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Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

Revised Certified Wildlife Friendly® Tourism Standards Redefine Industry Norms

Revised Certified Wildlife Friendly® Tourism Standards Redefine Industry Norms


Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) is thrilled to announce the release of its revised Certified Wildlife Friendly® Tourism standards, marking a significant step towards a more sustainable and responsible approach to wildlife tourism worldwide.

In response to growing global concerns about the impact of wildlife tourism on biodiversity and local communities, WFEN has undertaken a comprehensive review and revision of its Certified Wildlife Friendly® Tourism standards. The result is a set of streamlined and enhanced standards that set a new benchmark for excellence in wildlife tourism. The revised Certified Wildlife Friendly® Tourism Standards have been crafted through consultations with a diverse range of stakeholders, including conservation NGOs, local communities, researchers, tour operators, and management authorities.

Key updates to the standards include: (i) enhanced conservation criteria, placing a stronger emphasis on conservation efforts, including habitat protection, wildlife monitoring, and community engagement initiatives; (ii) ethical wildlife interactions, addressing concerns about animal welfare and exploitation; (iii) community benefits, recognizing the vital role of local communities in sustainable tourism, the revised standards require tourism operators to demonstrate tangible benefits to the communities where they operate, such as employment opportunities, capacity building, and support for local businesses; (iv) education and awareness, including requirements for visitor education and awareness initiatives to provide deeper understanding of the importance of conservation and responsible tourism practices; (v) transparency and accountability, ensuring the integrity of the certification process through robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

“We are thrilled to unveil the revised Certified Wildlife Friendly® Tourism standards, which represent a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to promote sustainable and responsible tourism practices,” said Christine Lippai, Executive Director at WFEN. “By raising the bar for excellence in wildlife tourism, we hope to inspire tourism operators around the world to prioritize conservation and responsible stewardship of our planet’s natural resources.”

One of the core goals of the revision was to reconfigure the incentive structure within the wildlife tourism industry, encouraging a transition towards more conscientious and sustainable tourism practices. These standards also aspire to empower tourists to play an active role in conservation endeavors and bring them in as key allies in wildlife conservation efforts. This inclusive approach ensures that the standards effectively capture the expectations and concerns of key stakeholders across the wildlife tourism landscape.

One of the core goals of the revision was to reconfigure the incentive structure within the wildlife tourism industry, encouraging a transition towards more conscientious and sustainable tourism practices. These standards also aspire to empower tourists to play an active role in conservation endeavors and bring them in as key allies in wildlife conservation efforts. This inclusive approach ensures that the standards effectively capture the expectations and concerns of key stakeholders across the wildlife tourism landscape.


The Certified Wildlife Friendly® Tourism standards and application forms are available in English and Spanish for adoption by tourism operators worldwide. For more information about the standards and how to become certified, please contact tourism@wildlifefriendly.org

CATTLE BREEDING IN THE HEART OF SOUTH AMERICA USING WILDLIFE FRIENDLY® LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT STANDARDS

Photo credit: Agrogranadera La Huella

Paraguay, a landlocked country in South America, has earned a reputation for its abundant agricultural resources and thriving livestock industry, particularly in the Gran Chaco region. The Gran Chaco, characterized by dry forests and thorny savannahs, is sparsely populated but has a thriving longstanding tradition of livestock farming. In the heart of Paraguay, lies Agroganadera La Huella ranch, a prominent livestock producer that has created a verdant oasis of fresh pasture grass. This ranch specializes in meat production, placing a strong emphasis on sustainable and species-appropriate production processes.

Aroganadera La Huella has 30,000 cattle on 44,063 hectares, with half of this area set aside as conservation reserves. The ranch is committed to promoting sustainable farming practices and conserving wildlife, especially predators that are found around the ranch, such as pumas and jaguars. Agroganadera La Huella has been collaborating with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) office in Paraguay to monitor wildlife on the ranch and surrounding landscape as well as address sustainable livestock management and production, forestry rehabilitation, and wildlife coexistence practices. This public-private partnership and support has resulted in the ranch incorporating Wildlife Friendly® production practices and was recently Certified Wildlife Friendly®.

