What Others Say About WILD
President Felipe Calderon at WILD9
“I congratulate The WILD Foundation for these three decades of tireless efforts, and because thanks to you we know there is a direct relationship between wilderness protection and the curbing of global warming.” Mexico President Felipe Calderon at the WILD9 Opening Ceremony, 6 November 2009
“As the world’s population increases and the living standards of the people rise, pressure on the Earth’s living resources and land will inevitable increase. Nature will retain its life-giving power only when forests and wildernesses are preserved. Wilderness areas are not only repositories of natural gene-pools. They will also be perhaps the only places where natural changes in plant and animal species will occur. Such areas are, therefore, essential requirements for all countries, rich or developing. Your Congress which addresses itself to the protection of the wilderness, is of great relevance to the present and the future. I wish it every success.” Rajiv Ghandi, Prime Minister of India (October, 1986)
“The 4th World Wilderness Congress was one of the most important and productive conferences or gatherings ever held which addressed the international interface of conservation and sustainable development.” Michael McCloskey, Chairman, Sierra Club (November, 1987)
“I am pleased to represent the board of directors of Friends of Boulder Open Space (FOBOS) to express our support for the WILD Foundation’s vision, Nature Needs Half. WILD and FOBOS came together a couple of years ago. Their advice to us was to promote our open space lands as the treasure they are. We listened, and our message is that our first priority in managing our open space lands must be concern for the preservation of the natural environment. We, Friends of Boulder Open Space are committed to this movement, consider WILD to be wonderful partners, and thank its founders,” Linda Jourgensen, Chair, Friends of Boulder Open Space.
“In 1983, Sierra Club president Denny Shaffer asked me to attend the third World Wilderness Congress near Inverness, Scotland…. I was impressed by the possibilities that the congress presented for future action’” Ed Wayburn from “Your Land and Mine: Evolution of a Conservationist,” by Edgar Wayburn, M.D. with Allison Alsup.
Brendan Mackey at WILD9
“WILD9 worked. No other conservation event consistently achieves so much for humans and nature,” Prof Brendan Mackey, Fenner School of Environment & Sociaty, The Australian National University.
“It was also very impressive to see that WILD, a relatively small organization, with limited resources has initiated and developed such an impressive movement for wilderness especially in the Americas and manages to bring together wilderness supporters from all over the world. It is inspiring and encouraging for the Wilderness Initiative in Europe.” Erica Stanciu, Romania, scholarship recipient WILD9, 2009.
“The Congress has offered revitalization to my perspective of Wilderness as a complete necessity, not luxury,” Andrew Reuter, young professional scholarship recipient WILD9, 2009.
“I have often felt alone, discouraged, while working on trying to protect the Antarctic wilderness. As a result of the Wilderness Management Seminar and WILD9, I feel that I have a worldwide network of wilderness colleagues who I could call upon to work together, which is vital in trying to achieve the protection of a global heritage such as Antarctica,” Tina Tin, scholarship recipient, WILD9 2009.
Hawk Rosales, NLWC, WILD9
“The Congress changed my life–there is no better way to say it. It exceeded my wildest expectations, and helped me look at my life and wilderness in many new ways–ways that will help me engage more effectively in the struggle to protect our Mother Earth,” Hawk Rosales, WILD9 and NLWC participant, InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council, 2009.
“The conference gave me a whole new perspective of wilderness, different from the very personal, emotional, and spiritual place that was for me. Many people from the seminar and the conference, inspired me to keep going with love, hope, and new strengths,” Carla Mora-Trejos, Costa Rica, Clemson University graduate student, 2009.
“It was very important to me to participate in such an important event; I met people that I had only seen on TV (wow!). It was an experience that changed my life, both as a student and as a person,” Efrain Leonel Perales, Ecology Student at Sonora University; Comcaac Community member, 2009.
Aida Abidin, WILD9
“I came back from WILD9 with a deep conviction that what I am doing is true. I have shared my stories with others and have found others to be an inspiration,” Siti Zuraidah (Aida) Abidin, Malaysia, 2009.
“To share with the organizers and participants the dreams for a better world gave the energy to develop my work with more effectiveness and focus. It was like to have discovered the ecological objectives of environmentalism again!” Jesus Delgado, Brazil, 2009.
