Marsh’s Post

Super excited today to launch of Forest Love initiative and announce our partnership with Chloris Geospatial. You can learn more about the partnership from the Chloris post below. Bottom line for us is that we really see their technology as a game changer in our collective efforts to understand and better protect, yes, better love our forests and all the magical things they bring us. Why Forest Love? Pond Foundation wants to highlight and nurture the spiritual connection between humans and forests and the word ‘love’ captures how we feel about forests and how we want to inspire others to feel about them. We could have called it the Forest Protection Initiative, or something similarly bland and boring, but there’s nothing bland or boring about forests.   Forests teem with vibrant, magical life; they’re great for the planet, for so many species and for humans too. We see people as being integral to forest ecosystems, not separate from them and not a part that should ever be separated by political or forest management decisions. We acknowledge, deeply respect, and love the role that indigenous and local communities play in protecting forests the world over. A central part of Forest Love’s work will be to help communities secure the resources they need to continue their work to both protect their forests and grow their communities. Another part is to help people who have become disconnected from forests to find reconnection to that most ancient current.   Our goal. So many forests are under threat – from logging, fire, mining, agricultural clearance, pests, and disease and most insidiously, from climate change. If we lose them, we lose life itself. Our goal is to support the protection of as many hectares of forest as we possibly can. We'll share more about Forest Love in future posts, but for now, we're celebrating this partnership with Chloris Geospatial that will underpin this work.  

I see much opportunity for impactful collaboration between development, nature protection organizations and the private sector. Investments to support communities to thrive economically and sustainably, need to go hand in hand with with efforts to protect natural resources and ecosystems. Funders and investors play a vital role in bridging this area of still underutilized partnerships to help achieve long-term mutual benefits for people and nature. In this article, I am collecting my thoughts on the need for bolder cross sector partnerships and unlikely collaborations. We can only protect vulnerable wildlife and people from climate change if funders, conservationists, and community development organizations establish such relationships. https://lnkd.in/eG5yZdy2

🌍 At Primate Global Foundation, we envision a world where humans and wildlife coexist peacefully and responsibly. Our mission addresses a broad spectrum of human-wildlife conflict issues, including those driving small-scale illegal poaching in habitats. Through sponsoring research grants and supporting grassroots initiatives, we aim to develop solutions to the multifaceted issues arising from close human-wildlife interactions. Our advocacy work is anchored in a three-fold approach: forging local and international partnerships, launching proactive initiatives, and measuring environmental impact. With the active participation of the communities we work with, we have successfully removed hundreds of snares designed to trap, injure, or kill wildlife. Together, we are building a more sustainable and harmonious world for both humans and wildlife. 🌿 #PrimateGlobalFoundation #GedeNationalMonumentForest #wecare #HumanWildlifeCoexistence #Conservation 

Human-elephant conflict is often a symptom, not the disease. When elephants lose their habitat due to human encroachment, they're forced into competition for resources, leading to conflict. Conservation efforts that empower communities to coexist with elephants offer win-win solutions. Communities living alongside elephants have generations of experience understanding their needs and behavior. Engaging them in conservation efforts leverages this invaluable knowledge. By giving communities a stake in conservation, we create a sense of ownership and responsibility for the well-being of both elephants and their environment. #elephants #wildlifeconservation #wildlifelovers #savetheplanet #communityledconservation

We see giants, they see their home. Elephants, the gentle giants of the savanna, often wander into our communities, sparking fear and frustration. But let's pause for a moment and consider their perspective. They're not invaders; they're simply searching for food and water, just like us. Through community-led conservation efforts, we're forging a new path—one where humans and wildlife thrive together. By fostering understanding, empathy, and sustainable practices, we're creating a future where elephants are not seen as adversaries, but as partners in conservation. #wildlifeconservation #communityLedConservation

From the 12th of July to the 4th of August, you can help assess the health of our environment by taking part in the Big Butterfly Count – a UK wide butterfly survey. 🦋 The Big Butterfly Count is more than just a quick snap-shot of how many of these important insects we see - it builds a picture of how populations fluctuate, enabling nature experts to understand how we can help butterfly populations stabilise and succeed. The results from thousands of people counting butterflies can also be combined with data from other species counts across each year, including for birds, bees and general insects, giving us an ever clearer picture of what happening with our wildlife, and how we can help. Simply count butterflies for 15 minutes during bright (preferably sunny) weather from your garden, local park, office or even your dog walk. Find out how to get involved on the Big Butterfly Count website. https://lnkd.in/eDPGh_n #bigbutterflycount #biodiversity

Friday Fact! Did you know that 53% of woodland species are in decline? The UK is facing a nature crisis. Many creatures, from tiny dormice to essential fungi, depend on healthy woodlands and hedgerows for their survival. These habitats provide food and shelter, allowing them to raise young and thrive. But there's troubling news – woodland wildlife is declining rapidly. In particular, butterfly populations have plummeted by a staggering 58% in just the last three decades! Moor Trees are growing and planting native woodlands on Dartmoor, in response to both the climate and nature crises. It takes 25 years for a tree to reach maturity, so the time to act is now. www.moortrees.org/donate #Climate #Nature #Trees #CommunityTreeNursery #Devon

“We’ve lost nearly 97% of flower rich meadows since the 1970’s and with them gone are vital food needed by pollinators, like bees and butterflies.” This is the stark warning from charity Plantlife International who has once again launched its #NoMowMay campaign, as it tries to encourage people to create more welcoming habitats for wildlife in their gardens. The campaign calls all garden owners and green space managers not to mow during May – liberating your lawns and providing a space for nature. A vibrant lawn with patches of longer grass and wildflowers supports wildlife, reduces pollution, and sequesters carbon underground. With over 20 million gardens in the UK, even small grassy areas collectively contribute to a significant portion of our land. Proper management can yield significant benefits for nature, communities, and the climate. And the best bit, you don't need to do a thing. Just sit back, don't mow your garden, and let nature reap the benefits. #Biodiversity #Nature #ClimateAction #UK

From the 12th of July to the 4th of August, you can help assess the health of our environment by taking part in the Big Butterfly Count – a UK wide butterfly survey. 🦋 The Big Butterfly Count is more than just a quick snap-shot of how many of these important insects we see - it builds a picture of how populations fluctuate, enabling nature experts to understand how we can help butterfly populations stabilise and succeed. The results from thousands of people counting butterflies can also be combined with data from other species counts across each year, including for birds, bees and general insects, giving us an ever clearer picture of what happening with our wildlife, and how we can help. Simply count butterflies for 15 minutes during bright (preferably sunny) weather from your garden, local park, office or even your dog walk. Find out how to get involved on the Big Butterfly Count website. Big Butterfly Count (butterfly-conservation.org) 💚 #bigbutterflycount #biodiversity

In 2015, the Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group, The Nature Conservancy (Australia) and Kilter Rural, launched the Murray-Darling Basin Balanced Water Fund, the first investment vehicle in Australia to provide investors with the opportunity to achieve multiple objectives of securing water for agriculture, realising a financial return and restoring threatened wetlands. Below on the Riverspace site, you can see the wetlands and projects supported by donations of water we are managing in collaboration with many community and government organisations. The estimated 30,000 wetlands within the Murray-Darling Basin are highly diverse, ranging from vast floodplains, billabongs, and swamps to smaller wetlands and streams. The wetlands are home to a wide variety of plants and animals, including several threatened and endangered species. Please take a moment to consider making a donation that will go towards restoration and protection of our wetlands. https://riverspace.au/