A view of our research station along the Tambopata River.
The Europa-Gymnasium Wörth protects the rainforest
Save the forest opens in a new tabFor the protection of endangered forests
More than 1,500 pupils are campaigning to preserve the last remaining intact old-growth forests and are working together to protect the ‘Europa-Gymnasium-Wörth-Wald’.
Our success to date
Donations
have wilderness sponsors
m2 old-growth forest
protected for ever, thereby ensuring that
tonnes of CO2
remain permanently bound in the forest’s biomass
Europa-Gymnasium Wörth: Making a difference together.
Convert donation amounts, protected forest area and offset CO2 directly into one another.
m2
kg CO2
The Europa-Gymnasium Wörth is a state grammar school in the district of Germersheim. With more than 1,500 pupils, it is one of the largest grammar schools in Rhineland-Palatinate. As the name suggests, the school focuses on coexistence within a modern Europe and, in cooperation with the organisation Wilderness International, is actively committed to the conservation of primary forests.
Impressions from the tropical rainforest
Our protected areas in Madre de Dios (Peru) are home to an enormous variety of species: they are home to 10 per cent of all bird species worldwide and ten times as many reptile and amphibian species as Germany. With around 400 tree species per hectare, the region also surpasses the total tree diversity of Europe north of the Alps.
The macaw feeding ground: This natural spectacle serves as a source of minerals (salt) and offers a spectacular sight, particularly in the early morning, with scarlet, blue-and-yellow and red-and-green macaws.
A view of the treetops in the old-growth forest.
A sloth having breakfast in our conservation areas.
Transparency
Why protect forests with Wilderness International?
The Europa-Gymnasium Wörth is delighted with the transparent work carried out by Wilderness International: here, a €1 donation directly protects 1 m2 old-growth forest – and does so forever. Together, the school community is setting an example for the future. Donors receive a certificate showing the geographical coordinates and an aerial photograph of their protected patch of forest.
About Wilderness International
The foundation, which has offices in Peru, Canada and Germany, acquires wilderness areas in a legally secure manner and protects them for the long term. These acquisitions are funded by donations, which ensure the long-term protection of the areas and enable environmental education projects and research into CO2 storage and biodiversity.
Find out more
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What does Wilderness International do?
Wilderness International purchases wilderness areas in a legally secure manner and protects them for generations to come. These purchases are funded by donations, which not only ensure the long-term protection of the areas but also enable environmental education projects and research into CO2 sequestration and biodiversity. Donors receive a personalised certificate showing the exact geographical coordinates of the protected forest area, so that the protection can be directly traced. We are currently active in the temperate rainforest of western Canada and the Amazon rainforest of Peru, where we are protecting ancient primary rainforests. -
Why is it important to protect the rainforest?
It is important to protect the rainforest because this is the only way we can halt species extinction and climate change. They are home to the greatest biodiversity in the world and store huge amounts of CO2. It is also important to protect rainforests because they are the basis of our existence: they provide us with clean air, clean water and a stable rainfall pattern. They also help to cool the surrounding environment. -
How can we ensure that the protected area is preserved for all time?
In Canada, we are aided by the high level of legal certainty and the legal framework, as well as the penalties – which even prohibit trespass – and the cultural and historical significance of property.
In Peru, we have also launched a forest ranger programme in collaboration with local people. We have put several measures in place to ensure long-term protection. Generally speaking, we visit the areas on regular expeditions to check that everything is in order. We also work with local partners who inform us if necessary. The donations per square metre also already include the costs of property tax.
The legal form of the foundation, unlike any other, enables it to fulfil a (charitable) purpose permanently and independently of external interests, thereby achieving the desired long-term effects. It is thus the most long-term organisational structure currently known. Not even states, companies or national parks are designed to last that long. This makes the foundation the only organisation oriented towards the lifespan of the ecosystems we protect.
-
What is the Wilderness Run and how does it work?
The Wilderness Run is a charity run for all types of schools in the DACH region. Participating pupils have one hour to run as many laps as possible at a suitable location chosen by their school. In the run-up to the event, they independently seek out sponsors who will donate a pre-agreed amount to Wilderness International for each lap completed. With the donations from their sponsors, the pupils help to protect a specific area of rainforest in Peru in a tangible and long-term way. More information is available here.