ceremony of the 4th IUCN World Conservation Congress.  Over the past few days, attendees have been arriving in Barcelona, getting settled, attending preliminary meetings and preparing for the week of meetings, events, forums, workshops, etc.  Yesterday, after just arriving in Barcelona (a long haul from Boulder, Colo), I was swept away to a meeting of the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), of which The WILD Foundation is member.  The meeting proved to be an ... Read More

Largest Sockeye Salmon Run Endangered by Proposed Pebble Mine

The situation is far from simple.  Northern Dynasty Minerals, a Canadian based corporation, has proposed an open-pit copper and gold mine in a remote and pristine region of Southwest Alaska.  The proposed mine would sit on a spot of tundra near Lake Iliamna - a 1,000 square mile freshwater lake surrounded by native Nondalton, Iliamna and other villages.   The mine promises an economic boost to the now "poor" villages.  The issue is, how do you define "poor?"  In terms of money and economic wealth, yes the villagers could use a  boost.  But, there are many other riches to be found in this ... Read More