How are local communities involved in Wilderness International's projects?

We are absolutely convinced that we can only protect the primeval forests in Canada and Peru in a sustainable manner by working together with the people of the region. We are also committed to social sustainability and therefore involve as many stakeholders as possible in forest protection. 

Local projects in Peru increase acceptance among landowners and offer them the opportunity to continue their commitment to the region's nature in the future. We have also set up a forest ranger program with locals. Our Forest Guardians regularly patrol the forest areas, ensure their protection, maintain contact with the local population, and work with our researchers to create environmental education materials and support biodiversity monitoring. In order to protect the Madre de Dios region in a sustainable manner, minimize the causes of deforestation, and develop alternative sources of income together with local families, we launched our agroforestry project and teamed up with two local agroforestry pioneers—Camino Verde and Fundo Ten Paciencia. The aim of the project is to educate farmers on agroforestry and sustainable farming practices. In addition, the WI Peru team has launched an environmental education project to give locals more knowledge about and enthusiasm for the rainforest and its inhabitants, and to provide them with arguments as to why it is important to actively protect this sensitive ecosystem. This includes themed events in cities and communities, various projects in schools, and visits by schoolchildren directly to our research station in the Secret Forest.

In Canada, our protected areas are uninhabited because they are quite isolated. The Wilderness International Canada team consists mainly of Canadians who promote environmental education and our conservation efforts in the country, for example through collaborations with companies such as whale watching agencies, which raise awareness of complex ecological relationships, or other local research or conservation organizations. In the past, we have organized environmental ambassador programs in which German students were able to engage in dialogue with locals and First Nations on environmental protection issues. We hope to be able to resume these programs in the future. 

In the future, we do not rule out the possibility of purchasing land together with indigenous peoples or First Nations in Canada for nature conservation purposes. It is very important to us that this cooperation is based on equality. Of course, we would never drive anyone from their homeland for the sake of nature conservation. If our concept helps locals (whether indigenous or not) to combine environmental protection with their traditions, lifestyles, and sustainable incomes, then we see cooperation as a wonderful opportunity to generate synergies.