WILD Foundation
Encyclopedia
The WILD Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
founded in the United States in 1974 by South Africa
n Ian Player
, and based in Boulder, Colorado
.
The WILD Foundation protects and sustains wild nature by informing, inspiring and empowering people around the globe. WILD works in three sectors: policy and applied research, with decision-makers at every level of government, business, and community; field projects that integrate the needs of wilderness, wildlife and people; and communications, through publishing, media
and the arts.
The World Wilderness Congress was established by WILD in 1977 and is WILD’s flagship program, bringing together the public and leaders from government, business and organizations working for wilderness
and human communities around the globe. Convening every three to four years, the WWC sets objectives, creates structure and alliances to achieve those objectives and produces practical results. For example, the 4th World Wilderness Congress (1987) helped start the Global Environmental Facility of the World Bank
, and the 8th World Wilderness Congress (2005) launched the International League of Conservation Photographers
and announced the first wilderness law and designated wilderness area in Latin America
(Mexico
).
, but have included projects in the Amazon of Brazil
and the northern reaches of Russia
. WILD Foundation provides training for managers of protected areas, innovates new approaches to conservation needs, incubates new organizations and works with local communities to develop sustainable solutions addressing social needs with a conservation outlook.
The members of The Wilderness Network are: The WILD Foundation (US), The Wilderness Foundation (SA), The Wilderness Foundation (UK), and the Wilderness Leadership School (SA).
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
founded in the United States in 1974 by South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Ian Player
Ian Player
Dr. Ian Player DMS , is an international conservationist.-Biography:Player was educated at St. John’s College, Johannesburg, South Africa and served in the 6th South African Armoured Division attached to the American 5th Army in Italy 1944–46.His conservation career started with the Natal Parks...
, and based in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
.
The WILD Foundation protects and sustains wild nature by informing, inspiring and empowering people around the globe. WILD works in three sectors: policy and applied research, with decision-makers at every level of government, business, and community; field projects that integrate the needs of wilderness, wildlife and people; and communications, through publishing, media
Media (communication)
In communications, media are the storage and transmission channels or tools used to store and deliver information or data...
and the arts.
The World Wilderness Congress was established by WILD in 1977 and is WILD’s flagship program, bringing together the public and leaders from government, business and organizations working for wilderness
Wilderness
Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
and human communities around the globe. Convening every three to four years, the WWC sets objectives, creates structure and alliances to achieve those objectives and produces practical results. For example, the 4th World Wilderness Congress (1987) helped start the Global Environmental Facility of the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, and the 8th World Wilderness Congress (2005) launched the International League of Conservation Photographers
International League of Conservation Photographers
The International League of Conservation Photographers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering environmental and cultural conservation through ethical photography...
and announced the first wilderness law and designated wilderness area in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
(Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
).
Project focus
WILD field projects implement practical conservation solutions. Field projects are historically focused in the Sub-Saharan regionSub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
, but have included projects in the Amazon of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and the northern reaches of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. WILD Foundation provides training for managers of protected areas, innovates new approaches to conservation needs, incubates new organizations and works with local communities to develop sustainable solutions addressing social needs with a conservation outlook.
Current projects
- WILD 9 - the 9th World Wilderness Congress
- Umzi Wethu - Training AIDS orphans and Vulnerable Youth for Conservation Employment
- Mali Elephants - Saving the very last herd of elephants in the arid Sahel
- International League of Conservation Photographers - protecting wild nature through ethical photography
The Wilderness Network
The WILD Foundation is a founding member of The Wilderness Network, a consortium of independent, like-minded organizations. The Wilderness Network works worldwide to:- Protect and sustain wilderness, wildlife and human communities;
- Promote the values and services provide by wildlands and seas; and,
- Provide wilderness-related information, education, experience and training.
The members of The Wilderness Network are: The WILD Foundation (US), The Wilderness Foundation (SA), The Wilderness Foundation (UK), and the Wilderness Leadership School (SA).
Publications
- International Journal of Wilderness ISSN 1086-5519
- Wilderness Management ISBN 1-55591-855-7
- Zulu Wilderness: Shadow and Soul, Ian Player ISBN 1-55591-363-6
- When Elephants Fly, Carol Batrus ISBN 13:978-1-5591-565-0