Wildlife Works ’s Post

Honoured to share my candid conversation with Mike Korchinsky, Founder and President of Wildlife Works , where we dive deep into the true impact of the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ project on our communities in Kenya. Having grown up in the heart of this transformative project, I’ve personally witnessed firsthand the before-and-after effects it has brought—𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀, 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗼-𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. This is why I passionately believe in the power of voluntary carbon markets to drive meaningful change in the Global South while contributing to Global Net Zero Goals. This conversation was sparked by the ongoing global debate, where some voices from the Global North seem intent on dominating the carbon market narrative, often disregarding the voices of 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 like us in the Global South—communities that bear the brunt of climate change and are working hard to conserve forests and protect biodiversity. I’m also grateful for Global North advocates like Alexia Kelly, Tea Bano, Steve Zwick, 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, who champion the continuous improvement of carbon projects rather than calling for their disbandment. Their work is critical in ensuring that the carbon market continues to evolve and offer better support to both nature and communities. As I expressed during our conversation, "𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮 𝘯𝘦𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴?" It’s time for global critics to step out of their offices and witness the real story on the ground. Check out the full conversation in the Wildlife Works post linked in the comments and discover why #CarbonCreditsWork to drive #ClimateAction and uplift communities across the Global South.  𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙖 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙩! 💪 #GlobalSouthVoices #CommunityEmpowerment #REDD #HealthForAll #WaterForAll #ClimateJustice #ClimateFinance #ClimateAction #SustainableDevelopment #NetZero #Sustainability #CarbonMarkets #CarbonCredits

I had the chance, last year, of visiting the #Kasigau REDD+ project. I saw the great many animals and birds whose survival would be extremely difficult (if possible at all) without the project; a project that would itself not survive without carbon credits. I interacted with the project implementers, their partner community members and local leaders. The project impact speaks for itself. Some things can/should, of course, be improved about carbon finance modalities in general. Carbon finance is a relatively new and evolving space. Project developers/implementers and their partners (can/should) learn/adjust on the go, considering the genius of the place. What's there to gain if carbon finance is shot down rather than allowed and helped to improve? Who stands to gain?

I’ve had the honor and privilege to work with our brothers and sisters in the global south on advancing more just, equitable and sustainable climate policy for most of my career. It’s hard to overstate how differently I see the world as a result of that work. They, their communities, and the landscapes and ecosystems they steward are the reason why we’re working so hard to ensure that we have balanced and inclusive net zero targets and strategies. Most of the money for mitigation we have sits in the global north- we need to make sure we have clear, transparent and credible pathways to channel that money to where it’s needed most- front line communities and ecosystems in the developing world- while also pushing the deep decarbonization of developed economies as quickly as possible. We can and must do both of these things at the same time. We’ve learned a lot over the past two decades of this work- as John Mwakima so eloquently shares here- having grown up in the area of one of the longest running REDD+ projects in the world and seeing first hand the life changing benefits this market has brought.

Dive into our work on School environmental clubs in this article by KIZITO MAKOYE

How can a community rebuild after a devastating cyclone? In 2019, Cyclone Idai struck eastern Zimbabwe, leaving behind massive destruction and loss. But for the resilient community of Chipinge, this disaster became a turning point. Through the Climate Democracy Accelerator, local leaders and citizens worked together to create lasting solutions for climate resilience. In this new video, discover: 🌱 How community-led action led to Zimbabwe's first grassroots #climatepolicy 👩🌾 The revival of traditional agroecology practices, from terracing to native tree planting 🐝 Sustainable livelihood initiatives, including honey production and market gardening Kudzaiishe Seti, from Zimbabwe’s Green Institute, shares: “From the tragedy of Cyclone Idai, people realized there were urgent issues that needed addressing. The participatory process empowered us to find a common call to action.” Watch the full story and see how climate democracy is empowering communities worldwide to build a more resilient future: https://lnkd.in/gKY4wAwN Special thanks to World Resources Institute and Waverley Street Foundation for supporting this work through mentorship, training, and resources. #ClimateDemocracy #ImpactStory #CommunityResilience #Zimbabwe #ParticipatoryDemocracy #ClimateAction #Sustainability #PeoplePowered #CycloneRecovery #GreenInstitute

Today’s World Environment Day marks a significant stride in addressing climate change by having children lead in voicing their concerns and offering solutions to the climate crisis. I am pleased to have been joined by our development partners, Dow; implementing partners, Emali Dedicated Children's Agency (EDCA); and collaborative partners, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and Kenya Forestry Research Institute. Together, we are working to regreen Africa through initiatives that promote reforestation, sustainable land management practices, and community engagement, which will restore biodiversity and revitalize soils, mitigating the impact of climate change. Our commitment to creating a better world for our children should extend beyond this day. We must remain accountable to future generations by implementing sustainable, long-term practices that protect them. The climate crisis is a child rights crisis that demands urgent and immediate action. Let us remember, it's together, that we can create a greener, safer, and healthier environment focused on uplifting the lives of our children. ChildFund Kenya ChildFund International ChildFund International - Africa UNEP-WCMC Climate Action Network International #RegreeningAfrica #GenerationRestoration #ChildParticipation #WorldEnvironmentDay #climateaction

