People and Communities Stories
Small-scale dairy manufacturing provides local livelihood opportunities in western Mongolia
Dairy is a staple in the diets of Mongolian people but until recently, the sale of milk products was not a prominent source of income for local herders. As it turns out, diversifying community livelihood options in this village in the Bayan-ulgii province has also led to increased protections for snow leopards in the area. A win for people, and a win for nature.
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WWF's Renee Johnson on the importance of diversifying the conservation space
Our differences—the richness of all our unique views, experiences, and backgrounds—can help create stronger conservation outcomes. So we are taking steps to increase underrepresented populations within the organization.
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Natural Allies
WWF Magazine: Spring 2021Indigenous peoples and local communities play a crucial role in protecting biodiversity and keeping forests intact. -
In response to Covid-19, a new partnership will boost the devastated nature-based tourism industry in Africa
January 19, 2021With $1.9 million in funding from the Global Environment Facility, an African Nature-Based Tourism Collaborative Platform is being developed to connect funders to communities and small and medium enterprises involved in nature-based tourism in eastern and southern Africa—and who are most affected by the loss of revenue due to Covid-19.
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Tatyana Minenko, polar bear patrol team leader
Every fall, the Ryrkaipiy polar bear patrol, with the support of WWF Russia, works to protect the community and prevent human-wildlife conflict. Tatyana Minenko has been leading the patrol team since 2006. That’s when the climate crisis increased conflict in her village.
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Sustainable pepper farming supports people and nature in Malaysian Borneo
November 17, 2020Empowering farmers with green practices builds livelihoods while strengthening biodiversity.
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Investing in "Thirty Hills"
October 27, 2020Thirty Hills is the last large block of intact, lowland forest still standing in central Sumatra. After five years of successful forest conservation, we celebrate five major wins within this critically important landscape.
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Recognizing Indigenous Peoples' land interests is critical for people and nature
October 22, 2020Although they comprise less than 5% of the world population, Indigenous peoples protect 80% of the Earth’s biodiversity. Recognizing their land rights should be placed at the center of conservation.
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Flow Lines
WWF Magazine: Winter 2020Keeping water flowing for people and wildlife in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area will take action at every level. Here's what WWF is doing for it. -
Gaining safe water access amid the ongoing pandemic crisis
August 27, 2020Conservation, communities, and corporate come together to implement a new infrastructure project, giving two Honduras communities access to drinking water in their homes.
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How four communities value and protect their mangroves
July 23, 2020Around the world, communities depend on mangroves for food, protection, and income. These coastal forests provide for communities and the communities, in turn, protect the mangroves. It’s a relationship found all over the world across the more than 100 countries where mangroves guard the coast. Here are four places where a snapshot tells the story.
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Safe Zone
WWF Magazine: Fall 2020In the heart of the Central African Republic, Dzanga-Sangha stands as a model for stability and peace—and a safe place for elephants and gorillas to roam. -
In the Colombian Amazon, a forest explorer catalogs a community’s resources
Marisela Silva Parra, 41, is the only female member of a WWF-supported group of local farmers and community leaders who are helping their community realize the value of its natural resources. The group calls themselves Los Exploradores—The Explorers.
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Blood-free honey — How a safer harvesting program is reducing deadly human-tiger conflicts
May 12, 2020WWF India, in association with the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve (SBR) Directorate, has implemented a program to significantly reduce the number of tiger-related deaths of honey collectors.
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Rosebud Sioux Tribe will create the largest native-owned and managed bison herd in North America
May 07, 2020The Rosebud Sioux tribe committed 28,000 acres of native grassland for the creation of a new plains bison herd. With a capacity to support 1,500 animals, the Wolakota Buffalo Range will become North America’s largest Native American owned and managed bison herd.
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The first rule of gorilla tracking? Listen well
May 05, 2020Twenty years ago, a gorilla habitation program provided the Ba’Aka living near the Dzanga Sanga Park with a new opportunity. And by 2020, Dzanga-Sangha employed more than 50 Ba’Aka as gorilla trackers.
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In the Colombian Amazon, an Indigenous leader helps map her people’s territory
In partnership with local Indigenous organization Azicatch, WWF is supporting the work of Ecosystem Services Assessment Technical Teams, which combines traditional knowledge with modern conservation practice. The aim is to strengthen Indigenous decision-making and governance and create an environmental management plan for their territory.
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Citizen scientists help conserve Nepal’s tigers from behind the lens
In Nepal, citizen scientists are working with biologists from WWF to help protect tigers, rhinos, elephants, and other wildlife found in Bardia National Park.
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How community banking empowers women in Tanzania
March 06, 2020In Tanzania, many urban and rural areas still function under traditional customs that put women at a social and economic disadvantage. Fortunately, those discriminatory traditions, norms, and stereotypes are being challenged. Sijali Kipuli from Somanga Village in Tanzania shows us how a social system in savings and credits can economically liberate the poorest people and empower women.
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A discussion on gender, equity, and people’s rights with WWF’s Althea Skinner
March 04, 2020WWF’s lead on socially inclusive conservation, Althea Skinner is one of WWF’s core experts on the intersection between conservation and human rights.
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Working together for grasslands
The Northern Great Plains is one of the world’s last great, remaining grasslands. Across its 183 million acres, nearly 132 million remain intact. Among those acres that are still intact, approximately 70% is privately owned, and often by ranching families.
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With access to fresh water, a school garden grows
February 04, 2020In 2009, principal and teacher Marcia Novakc da Silva decided to join forces to start a community rainwater project, led by the organization Incra and supported by WWF. The work is one of several projects for the recovery of the springs and water supply in region.
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Rapid Response Teams act as a bridge between wildlife and people
January 16, 2020Established by WWF Nepal in 2016, RRTs help to engage communities in wildlife protection efforts, manage human-wildlife conflict, and monitor poaching and other illegal activities. Today, there are nearly 60 RRTs across Nepal.
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Communities and Conservation: Passion, Commitment, and Resiliency
November 20, 2019This is a challenging time for conservation. But every day, more and more brave people are looking beyond those obstacles, not giving in to despair, and making enlightened choices that can change our planet for the better.
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Empowering women and families to build healthy communities and a healthy planet
Meeta is a young mother from India. Back-to-back pregnancies and heavy housework responsibilities took a toll on her health and wellbeing. Noting her declining health, a neighborhood social worker invited Meeta and her husband Ramkishore to participate in a CARE maternal health program that fostered open communication, education and access to family planning information.