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Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

The Little Fireface Project Earns Wildlife Friendly™ Certification for Javan Coffee that Protects Critically Endangered Primate

Dr. Anna Nekaris and team from Oxford Brookes University lead effort to protect the Javan slow loris through conservation enterprise development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Java  Indonesia – 16 october 2020 – The Little Fireface Project (LFP)  has been awarded Wildlife Friendly™ Certification, a certification that has only been achieved by 26 projects – with many of these spanning national borders and working with multiple villages and local communities – worldwide. Established in 2011, the LFP is protecting the Critically Endangered Javan slow loris whilst also implementing conservation initiatives with local communities. Now LFP is working together with over 400 coffee farmers in the villages of Cipaganti and Pangauban, West Java, Indonesia to improve protection of populations of threatened species whilst also safeguarding the livelihoods of local farmers.

A person standing in front of a fruit

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(c) Little Fireface Project

In order to achieve Wildlife Friendly™ Certification, relevant stakeholders worked together to ensure the safety of local populations of threatened species, such as the Critically Endangered Javan slow loris. These measures included implementing organic and wildlife-friendly farming practices, actively taking part in local conservation efforts and establishing a hunting and littering ban in the immediate area. Although this aspect of the programme was only established in 2019, this was a culmination of eight years of dedicated conservation work and has been a dream of those within the community for many years.

Text Box: © Little Fireface Project
(c) Little Fireface Project

“Protecting the surrounding environment and acting on its behalf is becoming second nature to Cipaganti residents,” says Janjan Nugraha, leader of Cipaganti’s coffee farming cooperative, Tani Mukti Cipaganti.

“We as coffee processors see the benefits of how great coffee is, not only from the economic side but we also see from other sides, such as environmental sustainability and the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity (particularly endemic plants). We are very proud and happy for the cooperation that has been built so far [with LFP]. The benefits we have got among the Cipaganti villagers are starting to produce encouraging results. We have begun to care more about the cleanliness of our environment, trash management has become popular within our community, as well as the strong desire of the community to protect wildlife from unlawful hunting.”

Wildlife-friendly farming practices encourage a mutually-beneficial relationship between wildlife and the local community. The use of these practices directly improves the conservation outlook of vulnerable species by providing good-quality habitat, improving soil quality and protecting populations against hunting, while also ensuring that local farmers are gaining valuable ecosystem services from these species, such as pollination, seed dispersal and pest control services. Whilst these services help the farming process, they also help to produce higher quality coffee.

Wildlife Friendly™ Certification will give farmers the opportunity to sell their coffee to conscious consumers around the world, exporting to zoos, universities and coffee shops around the UK, USA and Europe. By giving consumers the opportunity to buy ethical, sustainable coffee, farmers will be able to sell their product at a higher price, thus ensuring that they receive a fair wage and are able to continue farming sustainably in the long-term.

“We have been working with Prof. Nekaris and her team over several years to lay the foundation for this effort with the local community and to integrate the science from the field to define what “wildlife friendly” coffee really means in Java and for slow loris.  This has been a model for how this work and these partnerships should carried out. We are excited to be able to share the results with our learning network and beyond” said Julie Stein, Executive Director and co-founder of the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN), the organization that manages the Certified Wildlife Friendly™ program.

Prof. Anna Nekaris, Director of the LFP, says, “The principle remaining habitat of Javan slow lorises is in agroforestry habitats. With such habitats unprotected by government laws, and illegal hunting being much easier in such habitats, having the support and protection of the local community in order to ensure their survival is vital. We are incredibly proud of the steps the community has taken to achieve WFEN certification and hope that indeed it secures the future for this important species.”

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About the Little Fireface Project

The Little Fireface Project (LFP), headed by Professor Anna Nekaris, is a conservation project under Oxford Brookes University’s charitable Slow Loris Fund. The team studies the ecology of the slow and slender lorises, and contributes wherever possible to the conservation and ecology of loris species throughout their range. The project’s scope of research is widespread encompassing behavioural ecology, museum studies, genetics, acoustics, taxonomy, conservation education and chemical ecology. Their mission is to obtain vital data about all loris species to contribute to their conservation in the wild and in captivity, including aiding rescue centres in reintroductions and aiding in the welfare of slow loris pets in countries where it is still legal to keep them. They intensively use, monitor and evaluate social media to inform the public world-wide about the plight of slow lorises to mitigate their trade. Our current main field project is on the Indonesian island of Java, where we have initiated the first-ever long-term study of a loris in the wild – the Javan slow loris. At the same time, during country-wide surveys in forests and wildlife markets we also contribute to the conservation of other obscure nocturnal animals, including colugos, pangolins, civets, small cats, mustelids and owls. 

