World Land Trust
Encyclopedia
The World Land Trust is a UK
-based nonprofit
environmental organization
established in 1989. Its primary aims are to ensure conservation of plants, animals and natural communities in areas at risk. For this purpose, it privately funds the purchase of large tracts of land by local NGO's for the purposes of protecting it, in a fashion similar to the Nature Conservancy by making use of land trust
s. The organization also seeks to help in-situ conservation
measures by providing training, capital and equipment for environmental stewardship in economically backward areas. The World Land Trust also offers to offset the carbon emissions
of individuals and businesseshttp://www.carbonbalanced.org/. It is affiliated to the World Conservation Union
. Along with the WCU, it co-organized the first symposium on private nature reserves for conservation, named Land Purchase as an Intervention Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation in 2006. The noted environmentalist John Burton
is the CEO of the Trust.
was launched to raise money to privately buy land in Belize
to protect tropical rain forests. The core of the trust was a $ 10,000 start up donation from the Massachusetts Audubon Society
to John Burton, for the purposes of setting up an office in the United Kingdom for the trust in January 1989. An initial appeal was made in the BBC Wildlife
magazine in April 1989 and was followed up by a fundraiser
by noted naturalists Gerald Durrell
and his wife Lee Durrell at the London Butterfly House
in May 1989 when the Durrells formally declared the Trust open. The Trust then went on to help purchase and conserve land in Costa Rica
and other Latin America
n countries like Patagonia
in Argentina
. They have since expanded operations to Asia
and Africa, and even own a small reserve in Gloucestershire, locally in the United Kingdom
. The Trust has maintained its links with the Durrell Conservation Trust, and Lee Durrell was the keynote speaker at the WLT's 20th Anniversary celebrations in 2009. The Trust's patrons are Sir David Attenborough, and David Gower
. Other high profile supporters of the Trust have included Ken Livingstone, David Bellamy, Bill Oddie
, Chris Packham
Frank Thornton, Simon Barnes and Mark Carwardine
.
A partner organization, World Land Trust - US
[formerly World Parks Endowment] was also created in 1989, and like WLT is a non-profit organization that funds local organizations to buy land and protect rainforests and other critical habitats in the tropics. Both organizations are dedicated to minimizing their costs in order to allow donated funds to flow to real habitat conservation projects on the ground. Most land purchases are made at an average of only $100 an acre. Since its founding, WLT-US has saved over 700000 acres (2,832.8 km²) of land -- 62500 acres (252.9 km²) purchased outright and over 600000 acres (2,428.1 km²) created as governmental protected areas.
The Trust manages a Diploma course with the University of East Anglia (Norwich
) The Trust manges several websites, all of which have links to the main site: www.worldlandtrust.org. The Trust also initiated Green Ink, a unique support from writers, authors, photographers and illustrators, which involves Public Lending Rights, PLR's.
The Trust raised over £2.5-million to fund land purchase and conservation in 2009.
Other current project involvement:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-based nonprofit
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
environmental organization
Environmental organization
An environmental organization is an organization that seeks to protect, analyze or monitor the environment against misuse or degradation or lobby for these goals....
established in 1989. Its primary aims are to ensure conservation of plants, animals and natural communities in areas at risk. For this purpose, it privately funds the purchase of large tracts of land by local NGO's for the purposes of protecting it, in a fashion similar to the Nature Conservancy by making use of land trust
Land trust
There are two distinct definitions of a land trust:* a private, nonprofit organization that, as all or part of its mission, actively works to conserve land by undertaking or assisting in land or conservation easement acquisition, or by its stewardship of such land or easements; or* an agreement...
s. The organization also seeks to help in-situ conservation
In-situ conservation
In-situ conservation is on-site conservation or the conservation of genetic resources in natural populations of plant or animal species, such as forest genetic resources in natural populations of tree species...
measures by providing training, capital and equipment for environmental stewardship in economically backward areas. The World Land Trust also offers to offset the carbon emissions
Carbon offset
A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for or to offset an emission made elsewhere....
of individuals and businesseshttp://www.carbonbalanced.org/. It is affiliated to the World Conservation Union
World Conservation Union
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is an international organization dedicated to finding "pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges." The organization publishes the IUCN Red List, compiling information from a network of...
. Along with the WCU, it co-organized the first symposium on private nature reserves for conservation, named Land Purchase as an Intervention Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation in 2006. The noted environmentalist John Burton
John Burton (fundraiser)
A biography is available on the World Land Trust website. John also writes a regular conservation blog on the World Land Trust website.-Works:* Burton, John A 1971 Extinct Animals London Transworld* Burton, John A 1973 Birds of the Tropics London Orbis...
is the CEO of the Trust.
A short history
The World Land Trust (originally the World Wide Land Conservation Trust) came into being in 1989 when the Programme for BelizeProgramme for Belize
The Programme for Belize is the first project undertaken by the World Land Trust, in 1989. The goal of the project was to purchase and protect tropical rainforests in Belize to save them from exploitation like over-logging. The project was initiated by a fundraiser held in the London Butterfly...
was launched to raise money to privately buy land in Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
to protect tropical rain forests. The core of the trust was a $ 10,000 start up donation from the Massachusetts Audubon Society
Massachusetts Audubon Society
The Massachusetts Audubon Society, founded in 1896 by Harriet Hemenway and headquartered in Lincoln, Massachusetts, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to "Protecting the nature of Massachusetts." Mass Audubon is independent of the National Audubon Society, and in fact was founded...
to John Burton, for the purposes of setting up an office in the United Kingdom for the trust in January 1989. An initial appeal was made in the BBC Wildlife
BBC Wildlife
BBC Wildlife is a British glossy, all-colour, monthly magazine about wildlife, founded by BBC Worldwide and published through the BBC Magazines Bristol division, also trading as Bristol Magazines Ltd....
