Researcher measuring tree diameter in dense rainforest surrounded by lush vegetation. Woman in light shirt examining tree trunk in dense forest surrounded by lush green foliage.

Research for nature conservation

Real-world impact through scientific data collection

Understanding the wilderness in order to protect it

We are convinced that, in order to effectively protect the Earth’s last remaining wilderness areas, we must understand them, document their biodiversity and report on them. In addition to wilderness conservation, our constitution therefore commits us to promoting education, science and research in the field of nature conservation. To this end, we work in partnership with universities and other NGOs – and carry out our own research projects.

In doing so, we investigate exactly which species live in our forests, how biodiversity is developing in the forest areas you protect, and how much CO2 is sequestered there. Based on scientific data, we can find well-founded, effective and sustainable solutions to faster and more effective protection of biodiversity.

We have been working on this in Peru since 2019, on the ground in partnership with the NGO Fauna Forever, amongst others. In Canada, teams from all three foundations regularly come together for research expeditions. To date, more than 1,500 volunteers, interns and students have contributed to our research and carried out their own projects.

731

Species in Peru

(confirmed species of millipedes in our protected areas)

214

Species in Canada

(have so far been recorded in our protected areas through visual sightings and eDNA)

> 1,500

Volunteers

have contributed to research to date and carried out their own projects.

Weighing, measuring and counting for science

With our team of biologists and researchers, and in collaboration with other scientific organisations, we are continuously documenting the biodiversity of our protected areas. To date, 477 bird species, 162 amphibian and reptile species and 92 mammal species (including 48 large mammal species and 44 bat species) have been recorded in the Secret Forest in Peru. By way of comparison: Germany is home to just 21 species of amphibians, 15 species of reptiles and 25 species of bats.
Man in yellow shirt holding small insect on hand in lush green forest with headlamp.

In every protected area, we carry out our research using these four steps.

  1. Rapid Assessment

    This rapid, targeted data collection helps us to identify areas that are particularly valuable and in need of protection.

  2. Creating a basic inventory

    The baseline survey is a comprehensive initial assessment of biodiversity, serving as a starting point for further monitoring.

  3. Long-term monitoring

    Building on this, we establish long-term monitoring sites where we document developments over a period of several years.

  4. Special research projects

    The findings from the previous steps give rise to targeted specialist research projects, such as those focusing on the carbon content of the peatlands in our protected areas or on the movements of individual animal species.

Monitoring in various areas


Further information on our biodiversity monitoring programme

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Past and current projects

  • eDNA pilot project

    Fast, minimally invasive and precise: the eDNA research project by Wilderness International and ETH Zurich, supported by the Audi Environmental Foundation and DJI. Launched in March 2024, the environmental DNA pilot project enables a completely new approach to biodiversity monitoring – even in the most inaccessible places: the tree canopies of the tropical rainforest.
    Find out more

  • Bog research in the Misty Forest

    In July 2025, researchers from the Greifswald Moor Centre joined us in our Canadian conservation areas to investigate the depth and carbon storage capacity of the moors for the first time. The results are expected in spring 2026.
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  • Biodiversity in the tree canopy

    We are currently setting up a network of cameras high up in the treetops of the Secret Forest. As the majority of mammals like to spend time at lofty heights, the cameras will provide unprecedented insights into the biodiversity of the tree canopy, thereby revealing a previously little-studied aspect of the rainforest ecosystem.
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  • Collaboration with iBOL opens in a new tab

    The ‘International Barcode of Life’ (iBOL) project records the genetic barcodes of all species in a global database. We have been supplying insect samples from our protected areas since 2025. Genetic analysis reveals the biodiversity of our forests and adds this information to the international iBOL database.
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Symbiosis: Fauna Forever & Wilderness International

Whilst Wilderness International lays the foundations through legally secure land acquisitions, Fauna Forever carries out precise ecological data collection in our Peruvian conservation areas. The scientific findings are incorporated directly into our conservation strategy: they help us to identify areas of particular importance for conservation, recognise trends at an early stage, assess risks, and ensure that our conservation work is effective, measurable and transparent.
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Research grants

Since 2024, we have been awarding research grants to emerging Peruvian researchers to strengthen local expertise in nature conservation. In the Amazon in particular, long-term conservation is only possible if local people carry out research, pass on knowledge and take responsibility. Through these fellowships, we enable young talents to gain their own experience, familiarise themselves with international methods and contribute their perspectives to the global scientific dialogue. This builds sustainable capacity that will protect the forests for generations to come.
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Research and project partners

Fancy doing some research together?