Village of Waunakee’s Post

For 15 years, UEBT has been a leader in #ethicalsourcing of #wild ingredients. The UEBT standard is internationally recognized and developed through a multi-stakeholder consultation process. It has more than 120 requirements applicable to #wildcollection of #botanicals, such as: ·       Compliance with #CITES ·       Transparent and traceable #supplychains ·       #Conservation of the collected species ·       #Sustainable use of #wildspecies ·       #Biodiversity knowledge of surrounding areas ·       #Regeneration rates of the collected species ·       Interdependencies with species in close proximity ·       #Fair and equitable #benefitsharing ·       #Soil and #water conservation and improvement ·       #Climate resilience ·       Collector #livelihoods / Empowerment of #communities ·       Good collection practices that respect people and biodiversity ·       Respect of #workers’rights ·       #Gender equality LEARN MORE: www.uebt.org/wild

Check out how we’re fulfilling our commitment to #diversityequityandinclusion, #environmentalsustainability, and #socialimpact in #CoachellaValley. #CulturalCompetency and #environmentalEducation are key! #EnvironmentalConnectionsPorVida

Women play an immensely important role in the conservation world. From contributing ground-breaking research, to upholding traditional local knowledge, women are often the frontline of preserving nature and nurturing the communities around them. Still, for many women in conservation, these roles come with extra hurdles and challenges. That’s why it is essential we elevate women’s voices, stories, and impact – so they can be supported to continue this vital work. In 2023, 64% of our partners had women in leadership roles, and we are striving to increase this. By 2027, we plan to ensure 80% of the organisations we support have women in leadership positions. Here are just some of the women we collaborate with, who are making incredible progress as changemakers – empowering communities, protecting wildlife and people, and leading the way for women in conservation. Helena Gualinga – a young Ecuadorian from the Kichwa Sarayaku community – grew up in a family of women fighting for nature. Now she's an environmental and human rights activist, working to support Indigenous land rights in Ecuador and safeguard the many free-flowing rivers that intersect with these territories. Sheherazade and Asnim Alyoihana Lanusi established PROGRES Sulawesi, a female-led organisation in Indonesia, dedicated to building a network of empowered communities to protect Sulawesi’s rare and overlooked wildlife, so that nature and the island’s youth can thrive. Marina Kameni established Cameroon’s only organisation dedicated to amphibian conservation, Herp-Cameroon, to protect species on Mount Manengouba. We are delighted to support Marina as she emerges as a new leader in amphibian conservation – a big win for women in herpetology! Read more about the women we work with: https://lnkd.in/efCD_acQ #internationalwomensday #womeninconservation #womenempowerment

On #InternationalWomensDay2024, RESTORE4Cs celebrates its team and all the incredible women working on wetlands restoration and conservation 🌱💧 #Women ♀️ bring diverse perspectives and experiences to wetland restoration and conservation projects, enhancing #innovation 💡 and problem-solving. Their varied backgrounds can lead to more comprehensive approaches that consider the needs of different #stakeholders and communities. Furthermore, women's voices 🙋🏾♀️ are essential in advocating for #policies and regulations that protect wetlands and promote #sustainablemanagement practices. Their participation in decision-making processes can lead to more inclusive and equitable policies that benefit both people and the environment 🌷 Overall, women's involvement in wetland restoration and conservation is essential for achieving long-term environmental #sustainability and resilience. By recognising and supporting their contributions, we can harness their expertise and leadership to effectively address the challenges facing wetland #ecosystems 🌾🦆💦 #RESTORE4Cs #R4Cs #HorizonEU #Wetlands #CoastalWetlands #RestoreWetlands #ConserveWetlands #RestoreNature #ConserveNature #ClimateChange #Biodiversity #Environment #IWD204 #WomensDay

