Weighing up to 75 kg, capybaras are the largest rodents in the world.
Luca’s North Cape Tour Fundraising Challenge
Protect forest nowTo preserve the most biodiverse rainforest
In June 2023, Luca will cycle from Oslo to the North Cape. He plans to cover the distance of around 2,000 kilometres in 14 days, without using a mobile phone or GPS.
The Challenge
Through this fundraising challenge, Luca is supporting the protection of the rainforest in eastern Peru.
We need to protect 10,000 square metres of rainforest. We need your support now – please donate generously!
If the target isn’t reached, Luca will donate 1,000 Swiss francs out of his own pocket.
The current total raised:
Donations
have wilderness sponsors
m2 old-growth forest
protected for ever, thereby ensuring that
tonnes of CO2
remain permanently stored in the forest’s biomass
Key information about your donation at a glance
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Specific use: A €1 donation protects 1m2 of rainforest
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Good for the climate: this ensures that 60 kg of CO2 remains permanently sequestered in living biomass
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Transparent: you will receive a certificate showing the geographical coordinates and an aerial photograph of the protected woodland
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Lasting impact: Your one-off donation guarantees the long-term protection of the area
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tax-deductible donation with a donation receipt
Impressions from the rainforest in Peru
The Secret Forest rainforest is situated in the Madre de Dios region of Peru. There are 10 times more reptiles and amphibians there than in Germany; around 10 per cent of all the world’s bird species can be observed here; and on one hectare of forest, one can find around 400 tree species – more than in the whole of Europe north of the Alps.
Massive buttress roots give these primeval forest giants stability.
Tiger-maki frogs are an indicator of an intact forest, as they depend on undisturbed rainforests.
As the sun rises over the rainforests along the Tambopata River, the forest begins to breathe.
How much forest would you like to protect?
Convert donation amounts, protected forest area and offset CO2 directly into one another.
m2
kg CO2
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who is Wilderness International, and what does the organisation do?
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.
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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.