Wild Earth Allies

Africa: We partner with Primate Expertise in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on community-based conservation in/around Kahuzi-Biega National Park and on Idjwi Island in Lake Kivu. In Rwanda we build household rainwater tanks and reduce pressures on mountain gorilla habitat with the women-led cooperative Imbereheza Gahunga. In Cameroon we advance community conservation with partner ACDEF in/ around Dja Biosphere Reserve. Key 2022 achievements include: 1) Recorded 10% population growth of critically endangered Grauer's gorillas in DRC park project area since 2017; 2) Grew more than 44,000 Ape Trees from seeds collected from ape dung; restored 494 acres of forest and provided fruit, medicine, and fuelwood for local use in DRC; 3) Constructed 509 rainwater harvest tanks in Rwanda, improving health and well-being of 3,500+ people and decreasing pressures on mountain gorillas; and 4) Engaged Indigenous Ba'Aka and other stakeholders in the design of new community conservation and management areas in Cameroon.

Americas: We partner with ProCosta in El Salvador to support population recovery of critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles through nest protection and community engagement. In Belize, we build botanic expertise and create new tools for improved forest management. In the United States, we collaborate with Delaware Wild Lands to rewild the Great Cypress Swamp in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Key 2022 achievements include: 1) Protected 438 hawksbill turtle nests, released over 38,000 hatchlings and trained 150+ members of the local hawksbill conservation network in El Salvador; 2) Conducted botanic field surveys, bringing our list of native tree species in Belize to 1,304 and advanced a prototype for a Trees of Belize digital app; 3) Planted more than 33,000 native Atlantic white cedar and bald cypress trees in the US and designed a monitoring protocol to measure our restoration impact.

Southeast Asia: In Cambodia, we work across 2 million acres of priority forests and coastal marine areas that provide essential habitat for Asian elephants, pangolins, sea turtles and other threatened wildlife. We partner with Indigenous and other communities and government agencies on conservation actions that integrate cultural values and enrich local livelihoods. Key 2022 achievements include: 1) Documented and protected more than 5,900 endangered pileated gibbons in Prey Lang forest, a globally important refuge; 2) Reduced human-elephant conflict in four community areas in the Cardamom Mountains; 3) Advanced conservation of 20,000+ acres of critical marine habitats including coral reefs, mangroves, and Southeast Asia's largest seagrass meadows.