“We are delighted to announce Agroganadera La Huella as the inaugural Certified Wildlife Friendly® ranch in Paraguay. Their commitment to sustainable agriculture and wildlife conservation in the Chaco region of western Paraguay is evident through the camera recordings of tapir, jaguar, puma, and many other wildlife species that are sharing the landscape”, said Christine Lippai, Executive Director at WFEN.

Photo credit: Agrogranadera La Huella

This certification demonstrates the farm’s commitment to wildlife conservation and habitat preservation, ensuring that its agricultural practices are compatible with the needs of both the environment and local communities. By maintaining diverse and healthy pastures, minimizing chemical inputs, and promoting natural ecosystem processes, the farm creates a favorable environment for wildlife such as jaguars, pumas, and their prey to thrive.

“We are proud that Agroganadera La Huella has been certified as Wildlife Friendly®. This achievement underscores our dedication to sustainable livestock practices and wildlife conservation. It signifies our commitment to preserving biodiversity and fostering coexistence between livestock and wildlife. We thank our team and partners for their efforts in achieving this milestone, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to responsible land management and environmental stewardship,” said Andreas Lienert.

Some of the key livestock management practices used by Agroganadera La Huella Farm include a methodical and calculated rotation of the animals between the grazing sections to ensure an even growth of the pastures and protection of the grazing land. Also, no antibiotics are used in the production process, hunting is strictly prohibited, calves are protected from predators through the use of LED spotlights, and the livestock wear bells to deter predators. The farm carries out systematic maintenance of its pastures every three to four years, ensuring a sustainable supply of forage.

Frederick Bauer aptly puts it, “Since its beginning in 2011, WCS Paraguay has been strongly committed to protecting the jaguar and its habitat in a country whose main source of income is agriculture, and it is precisely the Paraguayan Chaco that is developing most rapidly to increase beef production. In order to achieve our objectives, it is essential that this growing sector respects wildlife and maintains ecosystem services for its subsistence, in addition to complying with environmental regulations. We have found in Wildlife Friendly Certification a strategic ally to promote sustainable practices that bring benefits and visibility to producers like La Huella, who make an effort to conserve wildlife on their productive lands and provide them with shelter, natural food, water, and the possibility to disperse.

Photo credit: Agrogranadera La Huella

About WCS Paraguay

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) saves wildlife and wild places worldwide, by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.

About WFEN

Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) conserves endangered and threatened wildlife species and their habitats through biodiversity certification programs that also contribute to the economic vitality of rural communities. WFEN uses the power of the marketplace to create on-the-ground change by providing incentives for the protection of biodiversity and enabling the conservation of intact landscapes critical to the provision of ecosystem services.

Empowering Coffee and Cacao Smallholder Farmers in Colombia and Conserving the Majestic Jaguar

The expansion of agriculture in Colombia is one of the biggest wildlife conservation threats in the region that is resulting in habitat loss for key species. There are still remnants of natural ecosystems big enough to maintain carnivore populations, but each year they are reduced and are endangering remaining carnivore populations. One of the key critical areas to ensure species conservation in Colombia is the Amazon-Andes connection, an area that allows connectivity between species populations. This region has been facing challenges of deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and species loss for decades. The department of Caquetá is considered the gateway to the Amazon, and its geographical location makes it ecologically vital for the jaguar and other species. This transitional zone between the imposing mountain ranges and the Amazon rainforest invites development of sustainable agriculture with coffee and cacao crops, which not only improves the living conditions of human populations but also ensures the survival of the jaguar’s habitat.

As an apex predator, the jaguar is one of the species that is being most affected by habitat loss, and loss of prey from unregulated hunting and retaliatory killing because of the conflict with cattle ranchers and local farmers in the area. In a groundbreaking initiative, ProCAT Colombia created a partnership with Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network to achieve Jaguar Friendly™ Certification for coffee and cacao smallholder farmers in Colombia – with the aim of not only protecting the iconic jaguar but also supporting coffee and cacao smallholder farmers and promoting best practices in farming.

