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World Environment Day Celebrations: Go Wild for Life
Happy World Environment Day! Each year this United Nations day is celebrated on 5th June to raise awareness on taking action to protect nature. The 2016 theme was ‘Go Wild for Life’ promoting zero tolerance for the illegal wildlife trade. World Environment Day parade in Taita Taveta County Wildlife Works took part in the celebrations in Taita Taveta County in Kenya, where the 2016 theme particularly resonates. Kenya’s wildlife is severely affected by the illegal wildlife trade. It is estimated that each year around 30,000 elephants are killed worldwide as a result of poaching and the illegal ivory trade. Grevy’s Zebra, which are found on our Rukinga Sanctuary in Kenya,…
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Wildlife Works and Prince Ea Speak at Green Sports Alliance Summit in Chicago
Prince Ea, Rachel O’Reilly, and Shawn Heinrichs Photo credit: Gerber & Scarpelli Photography Prince Ea joined the festivities and discussions at the Green Sports Alliance Summit in Chicago where he shared his video “Dear Future Generations: Sorry” and spoke about how to get involved in mitigating the effects of climate change with Stand for Trees and Wildlife Works, and the power sports have to catalyze positive change in millions of fans. His video and speech we’re received with a standing ovation by representatives from all major sports leagues as well as teams representatives, athletes, stadium owners and others involved in the sports industry. He reminded everyone in the room that the pursuit of a…
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Cap COP21 Climate Innovation Day features Wildlife Works speakers
Relying on innovation and shared knowledge, Climate Innovation Day will allow practical solutions to emerge and contribute to a Proposals Document, which will be revealed at the Grand Palais during COP21. Morning Climate Talks will bring researchers, innovators and project leaders to the main stage, and give evidence of present and future innovations for the climate. With the exceptional participation of Jean Jouzel, Prince Ea, Joseph Mwakima and many more… Dynamic, creative and hopeful, these Climate Talks will offer an opportunity to discover and discuss pioneering approaches which disrupt climate status quo. Afternoon Workshops will gather attendees together in various working groups, in which they will draft practical solutions for the climate.…
- About, Adventures in REDD+, Biodiversity, Conservation, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Forest Communities, Wildlife
Project Impacts of 2014
Wildlife Works thanks the corporate leaders that contributed to 2014’s success of more than double that of our REDD+ projects in 2013. Here we look back at the impacts on the ground in 2014. Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project, Kenya Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project, Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Wildlife Works offsets all player travel for 2014 World Series
Wildlife Works was proud to work with Bonneville Environmental Foundation and Major League Baseball to offset the carbon emissions associated with the travel of all players for the 2014 World Series games! Since travel of players and fans for games accounts for the heaviest portion of the sports industry’s carbon footprint, the MLB has shown significant leadership as they take a important step towards reducing the league’s footprint. Verified Emission Reductions (VERs) from both Wildlife Works Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project in Kenya and Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo were used to offset players’ travel emissions to the World Series games.
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Developing Young Global Leaders at Wildlife Works
We are so proud of our Community Relations Officer Joseph Mwakima, who was sponsored by Barclays to attend the 2014 One Young World Summit and was selected as a Delegate Speaker in the Sustainable Development Plenary Session. Only 36 Delegate Speakers were chosen out of hundreds of applicants. Watch his inspiring speech: One Young World is the preeminent global forum for young leaders aged 18-30 and gathers the brightest young leaders from around the world, empowering them to make lasting connections and develop solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues. The One Young World Summit has already inspired young leaders worldwide to become change leaders of their generation.…
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A Letter from Our Head Ranger
ELEPHANT POACHING STILL HIGH Elephant and rhino poaching has recently been declared a “national disaster” in Kenya by former head of Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) Richard Leakey. The magnitude of poaching has reached terrifying levels and poachers are operating with outrageous impunity, backed up by an extraordinary network of organized crime. Unfortunately the Kasigau Corridor has not been immune from this increase in elephant poaching. Whilst the year started relatively calmly, March and April saw a significant rise in poaching incidents, totaling 30 elephants by mid May. The worst incident to date saw six elephants shot dead on Dawida Ranch, four of which were youngsters not bearing tusks. A further…
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Marasi Primary School Renovations
Many people in the Kasigau Corridor view Marasi Primary School as the symbolic center of Maungu, which is the town nearest to our Wildlife Works REDD+ Kasigau Headquarters. Many of our employees, including the Human Resources Manager, Laurian Lenjo, completed their primary education there. Unfortunately, a visit to this school, started by parents in 1974, revealed crumbling roofs, peeling paint and door-less classrooms. Students who are fortunate enough to obtain a seat during class must sit at unstable desks that are shared with at least four others, while the remaining children sit on the dusty floor. Several months ago, the school received critical funding through the sale of carbon credits…
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Farmers around the Kasigau Corridor Grow and Sell Seedlings to Wildlife Works
With global warming becoming a more imminent threat, trees and other vegetation remain among our best defense mechanisms. Trees’ ability to absorb greenhouse gases emitted by automobiles, factories, and power plants result in a significant reduction in global climates. As part of the Wildlife Works community empowerment programs, we encourage farmers around the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project to grow and nurture seedlings, which are then sold to our greenhouse team at an average price of ten shillings (12 cents) per seedling. These are then brought back to the Wildlife Works greenhouse facility to be grown until they reach a suitable size for replanting. This seedling collection happens at the end…
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The Rescue of Baby Elephant, Mackinnon
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust recently indicated that an orphaned elephant rescued from the Mackinnon region of our project area is thriving under their care. Mackinnon, as the young elephant has been nicknamed, had somehow become separated from his family and ventured out of the forest before coming upon the town of Mackinnon, which is known for hostility towards wildlife. Fortunately, that night the area chief came upon the stray elephant and immediately called our security department. Usually during such a scenario, plans are swiftly made in collaboration with the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to airlift the elephant to an orphanage in Nairobi, but since night had fallen, the only…