Facebook and YouTube: Little Fireface Project

Instagram and Twitter: @littlefireface

Email: info@littlefireface.org

Web site: https://www.nocturama.org

About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

WFEN and its certification programs represent grassroots farmers, ranchers, herders, artisans, indigenous peoples and conservation heroes from around the world including two World Bank Development Marketplace Award winners, a U.N. Equator Prize winner, leadership in the world’s marketplace for REDD+ Carbon Offsets, and a Time Hero for the Planet. Wildlife Friendly® products contribute to the conservation of over thirteen 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, cheetah, red panda, and wolf; and benefit over 300,000 people through increased food security, income and employment. For more information visit: www.wildlifefriendly.org, Instagram: @wildlifefriendly, Twitter: @wfen

Contact

Little Fireface Project  

Anna Nekaris:  anekaris@brookes.ac.uk and Adela Cragg: ac@firebirdpr.co.uk

WFEN – Christine Lippai: christine@wildlifefriendly.org

Artisan natural cosmetics produced from native Scottish wildflower meadows ensure habitat for pollinators 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EAST LOTHIAN, SCOTLAND: 03 FEBRUARY – 2020  Seilich, a Scottish beauty brand built around sustainability, becomes the first in the UK to attain Wildlife Friendly™ Certification from the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network. Using the Scottish Pollinator Strategy https://www.nature.scot/pollinator-strategy-2017-2027 to guide its efforts, Seilich creates native wildflower meadows at the hub of its business from which ingredients for their products are grown and harvested.  These meadows are comprised of a native seed mix created by a local seed company (https://www.scotiaseeds.co.uk/shop/urban-pollinator-mix/).  This seed mix was developed in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh to; 1) be of benefit to pollinators 2) ensure no food scarcity gaps through the year for pollinators and 3) comprise native seeds of local provenance.  Botanist and Seilich’s founder, Dr. Sally Gouldstone explains “The botanicals we use in our products are based on native Scottish species such as yarrow, comfrey, plantain and wild carrot, all of which we grow in our meadow.  These species not only produce powerful ingredients for our cosmetic products but also provide amazing habitat for wildlife, and with over 97% of wildflower meadows in the UK being lost since the 1930’s, they form an important habitat in their own right.  For this reason we are really careful about the way we harvest, ensuring a food source for pollinators even post-harvest, and to compensate for any losses, we also we also work with community groups in the wider area to create a network of wildflower meadows through out East Lothian.” Through Seilich, Dr. Gouldstone is keen to increase awareness about so called ‘natural’ cosmetic products which often conjure images of pristine ecosystems buzzing with life but all too often have negative impacts on the natural world. “Joining forces with the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network offered an opportunity for us to demonstrate that natural products can not only be 100% natural but actually be a force of good for nature.”

“Certifying a pollinator project has been a priority for us at Wildlife Friendly™” said Julie Stein, Executive Director and co-founder of WFEN.  “This helps to showcase the plight of beneficial insects which are threatened by pesticide use and the loss of habitat globally.  This is not only a critical threat to biodiversity around the world but to our own survival since our food systems depend on pollinators.  For many reasons we are thrilled to welcome Seilich to the Wildlife Friendly™ family of brands and as our first UK based entity.”

Seilich creates a range of handmade natural cosmetics including face mists, body sprays and room mists, as well as running botanical courses and offering a habitat creation service.  For more information see www.seilich.co.uk.

About Seilich                                                                                                                     

Seilich is a small family run company based in East Lothian, Scotland. We are passionate about producing beautiful natural products based on native Scottish plant species that we grow ourselves in our meadow. We use a traditional copper still to carefully distill our plants to produce essential oils and floral waters. It is these precious botanical extracts that form the basis of all our products.  Although we are passionate about our botanicals, the main ethos behind Seilich is to create a wildlife friendly company that is able to give back rather than take from nature.   For more information see www.seilich.co.uk or contact Sally at info@selich.co.uk.  Instagram:  @seilich_botanicals Facebook:  seilich botanicals

About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

WFEN and its certification programs represent grassroots farmers, ranchers, herders, artisans, indigenous peoples and conservation heroes from around the world including two World Bank Development Marketplace Award winners, a U.N. Equator Prize winner, leadership in the world’s marketplace for REDD+ Carbon Offsets, and a Time Hero for the Planet. Wildlife Friendly® products contribute to the conservation of over twelve million hectares of diverse wetlands, forests, and grasslands; protect keystone endangered species in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin and North America, including the Snow Leopard, Elephant, Tiger, Cheetah, Red Panda, and Wolf; and benefit over 400,000 people through increased food security, income and employment. For more information visit: www.wildlifefriendly.org, Instagram: @wildlifefriendly, Twitter: @wfen

Contact

Seilich: Sally Gouldstone – info@seilich.co.uk

WFEN: Christine Lippai – christine@wildlifefriendly.org

Women in Burkina Faso are Key Allies in Protecting Vital Habitat for Elephants in West Africa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Paris, France: January 2 – 2020 Founded in France and made in West Africa, luxury beauty brand ELEPHAS, and its ethical shea butter products, is the newest enterprise to be certified under the Wildlife Friendly™ family of brands. ELEPHAS, which is part of Connected Beauties, was launched to ensure that local communities sharing the landscape with African elephants have access to income-generating activities creating a positive incentive for coexisting with wildlife.

