WILD

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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

A Glimpse into History – Ian Player’s Perspective

"In 1983 at the World Wilderness Congress held at Findhorn in Scotland , Vance Martin and I visited the ancestral home of  Col. Rouaylen Gordon Cumming  and met the grandson. We were shown the famous horn of 56 and a half inches long. It was shot in the 1840'S  by Col Gordon Cumming and has remained a world record.   I was asked by Col Gordon Cumming's grandson few years after our visit what the value  horn was  because it stolen  and taken to Hong Kong where it was ground up. I said it was impossible to put a price on it. Thank ... Read More

Felipe Calderon, President of Mexico supports WILD 9

Planning for WILD 9 is really heating up!  The latest news is a huge honor for the WILD and WILD 9 teams -- The President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon, expressed his support to WILD9 through an official letter, in which he says that he has received with approval the news of the realization of "such an important event". He also states that "the distinguished members of the Congress" will confirm Mexico's potential, and that the Congress will deal with subjects of interest for the world and for his government. Read his letter of support >> Learn more about WILD 9, the 9th ... Read More

Hanging out in Bozeman

This week American Wildlands celebrates its 30th Anniversary - and doing so with a great line-up of events.  Not wanting to miss out on the fun, I flew into Bozeman this afternoon, and attended a riveting talk by Roderick Nash, author of "Wilderness and the American mind," a seminal book on wilderness (as well as several other books and many more accomplishments).  Nash's talk was a flash history lesson on the views, definitions and key people working on conservation issues in the US.  He added some very humorous pieces - which were funny mostly because they were true.  My favorite was a photo ... Read More

Dehcho First Nations Urge Government to Support Major Expansion on Nahanni Park

The Dehcho First Nations have a rigorous conservation agenda - their assembly has approved and are urging the Northwest Territory and Federal Government of Canada to expand the Nahanni Park from its current 3,700 sq km to 42,000 sq km.  The resolution by the Dehcho First Nations is heartily supported by Parks Canada, and would protect all but 5% of the watershed from any type of development.  The forward thinking Dehcho, unfortunately, have been met by some opposition at the territorial and federal levels.  It appears there are more parties, voices and red-tape than needed, and the government is supporting a lesser expansion, in ... Read More

USGS teams with American Tribes and Canadian First Nations to Survey Ancestral Waters

The Salish Sea, which encompasses the Strait of Georgia in BC, the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Washington State and BC and the Puget Sounds in Washington State, has become nothing short of a toxic dump.  It is a pool of heavy metals, toxins, farm run-off and other non-point pollution...and it is also one of the most sacred sites to the Coast Salish - a group of both American and Canadian Native Peoples.  In an epically smart move, USGS is teaming with the Coast Salish to monitor the health of the Sea.  Starting this Tuesday (8 July), 100 canoes, paddled ... Read More

The World Heritage Committee’s 32nd Annual Session

The World Heritage Committee is currently meeting for its 32nd annual session, located this year in Canada from July 2- July 10. The committee is discussing the possibility of adding 13 new natural sites and 34 new cultural sites requested by different governments to UNESCO’s list (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).  The committee is also evaluating 30 World Heritage Sites on the “Danger List”. The committee will decide three things: 1) which sites should remain on the list; 2) which new sites should be added; 3) and which sites are not as threatened as before, and should be removed from the list. The “List in Danger” includes ... Read More