Today, we are excited to announce the certification of 60 coffee and cacao farmers. ProCAT Colombia recognizes the importance of empowering these farmers with the knowledge and resources needed to adopt best practices and wildlife conservation in agriculture. As well as the commitment of the coffee and cacao associations that have always been willing to facilitate and promote these types of initiatives. Through capacity-building training programs and access to innovative techniques, ProCAT Colombia is not only helping farmers improve their yields but also encouraging a harmonious coexistence with wildlife. It’s worth mentioning that these Certified Jaguar Friendly farmers cover 1,289 hectares for cacao and 703 hectares for coffee production, of which 870 hectares of forest are under conservation agreements. In this effort, the participation of the German Cooperation Agency (GIZ) as funders and promoters of conservation and sustainable agriculture was critical for achieving the goal.

Some of the best wildlife conservation practices being implemented by the Certified Jaguar Friendly™ farms include producing coffee under a shade-grown scheme, and protecting remaining natural forests, which allows the growth of native arboreal species and the habitat connectivity for different animals such as the jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), crab eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), armadillo species (Dasypodidae) and the greater grison (Galictis vittata). The Certified Jaguar Friendly™ program is helping to restore jaguar habitat and allows farms to act as corridors and connectors at a landscape scale, enabling the safe passage of wildlife through the coffee and cacao farms. These protected forests serve as the habitat for 24 species of terrestrial mammals that were documented during this project.

The Jaguar Friendly™ Certification goes beyond protecting jaguars; it’s about preserving the entire ecosystem. ProCAT Colombia and the certified farmers are actively involved in reforestation efforts, creating wildlife corridors, and implementing better farming practices. This holistic approach aims to conserve biodiversity, ensuring a healthy and resilient environment for both flora and fauna. The certification promotes sustainability, verifies environmental and wildlife management practices, and encourages biodiversity protection – helping to ensure a better product for consumers while restoring and protecting wildlife habitats.

About ProCAT Colombia:

ProCAT Colombia works to develop biological research and to promote social and cultural sustainable development goals using an interdisciplinary approach including the human and natural dimensions of wild field conflicts. In this context, Jaguar Friendly certification, promotes sustainable agricultural practices that protect the jaguar’s habitat and other endangered species, encouraging harmonious coexistence between agriculture and wildlife.

About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network:

Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) conserves endangered and threatened wildlife species and their habitats through biodiversity certification programs that also contribute to the economic vitality of rural communities. WFEN uses the power of the marketplace to create on-the-ground change by providing incentives for the protection of biodiversity and enabling the conservation of intact landscapes critical to the provision of ecosystem services. WFEN has developed certification programs that support grassroots farmers, ranchers, herders, artisans, indigenous peoples, and conservation heroes from around the world and ensure that people and nature coexist and thrive.

Enabling Sustainable and Regenerative Wool Production through Wildlife Friendly® Certification

Image credit: Celine Frers, Estancia Morro Chico Farm

The Southern Patagonia region of Argentina is one of the world’s major wool production sites. However, this production has a high environmental cost attached to it and the conservation of native wildlife has not been addressed adequately, with inevitable impacts on the sustainability of the industry.

In response to the negative environmental impacts of sheep ranching on the Patagonian landscape, Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) and Wildlife Conservation Society Argentina (WCS) have joined forces to work with wool producers practicing sustainable grazing management to make their wool more Wildlife Friendly®. Through this collaboration, more and more sheep farmers in the region are integrating regenerative agricultural practices with Wildlife Friendly® production criteria. “The aim is to transform wool production practices on at least 300,000 hectares into Regenerative + Wildlife Friendly®,” said Andres Novaro of WCS-Argentina.

Today, we are proud to announce that four new farms in the Santa Cruz and Chubut provinces of Patagonia are now Certified Wildlife Friendly™ for merino wool. This certification is a significant milestone for these farms, namely Morro Chico-El Zurdo, La Rosa, La Estrellita, and La Filomena, as it highlights that Regenerative and Wildlife Friendly® management systems can improve soil health, biodiversity, predator coexistence, and animal welfare.