Photo Credit: ELEPHAS

The production of ELEPHAS products begins when women harvest nuts from African shea trees and extract shea butter, highly valued for its anti-aging and moisturizing qualities.  As a crucial part of this sustainable production supply chain, the women are key allies in protecting the forests which are vital habitat for one of the largest elephant populations in West Africa.  Having earned the Certified Wildlife Friendly™ trustmark, this shea butter is the primary ingredient in ELEPHAS beauty products, demonstrating the company’s commitment to high quality ingredients while avoiding any palm oil derivatives, petrochemicals, or plastic packaging.  The ELEPHAS mission is to foster economic independence and responsible and sustainable use of natural resources for the communities in their supply chain.  

ELEPHAS is one of many social enterprises founded by eco-entrepreneur and conservationist Olivier Behra. “I consider women to be the key in Africa for a long-term economic vision which respects Nature; it made so much sense to make a link between them and women in the western world through cosmetics. Elephas’ mission is to promote this Connected Beauty: Connected to your inner self, to those who surround you, to those who provide for you through green value chains (traceable origins and supply) and to Mother Nature herself. A promise of exceptional active ingredients & efficient skincare, as well as development and sustainability to local communities – who are biodiversity’s guardians.”

“We applaud companies like Elephas who allow global consumers to vote with their pocketbooks to support communities and wildlife around the world,” said Julie Stein, Executive Director and co-founder of the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network.  “Women supporting women who are in turn are helping to protect the remaining matriarchal African elephant herds of West Africa is a win-win-win and we love those.” 

ELEPHAS is currently seeking a US distributor. If you are potentially interested or can suggest a distributor, please contact Galia: galia.nafikova@connectedbeauties.com.

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About ELEPHAS

ELEPHAS was created to ensure that communities sharing their rich natural resources with endangered wildlife are given income-generating activities with a positive environmental impact. By harvesting their shea, capable women workers become key allies in protecting the shea tree forests, vital habitat of the largest elephant population in West Africa. For more information visit: https://www.elephas.fr/en/ and https://connectedbeauties.com/, Facebook pages: English: https://www.facebook.com/ElephasUK/ ; French: https://www.facebook.com/elephasparis/ ; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elephas_paris/ ; Twitter: @ElephasParis

About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

WFEN and its certification programs represent grassroots farmers, ranchers, herders, artisans, indigenous peoples and conservation heroes from around the world including two World Bank Development Marketplace Award winners, a U.N. Equator Prize winner, leadership in the world’s marketplace for REDD+ Carbon Offsets, and a Time Hero for the Planet. Wildlife Friendly® products contribute to the conservation of over twelve million hectares of diverse wetlands, forests, and grasslands; protect keystone endangered species in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin and North America, including the Snow Leopard, Elephant, Tiger, Cheetah, Red Panda, and Wolf; and benefit over 200,000 people through increased food security, income and employment. For more information visit: www.wildlifefriendly.org, Instagram: @wildlifefriendly, Twitter: @wfen

Contact

ELEPHAS:

ELEPHAS Founder: olivier.behra@connectedbeauties.com

Brand manager France Galiya NAFIKOVA: contact@elephas.fr or galia.nafikova@connectedbeauties.com

Brand manager UK Louise POTTS: louise.potts@elephas.fr

WFEN: Christine Lippai – christine@wildlifefriendly.org

Home grown luxurious merino wool sourced from Certified Wildlife Friendly™ ranchers is part of WCS Argentina’s Patagonian Fibers with a Conscience™ program  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BUENOS AIRES AND PUERTO MADRYN, ARGENTINA (January 7, 2019)— Argentine knitwear line Maydi, the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) and the Wildlife Conservation Society-Argentina (WCS)are pleased to announce the debut of Certified Wildlife Friendly™ fibers from Patagonia Argentina at Paris Fashion Week February 27 – March 6, 2019.  Using luxurious merino wool produced by the “Patagonian Fibers with a Conscience” program from a sustainable ranchers cooperative called “Merino de Peninsula Valdés™” Wildlife Friendly™ merino will be featured for the first time by an independent Argentine designer in her line.

Born in Argentina, Maria Abdala-Zolezzi, a.k.a ¨Maydi¨, is a Franco-Argentine designer who received her training at the London College of Fashion.  After working for over a decade in the fashion meccas of Paris and Milan for international brands like Hermès, Sonia Rykiel, and Isabel Marant,Ms. Zolezzi returned to Argentina to found her own home grown brand, Maydi, to showcase some of the world’s best natural fibers like merino, mohair and even wild guanaco fiber, grown on the famous grasslands of her native country. Featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and in Condé Nast Traveller’s the Best of Buenos Aires, each Maydi garment is carefully made by hand using processes that respect both workers and the environment including iconic Argentinean wildlife through this new sourcing partnership with WCS-Argentina and WFEN.  “For MAYDI Sustainability is the responsibility of every individual every day, says Maria Abdala-Zolezzi, “I want to make unique clothes working under fair trade principles while keeping an equitable relationship with the environment as well as with respect and appreciation for the individual people who participate in the craftsmanship of each piece.”

