Cottars Wildlife Conservation Trust (CWCT)

In early 2020, CWCT launched a partnership with the African Wildlife Foundation to enhance conservation within the Olderkesi Conservation landscape in a way that supports the local community. On average, 62% of CWCT’s budget comes from visitor conservation fees, which has dried up jeopardizing the wellbeing of 6,000 Maasai families and 7,000-acres of wildlands. To ensure vital activities continue, CWCT is hoping to raise US$200,000 to support critical staff like rangers, teachers and conservationists over the next nine months.

Chumbe Island

This multi-award-winning social business and privately created and managed Marine Protected Area is one of East Africa’s most successful marine conservation stories. Responsible for the protection of a 55-hectare reef sanctuary and no-take zone (home to sharks, turtles and over 500 fish species), and a 17-hectare forest reserve, Chumbe Island urgently needs funds to support four patrol rangers and four support staff. Chumbe hopes to raise US$50,000, which will also help to provide medical insurance for the entire Chumbe team (of 46) and their families.

Borana Mobile Clinic

Since 2005, the Borana Mobile Clinic has been providing basic healthcare, health lectures, HIV Aids awareness, antenatal advice, child immunisation and family planning to Borana’s neighbouring communities in northern Kenya. This helps people that would otherwise have to travel considerable distances to access essential care. The clinic team consists of two nurses and a driver, together they visit ten communities on a two-week rotation treating on average over 700 patients per month and travelling over 1000 miles. The Mobile Clinic is a significant priority for Borana during this time, and so it is looking to raise US$16,000 to keep it operational for six months while tourism is on hold.

Onçafari Association

The Onçafari Association promotes and supports the conservation of several Brazilian biomes with an emphasis on jaguars and maned wolves. It works with lodges, like The Long Run member Caiman Ecological Refuge, to strengthen ecotourism and socioeconomic development. Tourism accounts for half of Onçafari’s income, and with no guests, the team continues to scout and monitor jaguars to ensure that eight years of conservation work is not lost overnight. The lack of tourism and the virus is affecting employees, their families and the wider community. Onçafari is hoping to raise US$30,000 to secure minimal activities and livelihoods until tourism resumes.

Kicheche Conservancy Guardian Appeal

A staggering 25% of Kicheche’s revenue funds the guardianship and maintenance of 250,000-acres of pristine wildlife habitat. Since the collapse of tourism, funds have sharply declined. Without guests, the ever-lurking menace of poaching, bush-meat hunting, and encroachment cannot be kept at bay; the conservancies of Mara North, Olare Motorogi, Mara Naboisho and Ol Pejeta need help more than ever. To fund critical costs, like rangers and medical support, Kicheche has launched the Conservancy Guardian Appeal. Money raised via donations or by purchasing a ‘credit’ to ensure the future of the conservancy will be match funded, dollar for dollar, by the Band Foundation up to $500,000.

Enonkishu Appeal

One of the many devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic has been a loss of visitors to the iconic Maasai Mara. Enonkishu Conservancy, on the northern boundary of the Mara Ecosystem, relies on ecotourism for 75% of its operating expenses. With international travel restricted, the budget shortfalls will carry on well into 2021. The conservancy has trained and supervised professional herders in sustainable rangeland management to rehabilitate degraded rangeland and build a community herd of cattle. For the prosperity of the ecosystem and Maasai communities, this work continues. Via its partner Wild Philanthropy, Enonkishu is hoping to raise US$100,000: $30,000 to support seven rangers, $15,000 to build resilience for the conservancy, $40,000 to strengthen the stability of the conservancy, and $15,000 to improve the livelihoods of conservancy managers.

Grootbos Foundation Appeal

The need for food security is now, more than ever, a critical reality in South Africa, which went into a strict ‘Lockdown’ on the 26th of March when businesses closed their doors. This has resulted in soaring unemployment and additional economic hardship in Grootbos’ surrounding communities (unemployment was already over 30%). The Grootbos Foundation team and volunteers deliver on average 3000 meals across the region. They start at 8 in the morning, and by midday, the food is offered at 11 distribution points throughout the community. To date, it has supplied over 100,000 warm meals. The menu, including three types of fresh vegetable, protein, and energy-rich carbs, is designed to deliver maximum nutrients at the lowest cost possible, based on ZAR 4 per meal. Grootbos is looking to raise ZAR 1,200,000 to keep providing food to those that need it most.

Sinal Do Vale Appeal

In June 2020, several hectares of land at Sinal do Vale, an eco-retreat in Brazil burned down after a human-caused forest fire. Sinal is now raising funds to reforest the area through planting native Mata Atlantica and fruit trees, as well as providing jobs for the local people. The land is in the buffer zone of the Serra Estrela Wildlife Refuge, so restoring the forest is critical for conserving the habitats for fauna, such as the endangered Golden Lion Tamarin and Black-billed Toucan. The reforestation will also become an educational tool to teach people, especially local children, about the importance of forest restoration and the risks of fire. Sinal hopes to raise US$15,000 to purchase seedlings, reforestation design, acquisition of equipment, construction of fences, control of ants, and planting and maintenance for two years. Donors above $500 earn a free stay at Sinal.

Roar for Lions Appeal

Money raised will help African People & Wildlife conserve some of Tanzania’s most threatened lion populations. Lions are essential to Tanzania’s ecosystems and economy, but their future is uncertain due to human-lion conflict, habitat fragmentation, and prey species loss. The funds from this campaign will be used to expand integrated programs in areas where lions are most at risk and during these precarious times. Projects work to empower and support communities and include Living Walls, Warriors for Wildlife, Lion Monitoring, Rangeland Management, and Women’s Beekeeping. All donations made before 4th September will be matched up to US$50,000.