PROTECTING NATIVE SPECIES
Our work
Rich biodiversity is crucial for our existence on Earth as it regulates most of the natural processes upon which we depend. Nonetheless, wildlife is increasingly under pressure, with many flora and fauna species struggling to survive in areas with intensive human activities.
Despite international law efforts, illegal wildlife trade and poaching continues to threaten conservation efforts around the world, with nearly 7,000 species of animals and plants reported in illegal trade involving 120 countries (UN, 2022)
The numbers of invasive alien species per country have risen by about 70% since 1970 (UN, 2022)
Current rates of extinction are 10 – 1000 times higher than what would be expected as “background extinction” suggesting that we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction event in the Earth’s history. (Status of Marine biodiversity in the Anthropocene, 2019)
Foundations across our network are supporting local communities to protect hotspots of biodiversity and vulnerable wildlife while enhancing the alternative livelihoods of stakeholders that heavily depend on their exploitation.
