From Australia to the Arctic: Nat Hab Philanthropy Projects Inspire Conservation Action
In addition to our conservation travel partnership with World Wildlife Fund established in 2003, Natural Habitat Adventures also supports various philanthropic initiatives in the destinations we visit. Our commitment to conservation and sustainable development inspires our leadership role in boosting grassroots efforts in places our guests have come to know and love. We actively pursue innovative efforts to protect the environment and promote the welfare of local communities.
FortWhyte Alive’s Arctic Science Day
$2,500
FortWhyte Alive, an extraordinary educational institution, creates fantastic opportunities for science learning in Winnipeg. Their Arctic Science Day program in early March 2024 brought in researchers and graduate students from the University of Manitoba’s Center for Earth Observation Science to share up-to-date findings on Arctic ecology and climate change research with middle and high school students. Thanks to sponsorship from Nat Hab and others, the Arctic Science Day workshop was free of charge, hosted nearly 500 students and was considered a resounding success. “There’s a bunch of jobs and careers related to Arctic science and it is a very meaningful career for this generation,” said one participant.
See and save polar bears with Nat Hab & WWF on a trip to Churchill! © Lianne Thompson
Wildlife Madagascar
$2,500
Wildlife Madagascar aims to strengthen law enforcement and biological monitoring throughout remote regions of Madagascar—one of the planet’s biodiversity hotspots. The current project focused on the Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve (ASSR). It was chosen because of its still unknown and relatively unresearched flora and fauna, with dozens of undiscovered species likely found here and nowhere else on Earth. The close proximity of villages to park boundaries and the heavily traveled national road that bisects the protected area make ASSR susceptible to illegal activities, including logging, artisanal mining and hunting. Thus, a collaborative patrol system was set up between Wildlife Madagascar Forest Rangers, Madagascar National Park agents, and various community liaisons. Nat Hab Philanthropy funding provided special gear necessary for extensive patrols, including boots, tents and rain gear.
Indris lemur
Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife
$2,500
Kangaroo Island is flourishing once again after devasting bushfires ran rampant in 2020. The Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife program performs biodiversity monitoring using wildlife cameras deployed along drift lines within habitats of interest or significance. Every 8-10 weeks, Land for Wildlife field ecologists and private conservation landholders visit monitoring sites to maintain drift lines, check cameras, change batteries and download SD cards. Scientists have collected four years of post-wildfire data and wildlife images, increasing our understanding of animal behavior and helping conservationists identify and strategically control threats to native species. Nat Hab Philanthropy funds went directly to supporting monitoring efforts through the purchase of trail cameras, SD cards and other equipment needed to protect Kangaroo Island’s endangered endemic wildlife as natural habitats recover.
Kangaroo Island © Craig Wickham
Cerro Guido Foundation
$2,385
As pumas continue their fantastic rebound in Torres del Paine, Patagonia, human-wildlife conflict is rising. Ensuring pumas’ long-term viability relies primarily on minimizing contact between these wild cats and livestock. A major goal of the Cerro Guido Foundation is to provide technical and management solutions to local farmers to minimize the deaths of domestic livestock and thus avoid puma hunting. Nat Hab Philanthropy funding to purchase ten deterrent lights and three camera traps.
A curious puma checks out our Expedition Leader Zapa © Cassiano Zaparoli
Library for Galapagos
$2,500
The Library for Galapagos (Biblioteca para Galapagos) is the first communal library open to the public in the Galapagos Islands. Located in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, it serves as a vibrant community space and has earned recognition in Ecuador as an example of library best practices under the umbrella of the Programa Iberbibliotecas. The library is run by the Association of Interpreter Guides of the Galapagos National Park (AGIPA), a legally constituted nonprofit organization ascribed to the Environment and Water Ministry. Collaborators include the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos Conservancy. A public library is essential to Santa Cruz Island, which has approximately 20,000 inhabitants and 11 schools. It provides the space and information to develop cultural, educational and leisure activities, including Internet access and recreation for all ages and groups. With 3,521 visitors in 2023, community members of all ages benefited from 94 workshops, while 2,214 locals made use of the reading and consultation rooms.
Galapagos school Library
The post From Australia to the Arctic: Nat Hab Philanthropy Projects Inspire Conservation Action first appeared on Good Nature Travel Blog.