WILD Foundation

New podcast episode alert! ?? Wilderness seems like an innate, normal, natural concept. ‘Wilderness is the story of the planet.’ That’s what Chad Dawson, today’s guest, says at least. Wilderness is also the story of humanity. Yet, here we are, forgetting our roots and how to live in conjunction with the land. So, how did we get here? ?? In this episode, we dive into #wilderness management with Chad Dawson, retired professor and key figure behind the Wilderness Management (5th edition) textbook—a comprehensive guide that’s shaped how we understand and preserve our wildest lands. With decades of experience in natural resource management, Chad unpacks the complexities of wilderness—not just as protected spaces, but as interconnected #ecosystems with stories that span time. How do we preserve these landscapes for future generations? What does it mean to "manage" wilderness without interfering with its natural processes? And how can we learn from ancestral and traditional knowledge to do so? ?? Find the #podcast episode here: https://lnkd.in/dX8PQbBP If you enjoy our podcast Voices of Wilderness, please consider supporting our work at WILD.org, which allows us to dedicate time to creating these conversations for you. And please, leave comments and rate us on your favorite platform. ? #Forthewild

We submitted motions to the IUCN! At #WILD12, we adopted twelve resolutions, and with the support of our incredible co-sponsors, we captured their essence ahead of the World Conservation Congress in October 2025. ?? Our second motion calls for scaling-up Indigenous Leadership in the protection of biodiversity and the sacred. Ecosystem collapse often results from the absence or failure of institutions that sustain a respectful relationship between humans and #nature. Today, these might include regulatory agencies, protected areas, or law enforcement. ?? Yet, for millennia before the "rational-legal" era, landscapes thrived without such structures. It may be hard to imagine, but people upheld harmony with nature through institutions rooted in the sacred rather than official oversight. Despite its deep historical role in stewardship, the sacred remains marginal in modern #conservation frameworks—along with the Indigenous peoples who have long safeguarded #wild places. ? We’re waiting for the IUCN’s decision, and we’ll keep you updated. We are proud to highlight our co-sponsors on this motion, including Wilderness Foundation Africa, Kua'aina Ulu 'Auamo , Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental, COICA ORG, Center for Environmental Law and Ethics, and the Center for Large Landscape Conservation. This motion could not come to the floor without their fearless support. ?? Learn more about the #motion: https://lnkd.in/dgfsWqUK #Forthewild

?? The 30x30 target has already been met. If we count current protected areas and Indigenous stewarded lands, we are already at over 30%, meaning the 30x30 target has already been met in a de facto sense. The next five years are critical to humanity's fight for a more sane and #sustainable relationship with the natural world. We need to adopt at least Half as the target to avoid wasting more time and losing more species to #extinction. ?? ?? Nature Needs Half is a global movement with over 70 organizations united in the cause of protecting #Half of the world's land and seas. ?? To help us achieve our target support us at WILD.org, and join the #NNH movement: https://lnkd.in/dF-qbRb7 #Forthewild

New podcast episode alert! ?? The world is hurting. We see it every day—the earth is constantly disrespected, and people are suffering as inequality grows. Ancestral knowledge is fading because of modern life. But within these wounds, there is healing—ancient wisdom, strength, and a way back to wholeness. ?? “The medicine is in the wound.” Ariel Clark’s words resonated with us, as it is a reminder that healing doesn’t come from ignoring pain but from facing it and caring for what is broken. To find our humanity again, we must first look at what has been lost. This is not an easy path. It asks us to listen. ?? The wound is here. So is the medicine. The question is—are we ready to heal? Today, these are the themes we delve into with Ariel Clark, an enrolled tribal citizen of the Grand Traverse Band of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Through her mother’s family, she also carries Northern European, Scandinavian, French, Irish, and Scottish ancestry—an experience that has helped her understand what it means to live between two worlds. Through her journey, Ariel has learned what connects us as humans and where we need to look to find our shared humanity—for the good of our future. ?? Find the #podcast episode here: https://lnkd.in/d5fbfM-v If you enjoy our podcast Voices of Wilderness, please consider supporting our work at WILD.org, which allows us to dedicate time to creating these conversations for you. And please, leave comments and rate us on your favorite platform. ? #Forthewild