Image credit: Celine Frers, Estancia Morro Chico Farm

“Wildlife Friendly® certification is providing economic incentives to the farmers as they access premium markets seeking to showcase their green credentials,” said Christine Lippai, Executive Director of WFEN. “Not only is the wool from these four ranches Certified Wildlife Friendly™, but it is also traceable back to the farm gate through a pioneering traceability system created by “ Textile Genesis™“.

As Ezequiel Infantino of WCS Argentina aptly puts it, “These fibers have a remarkable tale, one of hard work and unwavering commitment to creating a better and healthier world.” “We’ve seen remarkable success in implementing innovative regenerative and Wildlife Friendly® techniques, from introducing livestock guardian dogs and deterrent lights to modifying fencing for wildlife movement and conducting soil surveys for grazing management.” “The Wildlife Friendly® certification offers a vital platform to share these stories with the textile industry and the public, showcasing the significant value these fibers bring.”

Image credit: Celine Frers, Estancia Morro Chico Farm

Certified Gorilla Friendly™ Eco-label Extended to Bwindi Park Edge Communities in Uganda

(Photo credit: Thomas Marent)

The Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is classified as an endangered species by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with a current estimated population of 1,063 individuals. Found only in the Virunga Transboundary Landscape that includes Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, mountain gorillas are extremely vulnerable to disease transmission, human-wildlife conflicts, and habitat degradation. Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN), in partnership with the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, developed the Certified Gorilla Friendly™ Program with the aim of protecting mountain gorillas and their habitat. A key component of the Certified Gorilla Friendly™ program is the Certified Gorilla Friendly™ ecolabel, which targets certification of tourism-based entities and community-conservation enterprises adjacent to gorilla habitat. This program also aims to ensure that those who manage, operate, and invest in the tourism industry proactively contribute to the conservation of mountain gorillas.

Today, we are thrilled to announce that six community enterprises bordering Bwindi Impenetrable National Park have been Certified Gorilla Friendly™ under the Park Edge Community Products ecolabel. These community enterprises include  Change A Life Bwindi, Ride 4 A Woman, Community Initiative For Biodiversity Conservation, Rubuguri-Nteko Handicraft Cooperative Society, Bwindi Community Nutrition Project, and Rubuguri Reformed Poachers Turned Market Gardeners.  This great achievement was possible through the generous support of many donors and partners, including the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), which led a 3-year Darwin Initiative-funded project ‘Local economic development through “pro-poor” gorilla tourism in Uganda’, to support the development of improved ‘pro-poor’ tourism products and services around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. A number of partner organizations were involved in the project, including IGCP, the Responsible Tourism Partnership (RTP), the Institute for Tropical Forest Conservation (ITFC), and most recently, the Arcus Foundation.

The Certified Gorilla Friendly™ Park Edge Product ecolabel provides an incentive for local community entrepreneurs to take the lead and be active participants in conservation projects in their communities. Certification creates a win-win situation for the conservation status of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and enhances local livelihoods within neighboring communities by providing the certified park edge community enterprises with access to premium markets.

About International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) (www.igcp.org)

IGCP is a coalition programme of Conservation International, Fauna & Flora, and World Wildlife Fund with a mission to secure the future of mountain gorillas. IGCP achieves this through working in partnership with state and non-state actors in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

About the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) conserves endangered and threatened wildlife species and their habitats through biodiversity certification programs that also contribute to the economic vitality of rural communities. WFEN uses the power of the marketplace to create on-the-ground change by providing incentives for the protection of biodiversity and enabling the conservation of intact landscapes critical to the provision of ecosystem services. WFEN has developed certification programs that support grassroots farmers, ranchers, herders, artisans, indigenous peoples, and conservation heroes from around the world and ensure that people and nature coexist and thrive.

Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park Becomes Our First Certified Gorilla Friendly™ Park

Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) is proud to announce that Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park has become our first Certified Gorilla Friendly™ Park. Gorilla Friendly™ certification guarantees the application of best practices in all gorilla-related operations, from tourism to research, to safeguard the well-being of the primates and ensure active support for and from the park’s neighboring communities.

