Aerial view of a lush tropical rainforest canopy with dense green foliage and scattered white tree trunks under a cloudy sky.

The POLYGON Community rainforest

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Join us in protecting the world’s most biodiverse rainforest

Here at POLYGON, we know only too well just how destructive fire can be. That is why, together with Wilderness International, we have launched a pilot project to protect the Peruvian rainforest from man-made wildfires using smart sensor technology. 

But we want to do even more, so we’ve established our very own POLYGON Community Forest: for every euro donated by staff and partners, we’ll protect 1m2 of old-growth forest for all time. Will you help us make our Community Forest grow even further?

Donations

have wilderness sponsors

m2 old-growth forest

protected for ever, thereby ensuring that

tonnes of CO2

remain permanently sequestered in the forest’s biomass

Every contribution counts!

Mysterious jaguars, wild bats and liana-draped jungle giants – the Peruvian Amazon rainforest is the most biodiverse place on Earth! Together with Polygon and Wilderness International, you can help protect this rainforest for ever.

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Key information about your donation at a glance

  • Specific use: a donation of €1 protects 1 m² of rainforest
  • Good for the climate: this ensures that 60 kg of CO2 remains permanently sequestered in living biomass
  • Transparent: you will receive a certificate showing the geographical coordinates and an aerial photograph of the protected woodland
  • Lasting impact: your one-off donation guarantees that the area is long-term protected
  • tax-deductible donation with a donation receipt
  • Country: Peru
  • Region: Madre de Dios
  • Location of the protected area: along the Tambopata River, approximately 30 km south-west of the town of Puerto Maldonado
  • Ecosystem: tropical Amazon rainforest

Your Wilderness Conservation Certificate

Immediately after making your donation, you will receive a personalised certificate detailing the piece of wilderness you have helped to protect.

Thanks to the geographical coordinates, you’ll know exactly which section of woodland we’re protecting with your donation.

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Wilderness Protection Certificate for Sally Sunshine's 18th birthday protecting 25 m² of rainforest in Peru, featuring wildlife and signatures.

Impressions from the Peruvian jungle

The Madre de Dios region is home to 10 times as many reptiles and amphibians as Germany; around 10 per cent of the world’s bird species can be observed here, and a single hectare of forest contains around 400 tree species – more than in the whole of Europe north of the Alps.
Capybara wading through shallow water near the riverbank with driftwood and vegetation in the background.
Weighing up to 75 kg, capybaras are the world’s largest rodents.
Dense tropical rainforest with moss-covered tree trunks, twisted branches, and lush green vegetation.
Massive buttress roots give these primeval forest giants stability.
Turtle on log watches insect flying above water
Insects are attracted to the rare salt contained in the turtles’ ‘tears’.
Bright green tree frog with orange legs and belly clinging to a mossy branch against a black background.
Tiger-maki frogs are an indicator of an intact forest because they depend on undisturbed rainforests.
Misty rainforest canopy at dawn with towering trees beneath an overcast sky and morning fog.
As the sun rises over the rainforests along the Tambopata River, the forest begins to breathe.
Three people standing on a forest trail beneath a large tree surrounded by lush green foliage.
The Wilderness International team in front of a huge buttress-rooted tree in the tropical rainforest of Peru.
Woman standing beside a massive ancient tree trunk in a forest, touching the deeply grooved bark.
Ancient giant trees in the tropical rainforest

Join us in protecting what matters

The foundation, which has offices in Canada, Peru 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
Group of about twelve people smiling on a forest trail surrounded by lush green trees and vegetation.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the aim of the campaign? How much woodland does Wacken aim to protect in total?

    As the Wacken community, we want to work together to protect 4 million square metres of virgin forest in Peru for ever! This area is equivalent to the size of the entire Wacken site. The organisers of the Wacken Festival have already protected the first 1,000 square metres. The aim of this campaign is to take responsibility and say thank you to nature. By protecting precious virgin forests, we are preserving the habitat of a unique array of species and ensuring a healthy climate. 

  • How long does Wacken intend to protect this area of woodland?

    The 4 million square metres of woodland are to be protected by 2032, i.e. within the next ten years. That would amount to a donation of €5 per festival-goer per year.

  • What obligations does sponsorship entail for me?

    There are no further obligations on your part. The donation is a one-off payment and enables us, as a foundation, to ensure the long-term protection of the area. The sponsorship is symbolic. The woodland remains the property of the foundation.

  • 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.

  • How do you work with the local community?

    In Peru, for example, we work closely with local people as part of our forest ranger programme. They patrol the areas regularly and champion our conservation cause within the community. For instance, they put up signs, talk to local people about our forest conservation projects and, where necessary, intervene to stop unauthorised access. In this way, the forest rangers also earn a sustainable livelihood.

    In Canada, we not only work with partner organisations but can also look back on some fantastic collaborations with First Nations. These include a wilderness run and several nature conservation expeditions with the Cowichan of Vancouver Island, as well as our joint efforts to protect the Peel River Watershed with the Gwich’in of Fort McPherson.

  • 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.

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