Unique wilderness

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.

Wilderness International is a nonprofit environmental organization with a single mission: to protect the Earth’s last remaining unique forests and wilderness areas forever. To achieve this, Wilderness International purchases land through land registry entries to ensure its legal and permanent protection. These land purchases are funded by donations for so-called wilderness sponsorships. Wilderness sponsors receive a personalized certificate with the exact geographic coordinates of the protected forest area.

WI Germany and WI Canada were founded in 2008 by 25 people from six countries, representing 24 different professional fields and ranging in age from 18 to 69. In 2019, the Peruvian organization dedicated to protecting the tropical rainforest joined the group. Today, Wilderness International consists of three sister foundations: 

In addition to the founding donors, Wilderness International Germany is supported by eight members of the Board of Trustees, three members of the Executive Board, our operational team, many volunteers, and countless donors, partners, sponsors, and supporters. You can learn more about this on the page “Wilderness International Germany”.

At Wilderness International Canada, alongside Tobias Hürten and Kai Andersch, Marco Lou, Tyler Bruce, and Stephen Gabrysh work directly on the ground to manage our partnerships, land acquisitions, expeditions, and the protection of our forest areas. Volunteers, donors, and supporters are also actively involved here. You can find out more at “Wilderness International Canada”.

At Wilderness International Peru, the seven founders serve on the board of trustees. On the ground, the organization’s president, Dr. Chris Kirkby, works alongside a team forest guardian and the rest of the operational team to oversee the protected areas, conduct research and biodiversity monitoring in the forests, identify and acquire new land parcels, and manage projects with local schools, communities, and partners. For more information, visit “Wilderness International Peru”.

We are absolutely convinced that we can only sustainably protect the rainforests in Canada and Peru 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 conservation. 

Local projects in Peru increase acceptance among landowners and offer them the opportunity to continue supporting the region’s natural environment in the future. We have also established a forest guardian program with local residents. Our Forest Guardians regularly patrol the forest areas, ensure their protection, maintain contact with the local population, and—together with our researchers—develop environmental education materials and assist with biodiversity monitoring. To sustainably protect the Madre de Dios region, minimize the causes of deforestation, and work with families to develop alternative sources of income, we launched our agroforestry project in December 2023 and partnered with two local agroforestry pioneers—Camino Verde and Fundo Ten Paciencia. The project’s goal is to train farmers on agroforestry and sustainable farming practices. Additionally, the WI Peru team has launched an environmental education project to impart more knowledge and enthusiasm to locals about the rainforest and its inhabitants, and to provide arguments for 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 students directly to our research station in the Secret Forest.

In Canada, our existing protected areas are uninhabited because they are quite isolated. The Wilderness International Canada team consists primarily of Canadians who promote environmental education and our conservation goals within the country, for example through partnerships with companies such as whale-watching agencies that raise awareness of complex ecological relationships, or with other local research and conservation organizations. In the past, we have organized environmental ambassador programs that allowed German students to engage with locals and First Nations on environmental protection topics. We hope to resume these programs in the future. 

Looking ahead, we do not rule out the possibility of jointly purchasing land parcels with Indigenous peoples or First Nations in Canada for the purpose of nature conservation. It is very important to us that this collaboration takes place on an equal footing. Of course, we would never displace anyone from their homeland for the sake of nature conservation. If our approach helps locals (whether Indigenous or not) to combine environmental protection with their traditions, ways of life, and sustainable livelihoods, then we see such partnerships as a wonderful opportunity to generate synergies.

The involvement of local communities in our projects is also highlighted by Rainer Kant of BAUM e.V. in his independent process assessment : “The integrative approach is evident in the way Wilderness International links various sectors of society: environmental and climate protection are combined with educational work, technological innovations, and economic financing models. Businesses, schools, scientists, and local indigenous communities are actively involved, creating synergies between civil society, business, and science.”

There are no further obligations for you. The donation is one-time, and enables us as a foundation to ensure the long-term protection of the area. The sponsorship is a symbolic one. The forest area remains the property of the Foundation.

We protect the areas we select exclusively by purchasing them and registering them in the land registry, and we do so only in countries with a high degree of legal certainty. All three international foundations (Peru, Canada, Germany) are registered as owners in the land registry. No one can buy the forest areas we have purchased as foundations from us, and we are also prohibited from selling them. 

The foundation’s organizational structure prevents any single individual from having sole authority over the disposition of its assets and ensures its long-term existence. Learn more here about the longevity of the foundation model. Our bylaws stipulate that the land must be left undisturbed and visited solely for research and documentation purposes. 

In Canada: 

Due to their remoteness and undeveloped nature, our protected areas in Canada can only be reached at great financial, material, and time-related cost—and not without risk. Furthermore, the high level of legal certainty in Canada ensures that damage to the land results in severe penalties. The British Columbia Trespass Act clearly prohibits trespassing on private land. Violations are prosecuted in court upon complaint, even if no damage has occurred. Furthermore, we visit and monitor the areas during regular research trips and have partnerships with local companies that support us. In Canada, we also have the advantage that property holds great cultural and historical value and is respected.

In Peru:

In Peru, we have forest guardian on the ground whose daily tasks include monitoring our protected areas and preventing unauthorized entry. By using drones, the guardians can survey a larger area, and special sensors trigger an alarm instantly if, for example, a fire breaks out or the sound of chainsaws is heard. In addition, we collaborate there with the organization “Fauna Forever,” which also maintains a permanent presence on the ground and, as part of its research projects, patrols and monitors our areas as well.

In addition, the Forest Guardians maintain direct contact with the local population, advocate for our conservation goals within the community, put up informational signs, and actively participate in community projects—such as our current agroforestry project —to show the local population ways to benefit from the rainforest without clearing it. Should a conflict nevertheless arise, we report poachers and other individuals engaged in illegal activities to local law enforcement agencies (such as the police, lawyers, and government authorities) and work closely with them.