The Gorilla Friendly™ certification is a program of WFEN and the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP). This ecolabel is a first-of-its-kind initiative globally, offering the possibility of highlighting operations that provide direct benefits to gorillas – an umbrella species whose protection profits many other plants and animals. Threatened by habitat loss and poaching, gorillas represent a culturally, ecologically, and economically important resource, and their protection is an opportunity to actively bring together parks and neighboring communities.

The certification is obtained through a thorough process of verification of all protocols and their correct application in the field and requires an annual audit. It proves that the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park’s management follows the IUCN Best Practice Guidelines for Great Ape Tourism and incorporates Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria for sustainable tourism, as Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park develops its tourism offering, generously funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Park operations are carried out with the highest ethical standards in the interests of animal welfare and have benefited the communities without whose knowledge it would be impossible to work in the forest, creating job opportunities and building local capacities, turning poachers into trackers, and trackers into researchers, and enforcing  strict protocols to guarantee animal health.

The Wildlife Conservation Society has been involved in the management of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park since its creation in 1993, and through a fruitful public-private partnership between WCS and the Congolese Ministry of Forest Economy since 2014. Earlier this year, the Park expanded in size to include the Djéké Triangle, a gorilla-rich, unlogged forest in its southern part and home to the three habituated gorilla groups and research camp. The Triangle includes a community sustainable use zone, allowing for the continued collection of non-timber forest products and traditional fishing.

The Gorilla Friendly Certification rewards the decades of work that have gone into habituating four (and soon to be five) groups of gorillas to human presence, leading to major advances in our understanding of their ecology and social structures, and enabling the Park to offer a unique tourist experience.

About WCS Congo

For more than 30 years, WCS has played a major role in the conservation of wildlife and wild places in the Republic of Congo, where it has contributed to the creation, expansion and management of three of the five national parks. WCS works closely with the government, national stakeholders and local communities to protect Congo’s rich ecosystems.

About Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park

Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park is arguably the best remaining example of an intact ecosystem in the Congo Basin. It covers more than 4,000 km2 of lowland rainforest and is home to critical populations of endangered mammals, such as forest elephants, lowland gorillas and chimpanzees. Nouabalé-Ndoki was nominated as a World Heritage Site in 2012.

About WFEN

Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network conserves endangered and threatened wildlife species and their habitats through biodiversity certification programs that also contribute to the economic vitality of rural communities. WFEN uses the power of the marketplace to create on-the-ground change by providing incentives for the protection of biodiversity and enabling the conservation of intact landscapes critical to the provision of ecosystem services. Its certification programs are supporting grassroots farmers, ranchers, herders, artisans, indigenous peoples, and conservation heroes from around the world, and ensure that people and nature coexist and thrive.

WILDLIFE FRIENDLY JOINS FORCES WITH FAIRWILD

With the joint purpose of protecting biodiversity through economic, environmental, and social sustainability, Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network and FairWild are now officially collaborating.

Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) is delighted to announce a new partnership with FairWild Foundation (FWF) to provide assurance of sustainability for nature-based raw materials at a global level while empowering producers, conserving species and ecosystems, and promoting more sustainable and equitable commodity supply chains. This partnership is a joint effort of the shared mission of conserving wildlife species and ecosystems by integrating environmental, social, and economic standards into production and commerce. 

ABOUT FAIRWILD FOUNDATION

FairWild Foundation is a registered not-for-profit Foundation, established in 2008, that aims to provide a worldwide framework for implementing a sustainable, fair and value-adding trading system for wild-collected natural ingredients and products thereof through its FairWild Standard. The FWF mission is to enable transformation of resource management and business practices to be ecologically, socially and economically sustainable throughout the supply chain of wild-collected products. 

WHY IS WILDLIFE FRIENDLY PARTNERING WITH FAIRWILD?

WFEN has developed certification standards primarily focused on fauna, which do not include specific criteria for wild harvesting. FairWild, meanwhile, has developed standards and guidelines for sustainable wild harvesting of botanicals, fungi, and lichen, but lacks specific criteria for protecting threatened animal species residing in the wild collection areas. Therefore, it appears essential for both organizations to form a partnership to adopt a comprehensive approach in safeguarding the wild.