WCS Argentina supports the Merino Peninsula Valdés™ (MPV) group who are committed to managing their ranches to allow healthy populations of guanacos, rheas, and maras to co-exist with their sheep, and to use non-lethal methods to control predation by pumas, chilla foxes, and Geoffroy’s and pampas cats. Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina (FVSA) will provide third-party verification of compliance with commitments and collaborate with WCS to monitor impacts on wildlife. “We all agree in making the coexistence between sheep ranching and healthy wildlife a long-term achievement,” said Alejandro Arias, coordinator of the FVSA program.  WCS and FVSA are working together under a cooperation agreement with the USFWS to expand the sustainably managed land in the area.

Península Valdés is a 4,000square-kilometer (1,544 square miles) protected area in Patagonia, declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 1999. Península Valdés still harbors significant populations of native wildlife, and its waters are critical habitat for southern right whales, sea lions, magellanic penguins and elephant seals. Although a management plan has been effective in conserving coastal wildlife, the land is privately owned and sheep ranching is widespread.

“These ranchers are committed to wildlife-friendly practices because they are convinced that their economic futures are better served by moving away from maximizing sheep stocking rates and adding value by conserving native species at Península Valdés, an emblematic site of Patagonia. Our work is based on scientific research on wildlife ecology,” said Ricardo Baldi, a scientist from CONICET, the Argentine national science agency, and consultant for WCS.

“’Patagonian Fibers with a Conscience™’ provides an inspiring opportunity to combine a sustainable business approach with on-the-ground wildlife conservation,” said Carina Righi [former Director of WCS Argentina]. “We’re showing that we can protect guanacos and other wildlife, support the local economy, and add value to a product that reaches international markets. It’s a win-win for Peninsula Valdés.”

“We are so gratified to see this enthusiasm from designers and brands in sourcing Wildlife Friendly™ fibers,” said Julie Stein, former Executive Director and co-founder of WFEN,  “because global consumers want to support wildlife and habitat through their purchases. This demand demonstrates to ranchers and the Argentinean government that wildlife has economic value and that wildlands and ranchlands can both thrive.  Its very exciting to work with such an exceptionally talented designer like Maria who also shares our vision for a definition of sustainable fashion that includes biodiversity.”

For wholesalers, retailers and consumers interested in purchasing the Maydi line please contact:  contact@maydiaz.com

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About Maydi

Maydi uses only natural fibers and organic yarns in her hand-woven fabrics. The timeless spirit of each piece manifests itself in a 100% contemporary and refined design, carried out through the ancient techniques of hand-knitting, manual weaving loom and crochet, which are thus revalued.  Maydi believes in the principles of fair trade, hence her designs are developed and produced in collaboration with local Argentine artisans, assuring them fair remuneration and respect for the legacy of their craft and art. Weaving loom is one of the oldest cultural traditions of Aboriginal peoples and a clear statement of the importance of women as transmitters of life and culture in society and selects exclusively noble materials such as merino wool of Argentine Patagonia —including yarn in spinning wheel—, mohair, cotton and silk straw. Argentine organic merino is comparable with precious fibers (such as cashmere and alpaca) for its smoothness, shine, and softness, and stands out among the main materials used in the collection. For this reason, beyond this intrinsic quality of fiber, Maydi works with Merino wools that are backed by a production process which takes care of the environment, the well-being of animals and the development of individuals and organizations involved in the entire value chain.

The dyes used are completely natural, obtained from native plants such as: Tara, Palo Amarillo, Guayacán and Cochinilla from Argentina and South America through environmentally friendly processes.

Maydi sets the quality bar very high, ensuring meticulous attention to detail in the entire process of creation of each garment, hand-made from start to finish. Thus, the design of each piece enables raw materials to speak for themselves. The brand continues to cultivate a relationship with internal market: Maydi redoubles its value for customers who appreciate good taste and high design, with made-to measure pieces. Thus, it intensifies the uniqueness of its items and justifies even more the longing for them.

 

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About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

WFEN and its certification programs represent grassroots farmers, ranchers, herders, artisans, indigenous peoples and conservation heroes from around the world including two World Bank Development Marketplace Award winners, a U.N. Equator Prize winner, leadership in the world’s marketplace for REDD+ Carbon Offsets, and a Time Hero for the Planet. Wildlife Friendly® products contribute to the conservation of over fourteen million hectares of diverse wetlands, forests, and grasslands; protect keystone endangered species inAsia, Africa, Europe, and Latin and North America, including the Snow Leopard, Elephant, Tiger, Cheetah, Red Panda, and Wolf; and benefit over 400,000 people through increased food security, income and employment. For more information visit: www.wildlifefriendly.org, IG: @wildlifefriendly, Twitter: @wfen

About the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. VISION: WCS envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in more than 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission.

