Marie Schreiber
Head of Science
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We have a proven track record of effectively protecting forests
Expert report by BAUM e.V.
Find out more
How effective are our forest conservation efforts really?
To assess precisely this, we regularly have our work scrutinised by external bodies. In the past, our approach has already been recognised with the PHINEO ‘Wirkt’ seal of approval for transparent and effective work.
To reassess our impact once again, we commissioned a comprehensive process assessment from BAUM e.V. in the spring of 2025. BAUM is a non-profit business network in Europe that promotes sustainable business practices and climate protection. The assessment was carried out by Rainer Kant, a qualified forester and senior advisor on biodiversity and ecosystems at BAUM e.V., one of Germany’s leading sustainability experts in this field.
Conclusion of the expert report
Wilderness International has a proven track record of being effective, transparent and long-term protector of wilderness areas. Our foundation’s work is regarded as “a forward-looking model for the protection of wilderness areas”.
About the report
About the expert: Rainer Kant – Senior Advisor for ‘Biodiversity & Ecosystems’, specialising in ‘Forest Ecosystems’, at BAUM e.V.
Rainer Kant is regarded as one of the most experienced expert consultants on biodiversity and forest ecosystems in Germany. For over 20 years, he has been assisting companies, foundations and public institutions in developing sustainable environmental strategies.
He teaches environmental sustainability at the Hamburg School of Business Administration and has authored numerous guides and specialist publications on the intersection of forests, the economy and biodiversity. His expertise makes him one of the few people in Germany who can assess the impact of nature conservation projects from both a scientific forestry and an economic perspective.
Purpose and methodology of the report
The process assessment was commissioned to independently review the impact, transparency and sustainability of our work – building on the Phineo-Wirkt assessment, which we passed in 2023 following a six-month process – and to present the findings in a clear and transparent report.
The following objectives were set, in descending order of priority, for the preparation of the report:
- Evaluation of the processes in the core area with regard to effectiveness, including additionality.
- Identification of the added value of the WI projects from a business perspective, including their potential uses for reporting requirements and the business benefits in non-reporting areas.
- Proposals for process improvements to further develop the projects.
- Proposals for measuring and visualising forest ecosystem services and changes therein.
To answer these questions, Kant combined qualitative and quantitative methods:
- An on-site visit to Peru (April 2025) to the Secret Forest conservation areas.
- Interviews with staff from Wilderness International, partner organisations, scientists, forest guardians and representatives of local communities.
- Analysis of internal documents, research reports, monitoring data, maps and financial flows.
- Comparison with international reference data (e.g. Global Forest Watch, Planet Forest Carbon Diligence, MAAP Reports).
- Assessment based on international sustainability criteria, including additionality, permanence, transparency and measurability.
The objectives set out in the foundation’s articles of association are being fully met.
“Wilderness International is largely achieving the objectives set out in its articles of association. The foundation successfully protects ecologically valuable wilderness areas through legally secure land acquisitions and long-term earmarking of land for specific purposes.
Furthermore, it promotes education, research, intercultural exchange and the transfer of environmental technologies through innovative projects in Canada, Peru and Germany. Its activities are wide-ranging, well-documented and demonstrate an effective integration of nature conservation, scientific work and social engagement.” – Rainer Kant, BAUM e. V.
Results: Proven effective forest conservation.
- The objectives set out in the foundation’s articles of association are being fully met.
- The CO2 storage capacity and annual increase are scientifically plausible.
- The additionality and permanence of the conservation projects have been demonstrably established.
- Our conservation projects follow a holistic approach.
CO2 storage and the annual increase are scientifically proven
“Wilderness International’s claim that an average of 60 kg CO2/m2 is stored in its protected areas (equivalent to 600 t CO2/ha) is, in principle, plausible. It lies at the upper end of the typical range for intact primary forests in the tropics and in temperate rainforests – and is particularly realistic when, as is the case with WI, 1) old, intact stands are protected, 2) deforestation or degradation is ruled out, and 3) a mixed land-use approach is applied for Peru and Canada. [...]
WI’s claim that primary rainforests continue to sequester carbon is research-based and factually accurate. An increase of 3.02 t C/ha/year (11 t CO2/ha/year) is consistent with research findings for intact primary forests. The reference to Cook-Patton et al. (2020) is correct. WI’s decision not to account for this growth reflects a cautious and responsible modelling approach.” – Rainer Kant, BAUM e. V.
