The Wilderness Foundation's Philosophy
The Wilderness Foundation has a basic belief that wilderness is the foundation upon which our society exists. We create models for the preservation of biodiversity and wilderness. We focus on working with government, civil society and the private sector, The Wilderness Foundation serves to influence people's perception of wilderness and to maximise the benefits all communities and wildlife gain from its preservation.
Wild areas relate to our people's sense of humanity - and its loss in overcrowded living spaces, to our knowing of the natural web of life - or our desensitisation to it, and to our sense of place in the world beyond degraded townships and urban areas.
Wilderness relates to the loss or sustainability of our water, to the diversity or scarcity of our food, to the ways we are creative and to our sustenance in practical and spiritual life. Wilderness is not a romantic concept. We simply require leadership beyond intellectual, economic or political detail, to nourish environments for our individual and collective selves, and other living things.
In the 21st Century, we are faced with the rapid disappearance of much that is wild and natural. Africa is still custodian to wildlands and cultures, which have a deep concern for nature, but much of it is fractured.
South Africa has to render its wild lands sustainable at a social level as well as an economic level. The Wilderness Foundation recognises that a true experience of wild lands, the impact of wilderness on the human spirit, is the spark that motivates the individual to the higher ideal of conservation.
Ironically far more western tourists have been stirred by these wilderness areas and related wild lands than have local South Africans. South Africa's history confined most South Africans to townships or degraded rural areas, and fractured traditional cultures. Even today, after nearly twelve years under the new South African government, experiences in nature reserves are beyond the economic reach of most South Africans.
So as the need for conservation increases, the means of its protection - democratically elected decision makers well grounded in environmental experience - is undermined. The same limitations have been set for public support, as the majority of South Africans have never experienced their birthright - a quality experience of Africa's natural environment and game reserves. Alarmingly, a recent survey confirms that only 4% of the country's black population have directly experienced local wildlife reserves.
The Wilderness Foundation of South Africa has responded by developing models for environmental learning and protection. These are rooted in an African context. An approach that is appropriate at a local level and contributes to a global vision. In partnership with local governmental and environmental agencies, our programmes act as a powerful catalyst within the ranks of South African leaders and decision makers.
We work with a wide range of volunteers and professionals from all sectors to co-ordinate and concentrate our energies on key, strategic struggles to save wilderness. We work in game reserves, national parks, and private wildlands. For example, with our allies and the determined efforts of our founder, Dr Ian Player, we saved the inestimable Lake St Lucia from mining, and it has become our nation's first World Heritage Area.
In 2001 we co-hosted the 7th World Wilderness Congress in Port Elizabeth to highlight the challenges for wilderness and human communities in the 21st century; over seven hundred delegates from 45 countries attended.
Over the years our movement has expanded to become a force globally, with sister foundations in USA, UK and Germany as well as our work here in Africa.
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