Reviving & protecting life
Earth is a planet of life. What used to rule and govern our world does not understand life, and is not of it. We have already come so far in turning things around, empowering our communities, and taking on responsibility for the destruction of forests, ocean life etc. that we previously allowed to happen. From a grassroots level we have built communities which truly care, which embody equity between beings, which change the ways in which we look at, talk about and engage with the life that surrounds us. Let’s keep navigating to that direction with full steam ahead. There is nothing more fulfilling,
Take a look at the related pages ‘Reconnecting with Earth’ and ‘Environmental & human rights’, and our blog post ‘Seed saving – What about the trees?‘. There is no difference between you and a tree, between you and a buffalo. If we destroy the buffalo, we destroy ourselves. If we respect and nourish the tree, we respect and nourish ourselves. So is life. We all know this, and we are here to embody it for us and for all life on this planet.
A word on reforestation/afforestation – The tree-planting business is exploding. While this is great and much needed take a look at the deeper layers. Is the project you are looking at a genuine effort to restore biodiversity on this planet, or is it yet another corporate attempt to greenwash their otherwise destructive business practices? What trees are being planted? Are these trees native and diverse, or is it a monoculture of little social and ecological value? Where are the trees planted, and by whom – local people who should be in charge of their environment and who should benefit from and be involved in projects run on their local lands/waters, or is everything regulated and implemented externally, devoid of local cultural, natural contexts? Do the trees grow organically, or with synthetic fertilisers, insecticides etc.? Are the forests monitored after their planting? What is the tree survival rate? Is their transparency about these factors and about financial flows and collaborations? In other words, is the project a reflection of the ways in which nature functions? Questions we need to ask…
Akira Miyawaki
Japan
Japanese plant ecologist for seeds & native plant restoration on degraded land. Accelerating reforestation by mimicking native, primary forest in composition & structure – regrowing healthy, multilayered, forests of high resilience in 20-30 years. Method tested extensively in many countries. Planted 400,000 trees along Great Wall of China, gathering 4000 Chinese & Japanese people. Formed seed bank of > 10 million identified seeds gathered around temples, tombs, cemeteries where old native forest had survived. Involved in many international vegetation surveys & planting of > 40 million native trees.
Buffalo Field Campaign
Montana, USA
Ending harassment & slaughter of America’s last wild buffalo herds. Permanent year-round protection of wild free-roaming bison, the ecosystem they depend on & other native wildlife. Honoring sacredness of wild buffalo in collaboration with First Nations to create a world in which buffalo & all native wildlife can live for their own sake, are given priority on public lands & herds self-regulate their populations. Founded under leadership of Lakota activists.
Rewilding Europe
Netherlands, Europe
Rewilding 15 European landscapes – allowing natural forest regeneration by reducing active management, removing dykes & dams to free up rivers, reintroducing wildlife such as aurochs, wild horses & bison, then: letting nature take care of itself. Independent organisation, pan-European initiative & accelerating movement, collaborating with many partners.
Official Trailer:
Eden Reforestation Project
California, USA
Fair wages – empowering local communities: > 700 million trees grown, planted & protected through reforestation projects in Madagascar, Mozambique, Kenya, Brazil, Central America, Haiti, Nepal & Indonesia.
Rewilding Honey Bees
Cameron Nielsen, USA
The importance of rewilding honeybees. Film by Cameron Nielsen (see Film & photography [link]). Introducing swarms to habitats that are conducive to the instinctive preferences which are very different from conventional beehives. Reading nature.
SeaForester
Worldwide
Green Gravel method: seeding gravel with kelp spores & planting them in the ocean – reversing the disappearance of seaweed forests by tapping into nature’s abundance: “If we take an area of 5000 square kilometers, which represents 0.03% of our global target coastal zone with shallow water, kelp forests can support 500,000 tons of fish.”
Ocean Cleanup Technologies
Netherlands
Removing floating plastic from the ocean which would otherwise be trapped in circular currents for decades or longer, impacting hundreds of marine species & carrying toxic substances into our food chains. Concentrates plastic pieces before collection & recycling. Expected to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040. Also intercept plastic in rivers before it reaches the ocean.
International Anti Poaching Foundation (IAPF)
Akashinga (Zimbabwe & Mozambique)
All-women vegan anti-poaching unit: reducing poaching by > 80% without firing a single shot by empowering marginalised & abused women trained to do what they can do best – protect nature. Rooted & embedded in local communities. Also community programs incl. provision of clean water, infrastructure development, employment opportunities etc. eliminating poaching by its root.
