Forest conservation through participation
CGI is committed to protecting endangered Canadian wilderness
Environmental protection and corporate responsibility go hand in hand at CGI. As an IT and business consulting services company, CGI works with Wilderness International to promote a culture of environmental sustainability — recognizing that the health of our planet and our economy are inextricably linked.
In celebration of World Environmental Education Day in 2026, CGI and Wilderness International co-hosted a webinar on forestry loss, climate change, and biodiversity conservation. Now, this work together with Wilderness International to protect a CGI Forest embodies CGI's model of Insights You Can Act On by turning this shared learning into tangible commitments to forest protection.
Knowledge is the first step. The second step requires action: Together, we can help the CGI forest grow even further.
Every action counts:
CGI Canada is proud to support Wilderness International's legacy work to protect biodiversity for future generations in collaboration with many First Nations—the traditional and current stewards of the land. Together, we are creating a lasting positive impact.
Alexa Creelman
Director of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) for CGI Canada
Land acknowledgement & project insights:
Land acknowledgement & project insights:
Wilderness International and CGI acknowledge that the areas in which their joint conservation activities take place are located within the traditional territories of numerous First Nations. Both partners recognize their unconditional responsibility to continually deepen their understanding of these lands and their histories, and to reflect these learnings in their actions.
The habitats protected through this partnership are located on Porcher Island on Canada’s west coast—an ecologically rich place of profound cultural and natural significance. This temperate rainforest is home to rare coastal wolves on land and majestic orcas in the surrounding waters. Ancient giant trees provide shelter and stability for an extraordinary diversity of plant and animal species, allowing life to grow and thrive undisturbed.
Unique habitats come together at western Canada's stormy coasts: tidal zones, beaches, old-growth forests and raised bogs.
Nest'n'rest: The population of bald eagles has stabilized in the protected area on Porcher Island, British Columbia.
Forest conservation also keeps the ocean ecosystem intact: clear-cutting affects salmon runs, which in turn are an important food source for many predators, such as orcas.
Always on the run: Rare coastal wolves patrol the beach of Porcher Island.
Guillemots are frequent travelers passing by: in the temperate CGI Forest, the animals find winter quarters rich in food.
Playful minks feast on shellfish gathered from tidal pools amid the mossy thickets of the rainforest.
A glimpse into the wild heart of the CGI Forest: Thousands of years old giant trees and dense moss carpets dominate the scene.
Resilience through diversity
The CGI Corporate Forest is located in the most biodiverse area in the northern hemisphere: a total of 284 species have already been documented in Wilderness International's Canadian protected areas through sightings and eDNA.
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Journey to the raised bog
The moors on Porcher Island are gigantic CO₂ sinks and an important habitat for cranes, wolves, deer, and the rare sundew. In the interactive moor, you can experience the diversity of this habitat with (almost) all your senses. Listen to the wind and go on a search for clues: What wild insights will you discover?
Protect the Peel
Cooperation with First Nations
The Peel River in the heart of the Canadian Arctic is not only an important lifeline for the local ecosystem, but also home to many First Nations. But this homeland was threatened by thousands of mining claims. The joint project between the Teetl'it Gwich'in and Wilderness International helped raise awareness of the escalating conflict—and ultimately succeeded in protecting a large part of the area!
Indigenous knowledge. Shared values.
For Wilderness International, cooperation with First Nations is of vital importance: They are the caretakers and stewards of their traditional territories since time immemorial. In collaboration with First Nations, we seek to incorporate Indigenous cooperation and knowledge into future scientific endeavours and conservation management decisions.
Understand, protect, act.
Understand, protect, act.
Only those who understand, research, and raise awareness of the Earth’s last wilderness areas as complex ecosystems can protect them effectively and sustainably—Wilderness International bases a large number of research and education projects on this principle.
Canadian protected areas are of diverse scientific interest: both universities and research centers accompany the foundation on expeditions.
Drone flights are an essential part of area protection because they enable large-scale, precise, and transparent surveillance.
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The Greifswald Moor Center is conducting research into the CO₂ storage capacity of the ecologically valuable raised bogs on Porcher Island.
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Biodiversity monitoring serves to monitor the ecological condition and functionality of the rainforest ecosystem over the long term.
Every tree is a living room—quite literally.
Transparency: Why protect forests with WI?
CGI was particularly impressed by Wilderness International's transparent and concrete use of donations: a €1 donation protects 1m² old-growth forest forever. Donors receive a certificate with the geocoordinates and an aerial photo of the protected forest area, as well as a tax-deductible donation receipt.
CGI is sharing this social initiative for transparency and awareness only. Any engagement with the referenced social initiative is entirely voluntary and independent of any current or future business relationship with CGI. CGI does not seek any improper benefit or advantage in connection with this initiative.
About Wilderness International
The foundation, which is based in Peru, Canada and Germany, purchases legally secure wilderness areas and protects them for the future. The purchases are refinanced through donations, which ensure the long-term protection of the areas and enable environmental education projects and research into CO₂ storage and biodiversity.
