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WildlifeDirect

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The Idea:

What will change in the world because this Project happens?

Richard Leakey founded WildlifeDirect in 2005 (originally named Africa Conservation Fund) to address the chronic shortfall of funds for conservation in Africa, by devising an innovative mechanism to generate global concern and deliver technical support and sustainable funding for protection of Africa’s key conservation areas. This would enable conservation managers to be effective, while also responding quickly to conservation emergencies, thus ensuring that the wildlife assets in these places to survive despite economic challenges. WildlifeDirect prioritizes key ecosystems and habitats for example important centers of biodiversity where protected areas cannot depend on tourism revenues alone for the conservation of this heritage in Africa such as the Masai Mara, the Albertine Rift and species like mountain gorillas, elephants and lions.

Blogs on wildlifedirect written by mainly African conservationists brings the voice from the field to a global platform where it raises awareness, gets picked up by media, and gives these heroes the recognition they deserve.

What information will people interact with to make this change?

Blogs written by a variety of people in the field from rangers to scientists. Anyone anywhere can join the conversation, participate in finding solutions for wildlife, sharing knowledge and raising global awareness. African consevation is chronically underfunded, funds raised on these blogs will enble park authorities to protect the worlds most endangered species like gorillas and lions. Donors can select projects and items, and observe the work that their funds have achieved.

WildlifeDirect also recruits Virtual volunteers working from home anywhere they can get directly involved in African conservation by help the field projects with technology, fund raising, networking and blogging.

What else have you done in this Cause Area?

Written award winning wildlife books to engage school childrens in conservation and participating in the causes. Owen and Mzee a story about an orphaned hippopotamus that was adopted by a giant tortoise, released in 2005 has sold over 1 million copies is in 17 languages and braille. It is accompanied with a teachers guide and a childrens website http://Owenandmzee.com. Our third book Looking for Miza is about an orpaned mountain gorilla baby who is rescued by the silverback comes out in September 2008. It will be launched at the Clinton Global Initiative and Scholastic Publications with Turtle Pond will host a childrens gorilla summit to get childrens views on solutions for gorilla conservation. This will be streamed to schools throughout USA

Cause Area:
- Environment
Cause Area Tags:
- Public and Social Benefit
Project URL:
http://wildlifedirect.org
Supporting Organization:
on
Financial support?:
No
City:
Nairobi
State/Region:
Africa
Country:
Kenya

The Assessment

What kind of help or resources do you need to turn your project idea into a completed mashup?

We need help with redesigning our website so that we can more effectively attract a global community of supporters. We also need technical help with training bloggers in the field, plus relevant equipment like computers, cell phones, digital cameas.

The Team

Submitted by Paula Kahumbu on July 3, 2008 - 8:24pm

Comments

This is an excellent Project

Wildlife Projects are too foten placed low on the totem pole because people do not always understand the crisis these issues place humans in.

The fact is that wildlife are required to sustain a livable environment for humans. Everything is connected. No animals, no trees, no oxugen, no humans. Over simplified perhaps but very true.

Keep up the good work guys and we will do what we can do.

With Respect,

Jim Windwalker

Submitted by windwalker on July 17, 2008 - 11:55pm.