Reviving & protecting life
Where ecosystems are destroyed for profit it is our responsibility to stand up and interfer. The pollution of rivers, lakes, oceans, foods, lands and our very bodies needs to end, and be cleaned up at all levels. It is up to us to see through what used to govern this planet before another rather silent power began to become much stronger once more in the rocky history of this planet – Nature.
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 and rebuilding of forests, ocean life etc. 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…
Instituto de Montaña – Project Himalaya
Peru, Nepal, India, Tibet
Community-based preservation of Himalayan ecosystems & ancient cultures. Creating sustainable livelihoods in remote mountain communities. 1st Sherpa language dictionary. Reforestation nurseries. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Program with step-by-step training for sustainable growing & fairtrade participation. Post-earthquake rebuilding etc.
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.
La Ninna
Italy
Rescue & recovery centre for wild hedgehogs. Donation-based. Re-wilding when possible, permanent professional care otherwise. Embodying respect for nature & equity of all life forms. Protecting life & diversity. Also fieldwork, awareness campaigns, workshops, broadcasts etc. Finding happiness through care. Involves pan-Italy & international volunteer team (Website in Italian).
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.
Leaf of Life
International
Restoring degraded ecosystems & seed diversity. Supporting edible school gardens, well thought-out natural building & sustainable farming initiatives. Building sponge gardens & landscapes for healthy water absorption. Projects 100% financed by membership fees. Striving for transparency & natural abundance. Partner with NGOs, businesses & individuals.
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.
Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary
Thailand
Small, family run business for elephant care & empowerment: safe & natural environment for elephants to re-discover & live their natural sovereignty, making own choices after abusive treatment. Re-learning how to forage, swim & socialise. Deeply embedded in local community. Also dog & cat care. Lot’s of community programs incl. youth initiatives & support.
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.
Gorongosa Project
Mozambique
Rainforest wilderness restored from complete destruction after years of war. Combination of community-centred sustainable tourism, education & local skill-building programs, local, international & citizen science & multi-partner conservation work. Creating immense, unfenced, connected mosaic of high-biodiversity protected areas while leaving behind poverty. Funded partially via local agroforestry coffee & cashew programs. Building healthy collaborations with local police & government.
Pan African Sanctuary Alliance
Pan-Africa & USA
Coalition of primate sanctuaries, wildlife centers, NGOs, experts & supporters dedicated to primate protection. Addressing habitat loss, poaching, illegal bushmeat trade & trafficking, pet & entertainment industries via education, alternative livelihood programs, collaboration with law enforcement to arrest traffickers & confiscate illegally captured animals which are then cared for, rehabilitated & released. Facilitating collaboration, mutual learning, pooling of skills, legal power etc.
Cottar’s Wildlife Conservation Trust
Maasai Mara, Kenya
Protecting natural habitat from uncontrolled agrarian land use conversion & poaching via land leasing-based collaboration with Maasai land owners. Driving sustainable tourism fully embedded in local cultures & community needs. Building schools, supporting sustainable farming, providing health care etc. Training & employing male & female Maasai rangers. Resolving human-wildlife conflict.
Groupe De Recherche et d’action pour le Bien-Etre au Bénin
Benin
Ecosystem restoration & adaptation to changing climate. Developing culture of accountability in schools, sustainable engagement with sacred forests, cultivation of medicinal plants built on indigenous knowledge & community heritage. Groups of Young Ecological Leaders comprising > 5000 young people. Intergenerational exchange. Women empowerment – growing ancestral vegetables. Valuing transparency, professionalism, free expression, long-term collaboration (website in French).
SeaChange Ocean Solutions
USA & worldwide
Mobile ship-based plasma-enhanced gasification technology which permanently eliminates hazardous waste from oceans, esp. non-recyclable plastics & abandoned fishing gear by turning it into non-toxic glass. 15 tons of plastics can be processed/day, also medical & radioactive waste. Technology can operate in remote regions. Plastics are removed from beaches, rivers & coastal communities.
Ilbirs Foundation
Kyrgyzstan
Community-driven conservation focused on rare & endangered species, esp. snow leopard & sustainable use of natural resources in 20,000-hectare area of Kyrgyzstan high mountains. Hunters turned passionate nature protectors across communities. Anti-poaching patrols, research, education, cultural events. Also beekeeping & ecological tourism.
Incredible video:
Mother the Mountain
Bundjalung Nation, Australia
Family initiative of rainforest restoration, animal collaboration & husbandry, regenerative farming, invasive species removal – captured through art, film, photography, fashion & writing. Living aligned with land & waters passed on for generations; exploring nature’s resilience.
Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary
Shetland, UK
Rescue & rehabilitation of aquatic mammals, esp. seals & otters, incl. stranded whale rescue via volunteer network. Embedded in Shetland community. Also: environmental education & extensive vegetable gardens. Shetland’s only wildlife sanctuary. International volunteer program.
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