Arcturos
Greece
Protection of wolf, bear, lynx, chamois, otter, deer, jackal & their natural habitat. Greek Shepherd Dog Breeding Program for traditional management of peaceful human-wildlife coexistence. Ending illegal possession of wolves, bears & wolf imprisonment, bears in circuses, use of illegal & poisonous baits. Scientific research & environmental education. Wildlife sanctuaries for bears, lynx & wolves. Participant in ‘LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors’ project teaching communities to peacefully live alongside bears. Afforestation programs.
New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
New Zealand
Recognising & restoring New Zealand’s diverse & unique native plant life by connecting people around plant conservation. Habitat protection, monitoring & restoration. Botanic gardens. Seedbank covering different ecosystems & groups of wild plants incl. flowers, shrubs, trees, garden plants. Emphasis on team work & quality training & research. Biennial conferences. Volunteer program for seed collection.
Vrouva Farm
Greece
Sanctuary for old, abandoned & abused animals created from scratch out of necessity on a piece of private land. Caring for > 100 animals, incl. donkeys, horses, cats, dogs, chicken, sheep, pigs, goats, cows. International volunteer program for those who deeply appreciate community life, animals & simplicity. Valuing & living holistic ecology, non-violence & veganism. Animal rights activism.
Trees For The Future
Maryland, USA
Turning degraded land into forest gardens in Cameroon, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda & Tanzania – creating economic stability & sustainability for small-scale farmers via a training program which leaves farmers self-sufficient; the projects are sponsored by collaborating companies & institutions.
Water Stories
Worldwide
Training people to build decentralised water retention landscapes – restoring natural water cycles, enhancing cycling of water in the landscape, reversing desertification & land degradation, improving water quality, restoring abundance & vitality. Courses tailored to different sets of needs & qualifications. Pushing for legislative change which allows people to take care of their community waters. Changing reality with stories of success & true transformation. Professional community.
The Great Bubble Barrier
Netherlands
Technology for cleaning full width & depth of rivers from plastic pollution 24/7 without harming wildlife or disrupting ship traffic. Bubble curtain directs plastics to the side into catchment system. Processing of caught plastics via partnering with circular economy programs. Also river monitoring for plastics, support of policy development – addressing root of pollution. Volunteer program & internship offers.
Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi
Bolivia
Rehabilitation, rewilding & protection of animals, incl. monkeys, felines, coatis, tortoises, birds etc., rescued from illegal trafficking & habitat destruction. Collaboration with Bolivian law enforcement who seize animals from poachers, illegal merchants & zoos. 3 wildlife sanctuaries, research work & educational projects. Aiming to end animal trade. Large international volunteer program. Artist in residence program. Inclusivity & transparency.
PPNEA
Albania
Reconnecting nature & human beings by creating more sustainable livelihoods while cherishing & protecting nature. Education, monitoring & environmental crime reporting, networking across society – influencing research & policy across borders. Bird & mammal conservation programs, wetland & coastal protection. Volunteer program.
EuroNatur
Germany & Europe
Protecting large-scale landscapes esp. across the Balkans, incl. wetlands, forests, rivers, bird migration routes etc. via long-term collaborations with & support of local people & partner organisations, networking across disciplines, legal action. Redefining international solidarity. Strong focus on transparency.
SUGi
Worldwide
Restoring natural terrestrial & aquatic forests, building urban forests, regenerating wastelands, creating living school spaces & edible forest gardens with diverse, native plants. Miyawaki afforestation method. High tree survival rate, rapid restoration. Facilitating biodiversity, food security & water supply. Embodying transparency. Combined with art & story-telling. Volunteer opportunities.
The Donkey Sanctuary
Ireland
Transforming donkey & mule quality of life. Free donkey care training courses, support/advise for donkey keepers & veterinary treatment across Ireland. Cruelty & emergency response. Influencing government policy. Creating lasting life-enhancing bonds between humans & donkeys. Donation-based sanctuary visits & donkey care handbook. Worldwide network of partner organisations.
Searching for Bonobo in Congo
Dem. Rep. Congo & Germany
Passionate, courageous research & protection of endangered species. Incredible blog of field notes documenting 15+ years of dangerous conservation work in DR Congo – ongoing. Collaboration with multiple foundations, local authorities & peoples. Training of local people. Transparency. Pioneer work. Deep insights into poaching, bushmeat trade & indigenous lives.
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