HOW DOES THE PARTNERSHIP WORK?

When a WFEN certified operation is involved in wild harvesting, WFEN incorporates a reference to the FairWild Standard. This inclusion serves as a way to demonstrate sustainable wild collection within the Certified Wildlife Friendly'” area. Similarly, if a FairWild® certified operation discovers the presence of a threatened or endangered animal species within their managed wild collection area, FWF and WFEN can collaborate to establish the appropriate Wildlife Friendly® criteria and guidelines. These would be incorporated into the operation’s sustainable ecosystem management plan.

In both of these scenarios, dual certification offers remarkable advantages. Enterprises can enjoy the benefits of both wildlife-focused and wild harvest-focused branding and marketing. Moreover, they can tap into the unique support provided by both organizations.

To further streamline the process and reduce auditing costs for enterprises, FWF and WFEN can work together on joint audits when deemed appropriate. This collaborative approach ensures that operations are evaluated against both sets of standards, as long as the auditors possess the necessary expertise.

Myanmar Coffee Certified for Conservation of Western Hoolock Gibbon

Image credit: Kyaw Kyaw Naing (Fauna & Flora)

As a nation rich in biodiversity, Myanmar is home to many native species of fauna and flora, including one of the world’s rarest and most threatened primate species, the western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock). This iconic species lives in the lush forests of the country’s western region and is classified as Endangered under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Unfortunately, the vast majority of primates have experienced drastic habitat loss due to rapid deforestation and fragmentation for unsustainable activities. To ensure the western hoolock gibbon’s continued survival, it is necessary to find land-use practices that can help protect and conserve their habitat while providing sustainable livelihood opportunities for the surrounding communities.

Image credit: Win Naing Oo-FFI

One of the most promising strategies has been the implementation of coffee production in the community lands.  In an attempt to protect watershed forests and western hoolock gibbons, Fauna & Flora initiated a community-based conservation programme in the proposed Mann Wildlife Sanctuary landscape of Myanmar through coffee production. Since 2012, Fauna & Flora has been working with Asho Chin Communities Association (ACCA) to conserve wildlife, reduce the conversion of western hoolock gibbon forest habitat, and develop sustainable coffee agroforestry as an alternative to shifting cultivation. Fauna & Flora and Genius Coffee have supported ACCA, a community enterprise founded in 2018, through the provision of both technical and financial support to develop the coffee value chain and improve local livelihoods through stable incomes from coffee production.

Image credit: Kyaw Kyaw Naing-FFI

“Coffee agroforestry has had a positive impact on the conservation of threatened wildlife in the region”, said Ngwe Lwin – Country Director, Fauna & Flora, Myanmar Programme. “As coffee plantations require shade, coffee farmers are encouraged to plant trees and conserve the existing trees around the villages, which in turn provides a habitat for the gibbons and other wildlife”.

“Building on the successful and positive impact of coffee agroforestry in Myanmar on local livelihoods and the conservation of western hoolock gibbons, we are excited to announce that Asho Chin Communities Association is now Certified Wildlife Friendly™ for its coffee production”, said Christine Lippai, Executive Director of Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN). “Together with the support of Fauna & Flora, this certification will guarantee that the coffee producers apply best production practices that target the conservation of western hoolock gibbons”.

‘’Wildlife Friendly certifications encourage local coffee farmers to adopt sustainable practices, which can lead to long-term environmental and economic sustainability. By incorporating wildlife conservation into their livelihood, communities can ensure the continued availability of resources and the preservation of their natural heritage for future generations’’, said Salai Soe Win Maung, Communication and Marketing Officer, ACCA.

Image credit: Kyaw Kyaw Naing-FFI

Coffee cultivation in Myanmar has increased canopy cover, which is key for forest connectivity for gibbons and has contributed to reduced deforestation. Additionally, the production of higher-quality coffee by small-holder producers has enabled access to the premium market for ACCA. Wildlife Friendly certification is a key for the value addition of ACCA’s coffee as it expands to national and international markets. You can learn more about this successful coffee agroforestry project here.

