Protect rainforest

preserve unique old-growth forest forever

Protect forest

Preserve unique rainforest forever

Say "thank you" to nature with us: Protect your own personal piece of rainforest in the Amazon region of Peru or on the west coast of Canada with your donation.

You receive a personalized certificate with an aerial photograph and geocoordinates. This way you can see exactly which piece of forest we protect with your donation.

2.8% of the Earth's land surface still offers intact habitats. After all: 4.17 million square kilometers of fantastic, valuable nature that we can still save together - before it's too late.

Bill Murray

GHOSTBUSTER

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1 €

donation

protects

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1 m²

of old-growth rainforest

forever and ensures that

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60 kg

of CO₂

remains permanently stored in the biomass of the forest

Save rainforest now!

Playful monkeys, rare coastal wolves and centuries-old trees - the rainforests of our earth are not only a wonder of nature, but also essential for a livable future. Together with Wilderness International, you can protect them forever.

Protect forest now

Protect 25 m² of habitat

Donate now Donate now

Every donation protects valuable habitat. Yours too.

Intact forests provide us with clean air, clear water, ensure a cool microclimate and last but not least offer us space for adventure and recreation.

Your Donation at a Glance

Concrete use: 1 € protects 1 m² rainforest
good for the climate: Each square meter binds 60 kg of CO₂
Transparent: You receive a personalized certificate with the geo-coordinates and an aerial photo of the piece of forest you protected
Lasting impact: Your one-time donation guarantees the permanent protection of the area
Tax deductible donation with donation receipt

New wilderness rescuers

m²

Other donors +

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Example of a certificate with geocoordinates

Where you can protect forest

Secret Forest in Peru
Playful monkeys, mysterious jaguars and liana-clad jungle giants - the Peruvian Amazon rainforest is the most biodiverse place on earth!

Learn more
10/29/2021
Misty Forest in Canada
Rare coastal wolves, nimble otters and mysterious sundew in the forest marsh - the temperate rainforest of the Northwest Coast is a wild treasure.

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How we protect forest

Learn more Learn more

How we protect wilderness.

Our guide to saving the world.

1 Find land plot

In rapid assessments, we work with researchers to determine the conservation value of a forest area. The decisive factors are whether the area has a high level of biodiversity and CO2 storage capacity, whether it is under threat and whether it is located in a strategically important place.

2 Buy in advance

The purchase of the land is financed with loans. We do not collect donations for land that we do not yet own.

3 Obtain land registry entry

We only work in countries with a high level of legal security and only buy land with a land register entry. All two or three foundations are entered in the land register.

4 Create aerial images

We use drones to create high-quality aerial panoramas of our land. These are uploaded to our website. Each square meter is provided with specific geocoordinates.

5 Refinance through donations

Anyone can donate to a specific piece of this wilderness area. The donation refinances the purchase and ensures long-term protection. Each square meter is only allocated once.

6 Prove by certificate with geo-coordinates

Donors receive a personalized certificate with the exact geocoordinates of the piece of forest they have helped to protect. This makes the protection tangible and directly traceable.

7 Research, document, communicate

Environmental ambassadors and researchers visit the areas, conduct research together and experience the forest they are protecting. They then use the research findings, photos and videos for environmental education in schools and to get people excited about wilderness.

8 Ensure long-term protection

Regular visits, local partnerships, forest guardians, property taxes and the foundation concept ensure the long-term protection and ecological integrity of the areas.

Initial costs

Long-term costs

Protect forest now

Keep a piece of old-growth forest for all time

Impressions from our protected areas

2.8% of the earth's land surface still offers intact habitats. At least that's 4.17 million km² of fantastic, valuable nature that we can still save together!

A shy tamarin monkey in Peru
Ferns, mosses, and other epiphytic plants make up much of the biomass of the forest.
Dense rainforests right up to the river in our protected areas in Peru

Nature conservation - but effective.

In our impact report, we show you where your donation goes and what we have already achieved together.

Learn more

Does the sponsorship come with any further obligations for me?

How do you ensure the permanent protection of the forest areas?

In Canada, good legal security helps us, as well as the legal situations and sanctions that even prohibit trespassing.

In Peru, we have additionally started a forest guardian program with local people. To ensure long-term protection, we also have several other measures in place. In general, we visit the areas on regular expeditions to check on them. We also work with local partners who inform us of any irregularities if necessary. The donations per square meter also already include the costs for property taxes.

Like no other, the legal form of the foundation allows a (charitable) purpose to be realized permanently and independently of outside interests, thus achieving the desired effects in the long term. It is thus the most long-term organizational construct currently known. Not even states, companies or national parks are designed for such a long term. This makes the foundation the only one that is oriented toward the lifespan of the ecosystems we protect.

How do you work together with local people?

In Peru, for example, we work intensively with local people as part of our forest guardian program. They regularly walk the protected areas and represent our organization in the community. They put up signs, talk to local people about our forest protection projects and confront unauthorized activities if necessary. Thereby, the forest guardians also generate a sustainable income.

In Canada, we not only work with partner companies, but also look back on great collaborations with First Nations. These include a sponsored run and several conservation expeditions with the Cowichan First Nation of Vancouver Island, as well as the joint effort to protect the Peel River Watershed with the Gwich'in of Fort McPherson.

What does Wilderness International do?

Wilderness International purchases primary rainforest areas with land title and legally protects them for all future. Donations refinance the purchases and at the same time finance long-term protection as well as environmental education and research. Donors receive a personalized certificate with the exact geo-coordinates and aerial photograph of the forest area they are protecting. Thus, the use and impact of the donation is tangible and directly traceable. We are currently working in the temperate rainforest of Western Canada and the Amazon rainforest of Peru, where we are protecting ancient primary rainforests.

Contact

Henriette Wessel

Communication, Member of the Board of Directors WI Peru

henriette.wessel@wilderness-international.org

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I never thought I would end up in conservation. Actually, I've always been interested in other, more social issues. But no one can convince you to protect the environment as much as nature itself. Standing under a giant tree and feeling its age, seeing whales and hearing wolves howl. I cannot and will not imagine a world without that. And so, since the first time I went to the wilderness as a high school student with WI, I've stuck with it. I organized an exchange with the Gwich'in in the West Arctic and lived north of the Arctic Circle for five months to do it. After that, I studied intercultural communication. In Team Communication I can combine both passions and share the beauty of wilderness with others.

Learn more

Protect rainforest

preserve unique old-growth forest forever

Preserve unique rainforest forever

donation

of old-growth rainforest

of CO2

Save rainforest now!

Every donation protects valuable habitat. Yours too.

Your Donation at a Glance

New wilderness rescuers

m2

m2

m2

m2

Where you can protect forest

Where you can protect forest

Secret Forest in Peru

Misty Forest in Canada

How we protect forest

How we protect wilderness.

Our guide to saving the world.

1

Find land plot

2

Buy in advance

3

Obtain land registry entry

4

Create aerial images

5

Refinance through donations

6

Prove by certificate with geo-coordinates

7

Research, document, communicate

8

Ensure long-term protection

Keep a piece of old-growth forest for all time

Protecting 8 m² of rainforest costs only as much as a Netflix subscription

Offset with 67 m² ø long-haul flight (4 tCO2)

Protect 90 m², an area as large as a three-room apartment

Impressions from our protected areas

Nature conservation - but effective.

of CO₂

m²

m²

m²

m²

Offset with 67 m² ø long-haul flight (4 tCO₂)