The 01099 Family rainforest

Wilderness International is a non-profit environmental organisation with a single goal: to protect the Earth’s last remaining unique forests and wilderness areas for ever. To this end, Wilderness International purchases plots of land through registration in the land register, thereby ensuring their legally secure and permanent protection. The land purchases are funded by donations towards so-called ‘wilderness sponsorships’. Wilderness sponsors receive a personalised certificate stating the exact geographical coordinates of the protected forest area.

WI Germany and WI Canada were founded in 2008 by 25 people from six countries, representing 24 different professional fields and aged between 18 and 69. In 2019, the Peruvian organisation dedicated to protecting the tropical rainforest joined the initiative. Today, Wilderness International consists of three sister foundations: 

In addition to the founding donors, Wilderness International Germany is supported by eight members of the Foundation Board, three members of the Executive Board, our operational team, many volunteers and countless donors, partners, sponsors and supporters. You can find out more on the “Wilderness International Germany” page.

At Wilderness International Canada, alongside Tobias Hürten and Kai Andersch, Marco Lou, Tyler Bruce and Stephen Gabrysh also work directly on the ground to manage our partnerships, land acquisitions, expeditions and the protection of our forest areas. Volunteers, donors and supporters are also actively involved here. You can find out more under “Wilderness International Canada”.

At Wilderness International Peru, the seven founders form the board of trustees. On the ground, the organisation’s president, Dr Chris Kirkby, works alongside a team of forest rangers and the rest of the operational team to oversee the protected areas, carry out research and biodiversity monitoring in the forests, the search for and purchase of new plots of land, and projects with local schools, communities and partners. You can find more information on the “Wilderness International Peru” page.

Wilderness areas are the only places where natural processes can take place undisturbed. It is only here that countless species can find a suitable habitat and a refuge in which to survive. Even when areas are restored to their natural state, biodiversity can only spread again from ecologically intact areas. Rainforests are of particular importance to us because they are the most species-rich ecosystems on Earth and are therefore incredibly important for species conservation.

Rainforests, along with their palm swamps and forest bogs, are also essential for a healthy global climate. They store vast quantities of CO₂, cool the surrounding environment and ensure stable rainfall. Furthermore, they form an important part of our livelihood: many of our everyday products come from them, ranging from foodstuffs such as bananas and coffee, through timber, to personal care products and medicines.

In general, wilderness areas – wherever they may be – have many positive effects on us and the entire planet: clean air, clear water, nutrient-rich soils, biodiversity and climate preservation. They offer havens of peace for retreat and relaxation, stunning landscapes, as well as space for adventure, challenge, or even a return to our roots. 

Natural areas largely untouched by human activity are becoming increasingly rare and are therefore treasures for us and future generations. Natural environments altered by industrialisation, mining or agriculture can only be restored at great expense and with a huge amount of effort. That is why we are convinced that protecting ecosystems that are (still) intact brings the greatest benefit to environmental conservation. 

In Germany, too, there were once vast primeval forests with ancient trees. The fact that nothing remains of them today shows that wilderness cannot be taken for granted. It is our responsibility to protect the remaining 2.8 per cent of intact wilderness areas on our planet. The natural balance can only be maintained if we stop merely taking and start giving in return. It is therefore time to finally give back to nature once more. Let us say thank you for everything it provides us with, and let us protect it.

‘Forever’ really does mean ‘forever’ – or, at least, for as long as the foundations exist. The areas protected by Wilderness International are privately owned by the foundation. This means that all three sister foundations (Germany, Peru, Canada) are the owners of the land. The foundation’s organisational structure prevents the rights to dispose of the property from resting with a single individual and ensures its long-term survival. 

What is so special about a foundation? 

• A foundation is the most long-term organisational concept currently known. Not even states, companies or national parks are designed to last that long. Many foundations are very old, some dating back over a thousand years. This makes the foundation the only entity aligned with the lifespan of the ecosystems we protect.
• A foundation operates independently of political structures and, in some cases, of states.
• It receives its endowment, which is always preserved, for the purpose of the foundation.
• It is independent of any individual and cannot be bequeathed, as it does not belong to any one person alone. A foundation always belongs to the community of people who are committed to its purpose at any given time. 
• The legal form of a foundation, unlike any other, allows a (charitable) purpose to be realised permanently and independently of external interests, thereby achieving the desired long-term effects.
• Examples of some foundations that are over a thousand years old: 
• • since 1161: Johanneshof Foundation, Hildesheim
  • since 1177 St. Johannis Convent of the Virgins, Lübeck
  • since 1184: Magdalenen Hospital, Münster 

Our articles of association stipulate that the land must be left undisturbed and may only be visited for research and documentation purposes. This entire structure ensures that the protected areas remain secure even in the event of a change in operational management.

If other organisations do not own the land they protect, they can only guarantee its long-term permanence to a limited extent. Without ownership, external factors such as political changes, economic pressure (e.g. rising value of agricultural land) or social conflicts can jeopardise the long-term conservation of the forest. With the three sister foundations of Wilderness International owning the protected areas, long-term protection is permanently secured.