Yesterday was a historic day for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, including the rights to their lands and territories. The UK’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, delivered a powerful message at COP29 about the urgent need to strengthen forest tenure for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, emphasizing: “Indigenous Peoples and local  community’ land rights are only protected in 10% of the lands they inhabit...Today, we must focus on developing the next phase of the Forest Tenure Pledge to extend well beyond 2025.” Secretary Lammy was joined by an inspiring leader from the Congo Basin, Buba Balkisou, Vice National Coordinator of Cameroon for REPALEAC. Buba’s call to action was clear: “A new pledge must include us as true partners, not just beneficiaries.” In early 2021, the Forest Tenure Pledge did not exist. Neither did many critical organizations like the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, Shandia, the Indigenous Peoples of Asia Solidarity Fund, the AMPB Territorial fund, Fundo Jauguata and the list goes on – each of which now plays a key role in advancing Indigenous Peoples' rights. Progress is happening, despite immense challenges. The direct support for Indigenous Peoples and local communities under the Pledge grew from 2% in 2022 to 10.6% in 2023. Equally noteworthy, the number of Indigenous Peoples and local community organizations receiving direct funding grew from 39 in 2022 to 100 in 2023. The options for direct funding are there. If we were to dig deeper into the percentage of direct funding that is unrestricted, the number is likely to be embarrassingly low. There are two critical points to consider: 1) Unrestricted funding is the most effective way to support Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination. 2) How can we expect Indigenous and local community organizations to both manage and access more direct and potentially more complex funding if they are unable to invest in their own institutions? This is just the beginning. Direct funding to IP & LC organizations is the most effective way to protect the rights to their lands. This, in turn, is critical for achieving global climate and biodiversity targets. If we can drastically increase both the number of direct and unrestricted funding we can contribute to global climate and biodiversity targets at scale. Today, I congratulate a mentor and friend, Buba Balkisou. Watch David Lammy and Buba Blakisou’s historic event here: https://lnkd.in/efv-bJN8 Global Alliance of Territorial CommunitiesRebeca SandovalJenny LopezChris Penrose BuckleyJuan JintiachAndrea Rodriguez GarsonRepaleac RepaleacRebeca SandovalAnthony BebbingtonLeif John FosseAstrid Puentes RiañoBirgitte FeiringGaby Oré AguilarTanya PhamSolange Bandiaky-BadjiCristian SamperDavid KaimowitzAntoinette (Nonette) RoyoJessica SweidanPaul RedmanCARLA CARDENASDario Mejia MontalvoHindou Oumarou IbrahimRazan Al MubarakLindsey AllenAndrea JohnsonHassan RobaBryson OgdenJoko ArifJohn FellowesMali Ole Kaunga

Across the world, Nature For Justice (N4J) leverages the power of #nature to make a beneficial difference in communities facing the challenges of #climatechange. Our collaborative efforts focus on prioritizing communities and serving as effective tools for promoting social justice, community strength, and responding to climate change. ▪️In the US, we empower Black and Indigenous farmers to lead the way in adopting regenerative agriculture practices. ▪️In Canada, we collaborate with Indigenous Nations to discover sustainable funding sources for Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas.  ▪️In Africa, our partnerships focus on supporting small-scale farmers and local landowners. ▪ We are also exploring opportunities in Latin America and Asia.

As 2024 comes to a close, the collaboration between RESTORE4Cs, ALFAwetlands, REWET and WET HORIZONS has reached new heights in advancing wetland restoration across Europe 🇪🇺 💧 Together, we've made significant strides in knowledge sharing, #policy advocacy, and building the capacity for climate action through wetland #ecosystems. Our joint achievements this year include: ❄️ Organising a session at #SERE2024 on the EU #NatureRestorationLaw 🌱 ❄️ Launching the "Emerging Voices" webinar series for young researchers 🔬 ❄️ Collaborative mapping of wetland types and management strategies 🗺️ ❄️ Consolidation of joint communication through press releases, newsletters and collaborative communication materials to maximise Sister Projects dissemination and impact 📄 ❄️ Increasingly realising collaborative synergy through shared Advisory Boards, regular meetings and joint participation in events to strengthened our collective impact 🫱🏿🫲🏻 Looking ahead to 2025, we’re committed to deepening our efforts, engaging with key #stakeholders, and driving impactful change through continued collaboration. 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧❕ ✨ ▶️ https://lnkd.in/dJ9rkfkc #RESTORE4Cs #R4Cs #HorizonEU #Wetlands #CoastalWetlands #RestoreWetlands #ConserveWetlands #RestoreNature #ConserveNature #ClimateChange #Biodiversity #Research #ClimateAction #SeasonalGreetings

Here are some volunteering opportunities in the African climate action: * Conservation Projects: Protect wildlife and ecosystems with organizations like African Wildlife Foundation. * Tree Planting Initiatives: Join reforestation efforts with Trees for the Future or Greenpop. * Community Development: Promote sustainability in agriculture, energy, and water conservation. * Education Campaigns: Empower communities with knowledge about climate change through groups like Greenpeace Africa. * Research and Monitoring: Assist in tracking climate change impacts with universities and NGOs. * Climate Adaptation Programs: Help communities adapt to climate change effects with organizations like CARE International. * Youth Engagement: Join youth-led movements advocating for climate justice with Fridays for Future. These are just a few examples, but there are many more organizations and initiatives working on climate action across Africa.