Institute of Philanthropy’s Post

The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, celebrated on August 9th, highlights the cultural diversity and challenges faced by Indigenous communities worldwide. In Africa, Indigenous peoples are represented by diverse groups, each with distinct cultural identities and traditions. The San (Bushmen) of Southern Africa are renowned for their deep knowledge of the land and traditional hunting and gathering practices. The Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania are known for their vibrant culture and pastoral lifestyle, closely tied to their ancestral lands. The Tuareg, a nomadic people of the Sahara, have a rich heritage of trade and unique customs. In Central Africa, the Pygmies, such as the Aka and Baka, are traditionally forest dwellers with deep knowledge of the ecosystems they inhabit. Other Indigenous groups in Africa include the Hadza of Tanzania, known for their hunting and gathering lifestyle; the Himba of Namibia, recognized for their distinctive red ochre body paint and pastoral traditions; and the Ogiek of Kenya, who are forest dwellers with a deep knowledge of beekeeping. The Bakola of Cameroon and the Batwa of Uganda are also significant Indigenous communities, with unique traditions and a profound connection to their natural environments. Celebrating this day calls for increased awareness and action to ensure that Indigenous peoples' voices are heard and respected in policy-making processes. It also emphasizes the need to integrate Indigenous knowledge systems into sustainable development strategies, recognizing their vital role in biodiversity conservation and cultural heritage preservation.

#ArtificallyNatural Catch us on our last day tomorrow! (Sunday 15 Sep 2024). Then also keep an eye out for our upcoming site tours to visit this our project in this unique site facing a challenge to balance between conservation and development. #ecologicalbalance #fishponds #conservationvsdevelopment #publicexperience #ecologicaldevices #countrysideconservationoffice

It's about more than just watches.

Cultural Heritage and Preservation: The Role of the Argan Tree in Cultural Expression and Symbolic Awareness.

🌲 Happy International Day of Forests! Celebrated for over 10 years now, this United Nations day aims to raise awareness of the importance of forests and the need for sustainable management practices. ⬇ Here are 3 ways we're making a difference: 🌳 1. Beyond our 38,000 ha of planted land & internal community areas, we steward 67,000 ha of undeveloped natural forest – for scale, this represents a land mass over 6 times the size of Paris! This stewardship represents our commitment to preserving local biodiversity and also safeguards the forest’s natural resources for the benefit of indigenous communities who may inhabit these areas. 🛰 2. Our No Deforestation commitment is monitored annually through third-party satellite service MapHubs, and verified by a third-party consultant. 🐘 3. We've proudly signed our third 5-year convention with the UNESCO World Heritage Dja Faunal Reserve, dedicated to assisting in the fight against poaching. This land is home to numerous species of conservation concern, such as the western lowland gorilla, forest elephant and chimpanzee. https://lnkd.in/ex5GBDXq

Today is #IndigenousPeoplesDay so we've been talking to one of our 2024 award-winners, Bayron R. Calle-Rendón, about the crucial role of Indigenous People in conservation (English translation below). Bayron's CLP project is preserving the biocultural diversity of the indigenous community of the Musuiuiai in Putamayo, Colombia, by focusing on the conservation of the Vulnerable lowland tapir. Bayron is one of 18 early-career conservationists who have joined us at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Campus in Rwanda to participate in our Conservation Management & Leadership training workshop. He explains that his project, which is led by Musuiuiai Community member, José Jarol Muchavisoy, is following a biocultural approach to strengthen the Musuiuiai’s self-governance, monitor tapirs, and engage neighbouring communities in conservation efforts. [English translation of the video]: "To consider Indigenous People in conservation projects is relevant not only because they know which animals and plants exist, but it's also the fact that, for millennia, they have interacted with nature and this has allowed them to learn how to manage it so it can be preserved throughout time. But this also has to be done jointly through cultural preservation. I believe that, as long as culture is preserved, then the rules that Indigenous People have used for millennia to protect nature will also be preserved. Therefore, whenever working with Indigenous People, although it's really important to conserve nature, an effort should be made to ensure that every conservation project includes cultural aspects." #WeAreCLP