About Asho Chin Communities Association (ACCA)

ACCA is a coffee production community enterprise founded in 2018 with the aim of integrating measures that conserve western hoolock gibbons and other biodiversity ecosystems while contributing towards improving the livelihoods of local communities in Myanmar. ACCA’s coffee plantation is located in the Eco-region ‘Chin Hills – Arakan Yoma Mountain Range Forest’. The biome of the area is tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, with an altitude between 1,000m and 2,100m, dominated by mixed evergreen broadleaf forests. The area is the main watershed of Man River, absolutely critical for an irrigation dam that provides clean water to 27 villages and irrigation water for smallholder agriculture.

About Fauna & Flora

Fauna & Flora is a nature conservation charity protecting the diversity of life on Earth. For the survival of species and habitats, the planet, and people. As the world’s first international conservation charity, Fauna & Flora has been shaping best practices in community-focused conservation for over 120 years. Today, the charity works closely with local conservation partners in over 50 countries to protect habitats, revive the ocean, reduce extinctions, stop illegal wildlife trade, combat climate change, and influence global policy and corporate sustainability. www.fauna-flora.org

About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN)

Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network is a not-for-profit organization that conserves endangered and threatened wildlife species and their habitats through biodiversity certification programs that also contribute to improving the livelihoods of rural communities.  These certification programs are supporting grassroots farmers, ranchers, herders, artisans, indigenous peoples, and conservation heroes from around the world. Learn more about WFEN at www.wildlifefriendly.org

Davidson’s Organics is trailblazing the tea industry with the launch of Certified Elephant Friendly™ teas, developed with the core mission of protecting Asian elephants and their habitat in the tea-growing regions of North-East India.

With the launch of its range of Certified Elephant Friendly™ teas, Davidson’s Organics has joined Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) to ensure a world where people and wild species coexist and thrive. Davidson’s tea estates include three family-owned tea gardens that were among the first tea estates to become Certified Elephant Friendly™ — Putharjhora (in Dooars), Banaspaty (in Assam), and Snowview (in Darjeeling).

Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are considered an endangered species, as determined by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2019), with populations in north-east India seemingly in decline. Considered to be a ‘habitat generalist’ species, Asian elephants can adapt to human-modified areas, making conservation practices outside natural forested areas of key importance for their survival.

Despite habitat loss and fragmentation, these magnificent animals continue to use ancient migratory routes that often include passing through and around tea gardens. A combination of poor and unsafe management practices in these tea gardens puts Asian elephants at risk of injury or death from agrochemicals, razor and electrified fencing, low-hanging electrical lines, or deep and narrow drainage ditches.

To address these threats, Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) and the University of Montana partnered to create a set of standards and Elephant Friendly™ Tea certification that require tea gardens to: protect elephants, their habitat and water sources on or near the tea gardens, stop all potentially harmful practices, provide employee training on ways to address elephant movement within the tea gardens, and create safe passage routes for the elephants.

“As a valued Network member, Davidson’s Organics will be raising consumer awareness of the conservation needs of Asian Elephants and inspiring other companies to follow Wildlife Friendly®  practices, changing the world one cup of Certified Elephant Friendly™ tea at a time”, said Christine Lippai, Executive Director at WFEN. “Bringing Certified Elephant Friendly™ teas into their product range, Davidson’s is showcasing how tea production can – and does – include elephant welfare and conservation at the heart of business plans”.

Davidson’s is providing their customers with eight blends, all from Certified Elephant Friendly™ tea estates. Named after the elephants they protect, these Haathi (the Hindi word for elephant) blends include:

  • Haathi Malty Assam: a full-bodied, bold black tea with a malty finish from the famed Banaspaty Tea Estate in India.
  • Haathi Himalayan Green: a refreshing, antioxidant-rich green tea with a light flavor profile and crip finish.
  • Haathi Imperial White: a delicate white tea with a subtle, floral base and sweet finish.
  • Haathi Darjeeling Lavender: a full-bodied black tea brew layered with soothing and restorative lavender.
  • Haathi Earl Grey Tropical: a citrus twist on a bold black tea and best-selling bergamot flavor.
  • Haathi Strawberry Rose: a delicate white tea paired with sweet notes of strawberry and rose.
  • Haathi Chai: a combination of robust herbs and spices with a full-bodied black tea base.
  • Haathi Passionfruit Green: a refreshing and tangy passion fruit tropical treat with a green tea base.