Visit: www.wcs.org;
https://www.facebook.com/TheWCS;
https://www.youtube.com/user/WCSMedia
Follow: @thewcs

Contact:

Maydi: contact@maydiaz.com

Conicet: Ricardo Baldi: rbaldi@wcs.org

WCS: Stephen Sautner; ssautner@wcs.org

Wildlife Friendly: Christine Lippai: christine@wildlifefriendly.org

Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network becomes first wildlife conservation organization to benefit from 2nd Life’s Electronics Buy Back Program for nonprofits

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – MAY 30 2018 2nd Life, a Richmond based company whose mission is to responsibly repurpose pre-owned consumer electronics and computing assets via proprietary remarketing techniques and cutting edge repair capabilities, has launched an exciting new partnership with the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) to benefit the world’s most endangered wildlife called “Cash in for Wildlife.”

The world generates over 44.7 million metric tonnes of e-waste – or 4500 Eiffel Towers – annually, according to the United Nations report Global E-waste Monitor 2017, with only 20% of that recycled through appropriate channels. This presents a challenge to sustainable development and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The amount of e-waste is expected to increase to 52.2 million metric tonnes by 2021. The UN estimated the total value of all raw materials present in e-waste to be approximately 55 Billion Euros in 2016, which is more than the 2016 Gross Domestic Product of most countries in the world. With many product life cycles measured in months as consumers trade up to newer technology, and a higher percentage of consumers owning multiple devices, circular economy models need to be adopted to encourage “closing the loop” through recycling while also mitigating pollution of the environment.

E-waste at the end of its life cycle includes toxic chemicals such as arsenic, mercury, flame-retardants and lead. When illegally or improperly disposed of these toxins seep into the ground, polluting soil and groundwater and contaminating microorganisms which fish feed upon; improper burning of e-waste releases toxins into the air.   E-waste exposure can lead to diseases such heart disease, cancer and can damage DNA. Children are especially vulnerable to these health risks from e-waste exposure. Once food is contaminated these toxins and heavy metals move up the food chain leading to bioaccumulation and biomagnification in apex predators including humans.

“The electronics industry impacts humans, the environment and wildlife at both ends of its life cycle” said WFEN Director and Co-founder Julie Stein. “At the source, profits from illegally mined ‘conflict minerals’ like tin, tantalite or coltan, tungsten and gold, from the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, contribute to ongoing violence in the country and illegal miners living inside protected areas are negatively affecting endangered wildlife including the critically endangered Grauer’s Gorilla whose numbers have declined by 77%, as well as the endangered Eastern Chimpanzee, and the endangered Okapi which is only found in the DRC and whose population has plummeted by 50% due to the related triple threats of deforestation, mining and bushmeat hunting by illegal miners. Our enterprise model is to create alternative livelihood opportunities such as Wildlife Friendly™ sustainable farming, tourism and handicrafts for the benefit of wildlife and communities so that they do not have to resort to illegal activities which harm the environment. This new partnership with 2nd Life will help us on several fronts to achieve our mission.”

“We designed our proprietary consumer electronics buyback platform to support retailers like Best Buy and Amazon by offering a turnkey solution so that their customers can trade-in their no longer needed electronics towards purchase of new items,” said Seth Schmidt, Chief Marketing Officer for 2nd Life. During 2016 we identified an opportunity to create a fundraising oriented platform, building on what we learned serving the for-profit sector. Essentially, the fundraising solution allows consumers to sell their used electronics from over a dozen popular categories including smartphones, tablets, laptops, drones, digital cameras and more in order to support the causes that mean the most to them. Consumers are paid a competitive value for their items and can elect to donate all or a portion of their payment to the cause, in this case, the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network.”

According to Michael Feibelman, President and CEO of 2nd Life, the company has three solutions to address these challenges: IT Asset Disposition for responsible end-of-life corporate computing and mobile asset refreshes; community electronic waste collection services; and now, the buyback solution that supports non-profits like WFEN and others. The goal of The 2nd Life buyback program is to generate an ongoing revenue stream for these organizations and their partners by utilizing the 2nd Life Consumer Electronics Buyback Program, which allows consumers to quickly and easily get paid for their pre-owned consumer electronics while at the same time supporting a cause, in this case helping to protect wildlife around the world.

“We are extremely grateful to Michael and his team at 2nd Life for their interest in our work and are proud to be their first and only wildlife conservation partner,” said Ms. Stein. “This partnership makes 2nd Life our newest Founding Corporate Network member along with other leading edge sustainability companies.”

For companies or individuals who would like to become part of this program with 2nd Life to benefit wildlife please contact Seth Schmidt at 2nd Life or visit https://wfen.fundello.org to cash in your digital cameras and camcorders, cell phones, laptop computers, drones, and more for the benefit of the world’s endangered wildlife.