It’s World Wildlife Day! And what if we told you that you can take action for #wildlife today? ?? Yes, you can help butterflies! If you are a U.S. citizen, there's still time to add your endorsement to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposal to list monarch butterflies as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Voice your support during the public comment period, open until March 15, 2025, via regulations.gov. We’re counting on you! In the meantime, learn more about #butterfly habitats—because understanding them gives you the tools to protect them. Habitat loss is one of the leading causes of species #extinction. ?? ?? At WILD.org, we deeply believe that protecting habitats is one of the most effective ways to support wildlife. That’s why our Nature Needs Half movement is dedicated to safeguarding #Half of the world’s land and seas. By supporting this initiative, you help secure the survival of species like the #monarch butterfly, which depend on large, interconnected habitats. ?? To help us achieve our target support us at WILD.org, and join the #NNH movement: https://lnkd.in/dF-qbRb7 #Forthewild

At #WILD12, we adopted twelve resolutions, and with the support of our incredible co-sponsors, we submitted motions to the IUCN, capturing their essence ahead of the World Conservation Congress in October 2025. ?? Our first motion calls for adopting the #Half target through Indigenous-led conservation and the expansion of Indigenous territories. ?? The world has a clear climate target: 1.5°C. In #biodiversity, science points to at least Half—50% of ecosystems intact to sustain life. Some, like the #Amazon, need even more. Despite decades of advocacy, securing Half remains difficult. Many prefer gradual targets, but acting now is far easier than restoring lost #ecosystems later. ? We’re waiting for the IUCN’s decision, and we’ll keep you updated. We are proud to highlight our co-sponsors on this motion, including Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Center for Large Landscape Conservation, Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental, Kua'aina Ulu 'Auamo , The Rainforest Trust, Wilderness Foundation Africa, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, and Earth Law Center. This motion could not come to the floor without their fearless support. ?? Learn more about the #motion: https://lnkd.in/dJH-kqRJ #Forthewild

‘We have to connect to spirit again, and we only do that authentically through the care of each other and the care of Mother Earth and all of our relations.’ -Meda DeWitt, MA., TH. at #WILD12 ?? Do you know about WILD12? The 12th World Wilderness Congress brought together hundreds of delegates to coordinate and mobilize the protection of Earth’s remaining #wilderness and wild places. ??? WILD12 hosted by the Oceti Sakowin on behalf of the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council, sought and united new actions and principles in the stewardship of Earth, with a special emphasis on reinterpreting wilderness through Indigenous perspectives. ?? Learn more: https://wild.org/wild12/ #Forthewild

?? Have you heard our podcast episode with Avery Tilley? ?? Avery, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, is working to bring together veterinary science and Indigenous knowledge by partnering with tribal nations on #wildlife health research that’s collaborative and community-driven. Having grown up in his tribal community, Avery saw that while many tribes in the U.S. have natural resource departments focused on wildlife protection, they often lack the veterinary expertise needed to tackle wildlife diseases. His goal is to become one of the first tribal wildlife veterinarians, combining these two fields to help tribes protect their ecosystems. ?? Find the #podcast episode here: https://lnkd.in/dp69Ej_6 If you enjoy our podcast Voices of Wilderness, please consider supporting our work at WILD.org, which allows us to dedicate time to creating these conversations for you. And please, leave comments and rate us on your favorite platform. ? #Forthewild

?? Half provides the space keystone species need to thrive. Dr. Oswald Schmidt has extensively explored the critical role #biodiversity plays in enhancing carbon drawdown. ?? Restoring #keystone species to their habitats is essential for reinvigorating the carbon cycle, as these species contribute significantly to capturing atmospheric carbon. Protecting and expanding their habitats is key to enabling them to thrive. ?? ?? Nature Needs Half is a global movement with over 70 organizations united in the cause of protecting #Half of the world's land and seas. ?? To help us achieve our target support us at WILD.org, and join the #NNH movement: https://lnkd.in/dF-qbRb7 #Forthewild

'Let’s consider taking seriously the wisdom, the knowledge that sits in places and held by people who lived there for hundreds and thousands of years. They know something about how to live well in that place.' -Dan Wildcat, at #WILD12 ?? Do you know about WILD12? The 12th World Wilderness Congress brought together hundreds of delegates to coordinate and mobilize the protection of Earth’s remaining wilderness and wild places. ??? WILD12 hosted by the Oceti Sakowin on behalf of the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council, sought and united new actions and principles in the stewardship of Earth, with a special emphasis on reinterpreting wilderness through Indigenous perspectives. ?? Learn more: https://wild.org/wild12/ #Forthewild