Davidson’s teas are available exclusively at davidsonstea.com.

About Davidson’s Organics

Davidson’s organic teas are USDA Organic Certified, as well as Fair Trade Certified, and are therefore free of pesticides, dairy, GMOs and other non-permitted ingredients. Davidson’s has been committed to providing the freshest, purest teas for over forty years. Direct from family-owned tea gardens in India to their facility in Nevada, Davidson’s offers a wide variety of blends and traditional teas in tea bags, loose leaf, and iced tea formats. Davidson’s is proud to share the benefit of drinking pure, organic teas from their own family tea gardens exclusively with the United States. Visit davidsonstea.com for more information about specialty teas, gifts and tea accessories.

Joining Forces for Elephant Conservation: Ecoexist Becomes WFEN’s Newest Network Member

23 March 2023

Ecoexist, a not-for-profit organization based in Botswana joins Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network as a Network Member. For the past 10 years, Ecoexist has been implementing solutions for human elephant coexistence around the Okavango Delta in collaboration with local communities, government institutions, and the private sector. Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network is delighted to include Ecoexist in its Network and strengthen our shared vision of landscapes where people and wildlife coexist and thrive.

Botswana is considered a land of elephants, with an estimated 200,000 elephants, it boasts the largest free-roaming population on the planet. This huge (in more ways than one) presence has contributed to human-wildlife conflict in Botswana as elephants compete with local communities for essential resources, such as water. In response to this, Ecoexist’s mission is to support the lives and livelihoods of people living with elephants, while also considering the needs of elephants. The main focus of Ecoexist’s scope of work is addressing the root causes of conflict, that is: addressing land use conflict and maintaining elephant corridors, building resilience among communities neighboring the elephant’s habitat, and finding ways to reverse the cost-benefit imbalance among communities sharing space with part of the largest elephant herd on earth.

One solution initiated by Ecoexist to the problem of human-elephant conflicts in the Okavango Delta has been the development of an Elephant Economy approach that increases tangible benefits to the local communities living with elephants. The important component of an Elephant Economy has been the creation of new value chains for “Elephant Aware Farming”, a farming approach that promotes coexistence. Elephant Aware Farming is a farming practice where farmers leave open major elephant corridors, use a variety of elephant deterrent methods to keep elephants out of their fields, and practice conservation or climate smart agriculture to increase yields and enhance resilience to crop raiding. This farming approach has also contributed towards reducing land conversion and clearance through “slash and burn” practices.

Ecoexist is also supporting farmers with creating market-linkages. Surplus produce harvested by Elephant Aware farmers is linked to willing markets that pay a premium price as a reward for their pro-coexistence efforts. Farmers are taken through a verification process to assess whether their produce is Elephant Aware before linking the products to premium price markets. One of the businesses purchasing Elephant Aware produce is the Okavango Craft Brewery, an enterprise that turns millet produced by Elephant Aware Farmers into quality craft beer that is sold into the tourism industry. By supporting and further developing the new Elephant Aware Farming value chain, Ecoexist hopes that more benefits will be realized by more farmers in the future, as a result of their pro-coexistence practices.

Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network and Ecoexist share a joint vision where additional revenue streams provide another ‘tool in the toolbox’ for coexistence in landscapes where people and key wildlife species occur. 

About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) has developed certification programs that support grassroots farmers, ranchers, herders, artisans, indigenous peoples, and conservation heroes from around the world. WFEN certification programs contribute to the conservation of over fourteen million hectares of diverse wetlands, forests, and grasslands; protect keystone endangered species in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin and North America, including the slow loris, snow leopard, elephant, gorillas, puma, guanaco, cheetah, giant ibis, and wolf; and benefit over 400,000 people through increased food security, income, and employment.

For more information visit: www.wildlifefriendly.org Instagram: @wildlifefriendly