It has been demonstrated that the supplementary nature and permanence of the conservation projects are established
The report confirms that our conservation projects meet three key international criteria for forest conservation projects:
- Additionality: The conservation would not have taken place without our conservation project.
- Permanence: Long-term protection is ensured through title deeds.
- No leakage: Thanks to the holistic approach, there is no shift in deforestation to neighbouring areas.
Regarding the quality criterion of additionality, the report states: “Given the complex drivers of deforestation in Madre de Dios, and particularly in the immediate vicinity of WI’s protected areas, the additionality of the Tropical Forest Conservation project is demonstrably established.
Without the purchase, the designation as a protected area and the various activities (concession areas, area monitoring through regular patrols, agroforestry and school projects, etc.), it is reasonable to assume that the protected forest areas would no longer exist at present or in the coming years.
Only around 25 per cent of the original area of temperate rainforest remains in Canada. These remaining areas are under threat from forestry companies seeking timber extraction, agribusinesses expanding agricultural land, urban sprawl, construction and infrastructure development, as well as Canada’s withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol. Even though the specific threat to the WI protected areas Misty Forest (Porcher Island) and Grizzly Forest (Toba Valley) is currently considered to be relatively low, additionality is clearly established in view of the sharp increase in logging pressure in British Columbia.” – Rainer Kant, BAUM e. V.
Our conservation projects take a holistic approach
The report places particular emphasis on the link between research, environmental education and communication. We facilitate research partnerships (e.g. for eDNA drone monitoring or peatland analyses) and translate scientific findings into environmental education:
“Wilderness International demonstrates how science, education and conservation work can reinforce one another, thereby fostering a new understanding of responsibility.” – Rainer Kant, BAUM e. V.
“Wilderness International takes a comprehensive approach to protecting primary rainforests, characterised by an integrative, systems-based, multidimensional, interdisciplinary and holistic approach. The organisation brings together different perspectives, methods and stakeholders to achieve its objectives effectively and sustainably. This methodologically multifaceted and modern approach to nature conservation represents a forward-looking model for the protection of wilderness areas.”
Our approach: a three-pronged approach combining protection, knowledge and education
Rainer Kant highlights our organisation as an “integrated, systemic model for modern forest conservation”:
This integrative approach is evident in the way Wilderness International links different sectors of society: environmental and climate protection are combined with educational work, technological innovations and economic funding models. Businesses, schools, scientists and local indigenous communities are actively involved, creating synergies between civil society, the business sector and the scientific community.
Furthermore, Wilderness International adopts a systemic approach by understanding ecological challenges within a broader context. The protection of a section of rainforest is not viewed in isolation, but as part of a complex ecological network that influences the global climate, biodiversity and the water cycle. This systemic thinking enables the organisation to design measures in such a way that they have long-term and far-reaching effects.
Furthermore, Wilderness International operates in a multidimensional way, as its work unfolds simultaneously across various levels: ecologically, through the conservation of species-rich habitats; economically, through funding via land sponsorships and CO2 offsets; technologically, through the use of drones, satellite imagery and eDNA; and educationally, through educational projects in schools. This ensures that environmental and climate protection are not only put into practice, but also made tangible and understandable.
Another key aspect is its interdisciplinary approach. Wilderness International brings together experts from the fields of biology, geography, forestry and environmental science, education, computer science and communication. This diversity of specialist knowledge enables well-informed decisions to be made, innovative solutions to be developed and complex interrelationships to be communicated in an understandable way.
All these approaches ultimately contribute to a holistic understanding of nature conservation. Wilderness International considers not only the ecological component, but also the social, cultural and economic dimensions.”
Measurable & verified: Contributing to environmental and climate protection
As a bridge between science, business and environmental policy, BAUM e.V. plays a key role in guiding companies towards sustainable business practices.
The report clearly shows that companies cooperating with Wilderness International can make a measurable and verified contribution to environmental and climate protection. In particular, companies can strategically integrate our forest conservation projects into their sustainability programmes in the following areas:
- Integrating biodiversity into their ESG strategies (CSRD / ESRS E4-compliant)
- Offset Scope 3 emissions through long-term nature conservation projects
- Avoid greenwashing, as all areas are permanently secured and transparently verifiable
“To protect primary forests is not only about climate protection, but is also the most effective measure for ensuring ecological resilience and sustainability.” – Rainer Kant, BAUM e. V.
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