The Ogiek community is an indigenous group primarily residing in the forests of Kenya's Rift Valley and Mount Elgon regions. They have a deep and symbiotic relationship with their environment, particularly the Mau Forest Complex, which is central to their cultural and spiritual identity. Relationship with the Environment Forest Dependence: The Ogiek traditionally depend on the forests for their livelihoods, gathering honey, medicinal plants, and other resources essential for their subsistence. Cultural Significance: The forests hold immense cultural significance for the Ogiek, serving as sacred spaces where rituals, ceremonies, and traditional practices are performed. Environmental Stewardship: Historically, the Ogiek have acted as stewards of the forest, employing sustainable practices that ensure the longevity of resources without depleting them. Challenges Faced Land Disputes: The Ogiek have faced significant challenges in securing land rights to their ancestral territories, leading to forced evictions and legal battles over land ownership. Conservation vs. Livelihood: Conservation efforts sometimes clash with the Ogiek's traditional use of forest resources, posing challenges in balancing conservation goals with the community's livelihood needs. Human Rights Concerns: There have been concerns about human rights violations against the Ogiek, including discrimination, marginalization, and lack of recognition of their indigenous rights. Legal and Advocacy Efforts Legal Battles: The Ogiek have engaged in legal battles to secure recognition of their land rights, leading to landmark court rulings affirming their rights to their ancestral lands. Advocacy and Support: International and local organizations have supported the Ogiek in their advocacy efforts, highlighting their plight and advocating for their rights and environmental conservation. Current Context Recent developments include efforts to implement sustainable forest management practices that accommodate both conservation goals and the Ogiek's traditional ways of life. The recognition of indigenous land rights remains a pivotal issue, impacting both the Ogiek community's livelihoods and the conservation of Kenya's forests. In summary, the Ogiek community's connection to their environment is profound and multifaceted, encompassing cultural, spiritual, and economic dimensions. Their ongoing struggle for land rights and recognition reflects broader challenges faced by indigenous communities worldwide in balancing conservation imperatives with sustainable livelihoods rooted in traditional knowledge and practices.

Indigenous communities live in environments representing approximately 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity and thus protect critical ecosystems for combating climate degradation. Evidence shows that women’s involvement in local forest conservation efforts greatly increases the success of this work; when climate change policy interventions include women’s voices, they are measurably more effective. Learn more about the critical importance of working with Indigenous women: https://bit.ly/3PvbXgQ #DayOfIndigenousPeople #Biodiversity #ClimateChange #Conservation #Equity #Gender

As the role of local and indigenous communities in ecosystem conservation gains more interest, donor funding is increasing significantly. But does this funding reach directly to its target? A new online tool seeks to address this concern! The Path to Scale dashboard is a groundbreaking online tool developed to monitor funding for Indigenous peoples, local communities, and Afro-descendant peoples' forest stewardship and land tenure. Developed in partnership between the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) and the Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN), it provides insights into funding sources, trends, and critical gaps. The dashboard aims to address information gaps, track progress on funding pledges, and ensure accountability. The tool reveals an average annual disbursement of support has increased $517 million between 2020 and 2023. However, despite increased funding, direct support to community-led organizations hasn't risen. Read more from Mongabay https://lnkd.in/dW-wiVxH #ClimateHope #ClimateAction #ClimateFinance #Indigenous #Community #Conservation

𝗧𝗠𝗙'𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀   𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦: 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴   The main aim of this project is to reconcile conservation and community wellbeing in an ecologically sensitive environment, the Groenvlei-Swartvlei mouth dunes, identified as one of Knysna’s natural wonders. This collaboration between the Sustainability Research Unit (SRU) of Nelson Mandela University (NMU), the Smutsville Informal Settlement Forum (SISF) and the Knysna Municipality (KM) hopes to weave different forms of knowledge and ways of knowing to leverage inclusive conservation in the sensitive coastal dunes surrounding the Smutsville informal and formal settlements in Sedgefield.   This participatory action-research initiative was co-designed to empower and build capacity in conservation and sustainability transformation, with a particular focus on community leaders, women, and youth. In the final year, the project will sponsor at least one community-led conservation initiative, co-designed through the engagement process, and coordinated by SISF. The project is anticipated to act as a catalyst for sustainability transformation and conservation efforts in similar socially and ecologically sensitive coastal environments.   #fynbos #fynbosforever #fynbospride #fynboscare #conservationcommunity #biodiversityconservation #30by30 #biodiversity #conservation #capefloristicregion #capefloralkingdom #tmfinthefield #conservationpartnerships #communityconservation #Sedgefield   © C. Guerbois

Influencer initiatives are definitely not limited to the selling of products. Creators and organisations are constantly exploring new ways to make positives impacts! Here is one latest example #influencermarketing #unesco

The Youth Upliftment Organization (YUO) has taken on the responsibility of mobilizing young people to plant trees as a way of contributing to #environmental conservation. This initiative is not only aimed at creating a greener environment but also at educating and inspiring the youth to become future stewards of the planet. The YUO’s tree planting campaign focuses on various aspects, including: Education and Awareness: The YUO organizes workshops and seminars to educate the youth about the importance of trees and the need for their conservation. Practical Tree Planting Experience: The YUO provides hands-on tree planting opportunities for the youth to gain practical experience in planting and taking care of trees. This helps them develop a deeper understanding of the process and encourages them to continue their efforts in the future. Community Involvement: The YUO encourages the youth to collaborate with local communities in tree planting initiatives, #climatechange #climateaction #sdg13