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About 2nd Life

2nd Life extends the useful life of all electronics through it’s primary services of IT asset disposition (ITAD) for the enterprise, consumer based trade-in and buyback solutions for retailers, manufacturers, non-profits and schools and it’s expertise in electronics repair all the way up to circuit board level work. For more information, visit https://2ndlifeinc.com

About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

WFEN and its family of brands represent grassroots farmers, ranchers, artisans, indigenous communities and conservation heroes from around the world including two World Bank Development Marketplace Award winners, a U.N. Equator Prize winner, leadership in the world’s marketplace for REDD+ Carbon Offsets, a Time Hero for the Planet, and a National Geographic Big Cats Initiative grantee. Certified Wildlife Friendly® products contribute to the conservation of over twelve million hectares of diverse wetlands, forests, and grasslands; protect keystone endangered species in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, including the Snow Leopard, Elephant, Cheetah, and Wolf; and benefit over 200,000 people through increased food security, income and employment. For more information visit: www.wildlifefriendly.org

Pura Vida Roast Helps Protect Wildlife, People and Landscape

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

(Phoenix, Ariz.) A new Arizona-roasted coffee will let you wake up and help save jaguars. The Arizona Center for Nature Conservation (ACNC)/Phoenix Zoo and Press Coffee Roasters introduce Pura Vida this week – the first certified Jaguar Friendly™ coffee produced in the U.S. The 12-ounce bags of whole beans go on sale at all Press Coffee locations and the Phoenix Zoo today with a portion of the proceeds supporting jaguar research led by the ACNC and ProCAT, an international nongovernmental organization focused on wildlife and habitat conservation.

In this first effort of the Jaguar Conservation Coffee project, the ACNC and ProCAT are working with Finca Las Alturas ranch in Costa Rica to support a landscape where farmers, jaguars and other wildlife co-exist. Jaguars are in decline in the wild due mainly to illegal hunting and habitat loss, with the overall jaguar population estimated to occupy less than 50 percent of its former range.

The ACNC’s Field Conservation Research Director, Dr. Jan Schipper, and other researchers have been working to design a habitat corridor that links Las Alturas with the Osa Peninsula, home to Costa Rica’s most threatened jaguar population. These two areas are separated by farms, plantations, homes, businesses and busy highways, thus, separating jaguars from the prey they need.

ACNC and ProCAT encourage growers in the corridor to adopt “jaguar-friendly” practices such as organic, pesticide-free farming, not allowing hunting on their land, and maintaining a mix of coffee and native trees/shrubs to provide animals with food and shelter. These practices are beneficial to all wildlife in the region, not just jaguars.

“Most of the landscapes between protected areas, areas that species need to cross to maintain natural connectivity, are dominated by people,” says Schipper. “We see this effort as an opportunity to promote species conservation together with local communities by exploring production systems that help reconnect native habitats.”

photo (c) ProCAT

Not only is this southern part of Costa Rica home to one of the largest populations of jaguars in that country, Costa Rica is also renowned as one of the most richly diverse coffee regions in the world.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jaguar Friendly™ coffee into our growing family of brands,” said Julie Stein, Executive Director and co-founder of the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN). “By using certification as an innovative conservation tool we can achieve conservation goals while supporting local farmers in jaguar range countries and share these incredible stories of coexistence with aspirational consumers around the world. It’s truly a triple bottom line win.”

“This collaboration is such a special and unique opportunity for anyone in the coffee industry,” said Steve Kraus, owner of Press Coffee Roasters. “We’re honored to be able to partner with the Phoenix Zoo and work directly with Finca Las Alturas to bring this coffee and awareness of their conservation efforts to our community.”

Kraus describes the Pura Vida as creamy with notes of caramel and nougat. It’s an outstanding example of Costa Rican single origin roasts, he said.

Pura Vida is available for $16 for a 12-ounce bag of whole beans with $5 of the proceeds going to support ACNC and ProCAT’s jaguar conservation efforts. It’s available at Press Coffee’s six Phoenix locations and at the Phoenix Zoo. It is also available online at presscoffee.com and can be shipped worldwide.

About Press Coffee Roasters

Press has been Phoenix’ local coffee roaster since 2008. It shares its passion for specialty coffee by providing the highest quality coffee products, service and knowledge with customers and community every day. Named Phoenix’ best roaster two years running, Press Coffee has five Valley locations in Scottsdale, Tempe, Phoenix and Chandler. Visit Press Coffee online at presscoffee.com and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @presscoffee.

About the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation

The Arizona Center for Nature Conservation operates the Phoenix Zoo and the South Mountain Environmental Education Center. The ACNC advances the stewardship and conservation of animals and their habitats while providing experiences that inspire people and motivate them to care for the natural world.

The Phoenix Zoo is the only zoo in the Valley accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is a non-profit zoological park, serving 1.3 million guests annually. The Zoo is home to more than 3,000 animals, many of which are endangered and threatened species. For information on upcoming events, exhibits and activities at the Phoenix Zoo, visit phoenixzoo.org. For information about the South Mountain Environmental Education Center, visit smeec.org.

