Community champions worldwide are playing a vital role in fostering coexistence between humans and wildlife while creating economic opportunities in their regions. The Global Wildlife Program (GWP), funded by the Global Environment Facility and led by the World Bank, collaborates with these champions across 38 countries, including South Africa, Indonesia, Mali, and Ecuador.
In South Africa's Kruger National Park, Martin Nkosi and Jenny Nkuna serve as Environmental Monitors. Their work involves maintaining fences to protect wildlife and raising community awareness about conservation benefits. "The community trusts me as their protector," Martin stated. Jenny noted her training has been invaluable: "The trainings I’ve been provided on interacting with wildlife... have been amazing."
In Mali, Djeneba Tabalaba transitioned from selling charcoal to becoming an eco-guard through GWP's initiative. This shift improved her family's well-being and fostered environmental awareness locally. "With this new activity, my family has enough to eat," she said.
Sulaiman in Sumatra, Indonesia has made strides in community-led conservation since 2009. He established a nursery for reforestation and addressed human-elephant conflicts through electric fencing. His efforts aim at both environmental conservation and economic resilience: “Everything we do is for the benefit of the surrounding community.”
Anndy Edison Jimpikit Mashinkiash from Ecuador leads his Shuar community towards sustainable practices like meliponiculture to support vanilla pollination. At just 22 years old, Anndy inspires others through organic farming education: “The projects we are working on today can help bring wildlife back to our forests.”
These individuals exemplify the impact of GWP’s support for local initiatives that harmonize human-wildlife interactions while benefiting nearly 800,000 people globally.