This week His Majesty King Charles and Queen Camilla visited a very special research field site that NIER has been involved with in Samoa since 2019. The Moata’a mangrove ecosystem is a Living Lab of significant environmental and cultural value, and a best-case example of how research and community collaboration can help to solve some of the world’s most urgent challenges. 👏 👏 👏 Mangroves are essential coastal ecosystems that perform several crucial roles, such as safeguarding shorelines, enhancing biodiversity, sustaining local economies, and capturing carbon. Over the years, poorly designed and ad-hoc development in the Moata’a Village, coupled with climate change placed the village mangrove ecosystem – the lifeblood of the village - under threat, presenting environmental and socio-economic repercussions. The Moata’a Living Lab research collaboration commenced in 2019 and remains an inclusive partnership between the Moata’a Village Council, University of Newcastle, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Government of Samoa Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the National University of Samoa and the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS). This alliance has transformed the Moata’a village into a thriving eco-tourism, education and research centre, with all groups working together to conserve and regenerate the local mangrove ecosystem and culture. 🌱 ♻ 🐟 The Kings visit was part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and was an opportunity to address some of the significant challenges being faced by Pacific Island nations including climate change, sea level rise and coastal resilience. His Majesty is dedicated to advancing conservation efforts and climate action throughout the Commonwealth, and this visit to Samoa was an opportunity to engage with local communities, and support the initiatives aimed at promoting environmental sustainability.   Bill Leggat Troy Gaston @Sascha Fuller #sustainability #coastalresilience #biodiversity #researchcollaboration #sustainablesolutions

🌿Since 2019, #Malaysia has been at the forefront of ecological conservation with the Ecological Fiscal Transfer (#EFT), supported by UNDP BIOFIN. With an allocation of US$160 million, the country has designated 360,000 hectares as new protected areas, including 90,000 hectares of land and over 250,000 hectares of marine protected areas. These efforts demonstrate Malaysia's commitment to nature, including extensive restoration programs and enforcement measures. 🎥 Watch the video podcast to learn more about Malaysia’s tangible improvements in biodiversity, forest enhancement, and strategic capacity-building initiatives. Watch now: https://lnkd.in/dEMzWjBN UNDP in Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei Darussalam

This insightful article by Hanna Ollos and Jonas Sommer provides a snapshot of how I became actively involved in advocating forest conservation in Singapore, in collaboration with like-minded individuals (such as Roxane Uzureau Zhu and M Saniroz) who share the same passion for Nature, with which we are all interconnected. In retrospect, my stint as a full-time editor in the educational publishing industry working on geography textbooks for secondary schools serves as a stepping stone to put into practice the knowledge, skills and values that I have acquired to be a voice for the flora and fauna threatened by unrelenting development. I am grateful for the article amplifying our collective voices in protecting Nature, which is also a good reminder that each of us can be a naturalist in our own ways to help preserve our natural heritage both for ourselves and our future generations. “He started being involved in activism during the Covid pandemic in 2020, when, as he recalls, there was a momentum for nature protection causes in Singapore. Alongside his involvement in NSS activities, Jimmy has been observing land use changes in Singapore, since he worked as a Geography editor in educational publishing for about 20 years. He noticed the destruction happening to Tengah Forest, a biodiverse forest in midwest Singapore, which is set out to be transformed into “Tengah Forest Town ”. According to the development plan, this town is supposed to be a sustainable, green and forest-themed residential area. However, Jimmy started a petition together with two other nature advocates to call for a significant reduction of its impacts, as its construction is causing widespread destruction of an extensive secondary rainforest, while not offering enough space and ecological connectivity for wildlife (such as critically endangered Sunda pangolins, leopard cats and straw-headed bulbuls) to move between the western water catchment and central nature reserves. The petition has been signed by over 10,000 residents.” #natureconservation #sustainability #environment #geography

How do we balance nature conservation with sustainable development? The Khar Us Lake Biosphere Reserve in Mongolia 🇲🇳 shows us how. Spanning 14,153 km² in the Great Lakes Basin of Khovd Province, this reserve is a blend of deserts, lakes, mountains, and steppe landscapes. By promoting ecotourism, it safeguards its rich ecosystems while supporting local communities. Creating close connections between people and nature is essential for learning about sustainable development and ensuring the preservation of our natural world - https://lnkd.in/eJ_mRC-C hashtag UNESCO