About ProCAT

ProCAT, Proyecto de Conservacion de Aguas y Tierras (Water and Land Conservation Project), is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and conservation of species and ecosystems, including the human component, from an interdisciplinary approach. Its purpose is the conservation of ecosystems, species and cultural wealth, integrating scientific, traditional and cultural knowledge; in search of the well-being of both biodiversity and human communities. For more information, visit (www.procat-conservation.org).

About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN)

WFEN represents grassroots farmers, ranchers, artisans, indigenous peoples and conservation heroes from around the world including two World Bank Development Marketplace Award winners, a U.N. Equator Prize winner, leadership in the world’s marketplace for REDD+ Carbon Offsets and a Time Hero for the Planet. Certified products contribute to the conservation of over twelve million hectares of diverse wetlands, forests, and grasslands; protect keystone endangered species in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas; and benefit over 200,000 people through increased food security, income and employment. For more information visit: www.wildlifefriendly.org

PRESS COFFEE MEDIA CONTACT:

Angela Muniz – Tin Can Marketing
480-966-2179; angela@tincanmarketing.com

PHOENIX ZOO MEDIA CONTACT:

Linda Hardwick
602-663-3254; lhardwick@phoenixzoo.org

 

 

(c) Primal Pastures

Warner Springs and Murrieta farm raises pastured chickens, rebuilds healthy, regenerative soils and grasslands, and coexists with wildlife.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Warner Springs, CA, September 18, 2016 Most people don’t set up a wholesale pastured poultry operation in an area known for its mountain lion activity as much as for its orchards. Yet for farmer Paul Grieve of Pasturebird, flourishing habitat is an integral part of farming. “The important thing to us is that we build an ecosystem. Our role is to steward the land and grow a great environment for Mother Nature.”

On its newest farm­­­­­­­­­­ site—100 acres of a 1000 acre parcel that meets the Palomar and Iron Spring Mountains in Warner Springs—Paul and his family are restoring a former potato field to permanent pasture. They ensure wildlife corridors remain open and use a variety of methods to protect their chickens, in order that a variety of wildlife can pass through the property. “We end up seeing snakes, rabbits, birds, worms, deer, and coyotes. I love being able to see those guys come through the farm but not interrupt our operations. Knowing that mountain lions are around makes it even better. It means we’re doing something right.”

This sentiment, together with a variety of husbandry practices to meet the farm’s stewardship mission, has enabled Pasturebird and sister location, Primal Pastures, to become Southern California’s first farm to achieve Certified Wildlife Friendly® status. Certified Wildlife Friendly® recognizes farms and ranches committed to regenerative practices that enable wildlife and livestock to coexist. The farm is working to restore perennial grasslands. It uses managed, multi-species grazing practices to improve soil. It conserves wildlife corridors, and relies upon proactive, humane practices to deter predators, among other key attributes. Along with peers around the globe, Pasturebird and Primal Pastures are part of a progressive wave of agriculture that models the critical role of farms and ranches in sustaining wildlife and habitat.

The farm’s efforts have been noticed by the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Lakers, both of which have accounts. “Pasturebird’s commitment to transparency and raising birds the way they were meant to live is truly inspiring,” says chef Alan Latourelle of Wolfgang Puck, another satisfied customer. Kitchen workers from the hospitality group’s Southern California staff recently toured the farm, gaining first-hand experience of what Pasturebird terms simply “real chicken.”  Inspired by renowned grass farmer Joel Salatin of Virginia, Paul Greive and his family are committed to creating a scale-alternative to factory farming that cares for the land, the animals and consumers’ health.

(c) Primal Pastures

The farm started simply enough, 5 years ago, from the family’s search for healthy food for its own use: “We were paying a bunch of money for labels, but not good food,” explains Paul. “We wanted to eat meat that was not bad for the environment or our bodies,” he explains. “We couldn’t find what we were looking for.” And, so what began with an order of 54 chickens for personal use turned into a vocation for 2 generations and multiple branches of Paul’s family.   Pasturebird, a wholesale operation opened in 2015, builds upon the success of Primal Pastures, the family’s direct-to-consumer farm in Murrieta.

Livestock guardian dogs are integral to the farm’s ability to coexist with wildlife. While predator losses were significant in the farm’s first true commercial year, the family quickly realized the use of lethal control “didn’t jibe at all with what we were doing,” says Paul. Rather, “we were working to “heal the land, heal the soil, and participate with nature.” Today, the farm raises its own Anatolian Shepherd/Great Pyrenees mix guardians. The dogs help to protect the flock, which is moved to fresh pasture daily in open-air, floorless chicken tractors. The farm vision includes having its operations become carbon-neutral in a few years, by offsetting the energy put into tractors and other equipment through its soil building activities.

