What makes Wilderness International different from other NGOs?
We want to do something very specific, highly effective, and directly comprehensible, giving each individual the opportunity to participate by protecting a unique piece of valuable nature for all time.
Concrete impact of our work and donations
Every euro donated protects one specific square meter of ancient rainforest for all time. We purchased this land with a land registry entry, and it is now being refinanced by donors. We work out of enthusiasm for the protection of irreplaceable ecosystems. Our reward is every square meter of habitat that we can protect for all time. The effectiveness of our work was also recognized in 2023 with the Phineo WIRKT! seal of approval.
Transparency
We use precise coordinates to track every donation down to the square meter. We know the areas we protect very well because we carry out rapid assessments before purchasing them and visit them regularly on expeditions, or, as in Peru, have them guarded by our forest rangers. Direct involvement is extremely important to us. We also create transparency by using drones and other technical aids to take high-quality, georeferenced aerial photographs.
Effectiveness, urgency, and irreplaceability
Primeval forests are habitats for enormous biodiversity and are therefore incredibly important for preserving species diversity. They are also extremely important for the climate (CO2 storage, cool environment, clean air, water storage, regular rainfall, nutrient-rich soils, etc.). For us, these forests are also a place of peace and relaxation. This makes primeval forests an all-round solution to the environmental problems of our time. However, only 2.8% of the Earth's surface is still wild nature (Plumptre et al., 2021). This means we must act now to protect these last remaining areas. Once they are gone, they are irretrievably lost.
long-term nature
It is important to us that protection is absolutely secure and long-term, because we are guided by the lifespan of ancient ecosystems and trees that can survive for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. The organizational structure of the foundation enables this long-term and secure protection, because foundations are not tied to individuals or political constructs. In this way, we protect forest areas in a completely sustainable manner and not just for the next 30 years (as many nature conservation organizations do), or only during our lifetime. We only purchase forest areas that are registered in the land registry. This ensures maximum long-term legal certainty for the protection.
Positive focus of our work, positive motivation
We focus on positive communication, inspiration, motivation, and enthusiasm to achieve our common goal. We do not try to appeal to your conscience by constantly showing you all the bad things that are happening in the world and what we are responsible for. Instead, we want to show you solutions, what you can do in concrete and effective ways to make a real difference today and contribute to a future worth living. We want to motivate you positively by informing you about the importance of wild nature and thus awakening your enthusiasm.
The scientific basis of our work
The diverse professional backgrounds of our active employees ensure a multidisciplinary approach. We ensure the quality of our work through collaborations with scientific partners such as the Leipzig Environmental Research Center, ETH Zurich, the Senckenberg Natural History Collections, and Fauna Forever. We also conduct long-term studies on biodiversity and CO2 storage in our protected areas during scientific expeditions.
Everything from a single source
From research, to purchasing land and long-term protection, to documentation in images and films, CO2 calculations, expeditions, etc., we do not use any middlemen. We do everything ourselves and thus have full control and responsibility for the process. This also saves us costs.
Small and flexible organization
Volunteering is a cornerstone of our work. Since our founding, Wilderness International's administrative costs have always been below 10%, and in most years even below 5%.