magazine in April 1989 and was followed up by a fundraiser
Fundraiser
A fundraiser is an event or campaign whose primary purpose is to raise money for a cause. See also: fundraising. A fundraiser can also be an individual or company whose primary job is to raise money for a specific charity or non-profit organization...
by noted naturalists Gerald Durrell
Gerald Durrell
Gerald "Gerry" Malcolm Durrell, OBE was a naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist, author and television presenter...
and his wife Lee Durrell at the London Butterfly House
London Butterfly House
The London Butterfly House was a visitor attraction in Brentford, Middlesex, England where the public could view butterflies, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and arachnids....
in May 1989 when the Durrells formally declared the Trust open. The Trust then went on to help purchase and conserve land in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
and other Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n countries like Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. They have since expanded operations to Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Africa, and even own a small reserve in Gloucestershire, locally in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The Trust has maintained its links with the Durrell Conservation Trust, and Lee Durrell was the keynote speaker at the WLT's 20th Anniversary celebrations in 2009. The Trust's patrons are Sir David Attenborough, and David Gower
David Gower
David Ivon Gower OBE is a former English cricketer who became a commentator for Sky Sports. Although he eventually rose to the captaincy of the England cricket team during the 1980s, he is best known for being one of the most stylish left-handed batsmen of the modern era. Gower played 117 Test...
. Other high profile supporters of the Trust have included Ken Livingstone, David Bellamy, Bill Oddie
Bill Oddie
William "Bill" Edgar Oddie OBE is an English author, actor, comedian, artist, naturalist and musician, who became famous as one of The Goodies....
, Chris Packham
Chris Packham
Christopher George "Chris" Packham is an English naturalist, nature photographer, television presenter and author. He is the brother of fashion designer, Jenny Packham...
Frank Thornton, Simon Barnes and Mark Carwardine
Mark Carwardine
Mark Carwardine is a zoologist who achieved widespread recognition for his Last Chance to See conservation expeditions with Douglas Adams, first aired on BBC Radio 4 in 1990. Since then he has become a leading and outspoken conservationist, and a prolific broadcaster, columnist and...
.
A partner organization, World Land Trust - US
World Land Trust - US
The World Land Trust-US is a US-based nonprofit environmental organization established in 1989 and in 2006 affiliated with World Land Trust, a UK-based nonprofit environmental organization as both organizations are dedicated to minimizing their costs in order to allow donated funds to flow to real...
[formerly World Parks Endowment] was also created in 1989, and like WLT is a non-profit organization that funds local organizations to buy land and protect rainforests and other critical habitats in the tropics. Both organizations are dedicated to minimizing their costs in order to allow donated funds to flow to real habitat conservation projects on the ground. Most land purchases are made at an average of only $100 an acre. Since its founding, WLT-US has saved over 700000 acres (2,832.8 km²) of land -- 62500 acres (252.9 km²) purchased outright and over 600000 acres (2,428.1 km²) created as governmental protected areas.
The Trust manages a Diploma course with the University of East Anglia (Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
) The Trust manges several websites, all of which have links to the main site: www.worldlandtrust.org. The Trust also initiated Green Ink, a unique support from writers, authors, photographers and illustrators, which involves Public Lending Rights, PLR's.
The Trust raised over £2.5-million to fund land purchase and conservation in 2009.
Projects
Current Projects:- Tropical Forest Conservation in Ecuador, working with Fundacion Jocotoco, Fundacion EcoMinga and Pro Bosques
- Atlantic Rainforest Conservation in Brazil working with REGUA
- Wild Lands Elephant Corridor Project in India, working with Wildlife Trust of India
- Chaco Pantanal Reserve in Paraguay, with Guyra Paraguay
- Grasslands in the Kinangop Highlands of Kenya with Nature Kenya
- Orangutan corridors in Borneo with LEAP
Other current project involvement:
- PatagoniaPatagoniaPatagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
Restoration Fund, on the Ranch of Hopes Wildlife Refuge, previously purchased with funds raised by WLT, working with Fundacion Patagonia Natural - Friends of BelizeFriends of BelizeFriends of Belize can refer to one of two non-profit charitable bodies working in Belize:* International Friends of Belize, a nonprofit, volunteer-ran membership organization which funds scholarship and community grant programs in Belize....
, BelizeBelizeBelize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
working with Programme for Belize on the protection of their lands, much of which was funded with the help of World Land Trust - Danjugan Island Support Fund, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
WLT funded the purchase of the island and now liaises with the Philippine Reef & Rainforest Conservation Foundation (based on Negros Island) on its protection. - Carbon Restoration. WLT undertakes a range of restoration ecology projects, with funds raised through Carbon Balancing, on behalf of companies and individuals.
Europe
- Kites Hill Reserve, Gloucestershire United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, was donated to the Trust and is managed as a nature reserve.
Previous projects
- Management of the conservatoryConservatory (greenhouse)A conservatory is a room having glass roof and walls, typically attached to a house on only one side, used as a greenhouse or a sunroom...
Wyld Court (now The Living RainforestThe Living RainforestThe Living Rainforest is an indoor greenhouse tropical rainforest located in Hampstead Norreys in Berkshire, England. It is a popular ecological centre, educational centre and visitor attraction, run by the Trust for Sustainable Living....
) - a tropical forest exhibit, in Hampstead NorreysHampstead NorreysHampstead Norreys is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England.It is situated at on the River Pang, north of Newbury. As well as Hampstead Norreys itself, the parish includes the hamlets of Bothampstead, Eling and Wyld Court...