The farm’s practices mean it is a regional model. Winston Vickers, a veterinarian with the Southern California Mountain Lion Project states: “I am thrilled that Paul and his team are leading the way in the region by taking measures to not only protect their chickens and raise healthier ones, but simultaneously helping to keep wildlife populations and the ecosystems healthy. I applaud their foresight and leadership, and urge others to follow their great example.”

Its efforts mean great food, too. “Seeing chickens that you can tell are happy and healthy is refreshing in this day and age. I never thought I would be so excited about chickens” continues Chef Latourelle.  Thank you Pasturebird for what you do, it makes our jobs much easier.”

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About Pasturebird and Primal Pastures

Primal Pastures (direct to consumer) and Pasturebird (wholesale) farms raise pastured chicken in Southern California. By rotating the chickens to fresh pasture every single day, the farm’s chicken is not only healthy and delicious but also goes beyond sustainability to rebuild healthy, regenerative soils and grasslands.

Instead of using antibiotics to fight disease within the flock, Pasturebird and Primal Pastures use a healthy environment of pasture, sunshine, fresh air, and space to prevent sickness. Instead of marketing vegetarian-fed chicken (chickens are not vegetarians), we want our chickens to eat as many bugs and worms as possible. And instead of hiding our farm from the public, we know that our best marketing is transparency, so we regularly open the ranch for tours and events. For more information, contact Paul Greive via 855-4PASTURE or paul@pasturebird.com and visit www.pasturebird.com and www.primalpastures.com

About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

The Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network and its Certified Wildlife Friendly® and Predator Friendly® programs represent farmers, ranchers, artisans and conservation heroes from around the world. Participating farms in North America maintain and enhance wildlife habitats and employ a mix of careful observation and proactive practices to allow wildlife and livestock to coexist.

Certified Wildlife Friendly® products contribute to the conservation of over twelve million hectares of diverse wetlands, forests, and grasslands; protect keystone endangered species in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, including wolves, elephants, cheetahs, red pandas and snow leopards, and benefit over 200,000 people through increased food security, income and employment. For more information visit: www.wildlifefriendly.org

Contact:

Paul Greive, Chief Executive Officer
Pasturebird Poultry Company
855-4PASTURE; paul@pasturebird.com

Sustainable products promote coexistence between native wildlife
and fiber production

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) and the Wildlife Conservation Society Argentina (WCS) are pleased to announce the Wildlife Friendly™ certification of high quality mohair, merino wool, and cashmere, in recognition of the efforts of a cooperative of criancero herders to co-exist with the region’s native wildlife.

Local mixed-breed dog working as a guarding dog for goats. Credit: Alejandro Gonzalez.

Following years of work to improve land management practices and fiber quality, and support from WCS, 12 herders of the Neuquén, Argentina-based Programa Mohair are now offering both raw fiber and spun yarn for sale, under the Fibras del Viento (Fibers of the Wind) label. Fibers are available in natural colors and dyes, including green from Yerba mate, the national beverage of Argentina. Fine yarn and finished goods are spun and handcrafted at a small mill operated by cooperative members.

“The commitment of these herders participating in the Programa Mohair shows that it is possible to improve land use practices and combine increased product value with real conservation results. This is a high impact social and wildlife achievement that we hope will inspire other livestock producers in Patagonia,” said Guillermo Harris, WCS Argentina Director.

Puma in Laguna Blanca National Park, where some of the certified herders live. Credit: WCS Argentina

The actions of the livestock herders to coexist with native wildlife are important to the conservation of the unique fauna criollo dogs to protect their livestock from predators. Although their family farms are small, and they often struggle to maintain their livelihood, the herders are committed to sustainable production for the good of their land, livestock, and native wildlife.

“We are watching a Wildlife Friendly™ fiber movement unfold right now across Patagonia” said Julie Stein, Executive Director and Co-founder of WFEN. “Part of our mission is to create communities of practice that share innovations, challenges and successes across landscapes. These Programa Mohair herders and a growing number of ranching neighbors are at the leading edge of that effort. Designers, consumers and companies are taking note of their compelling stories of coexistence. Each step forward by these producers has been the result of hard work, and is thrilling to witness. We congratulate these heroes of conservation for their actions.”

Consumers wishing to purchase these responsibly produced fibers can write to ventas.fibrasdelviento@gmail.com or coopeagropezapala@gmail.com

Products made from mohair and mohair-merino blends. Credit: Susan Walker

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About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

WFEN and its Certified Wildlife Friendly®, Predator Friendly®, Certified Gorilla Friendly™, Jaguar and Sea Turtle Friendly™ certification programs represent grassroots farmers, ranchers, artisans, indigenous peoples and conservation heroes from around the world including two World Bank Development Marketplace Award winners, a U.N. Equator Prize winner, leadership in the world’s marketplace for REDD+ Carbon Offsets, a Time Hero for the Planet, and a National Geographic Big Cats Initiative grantee. Certified Wildlife Friendly® products contribute to the conservation of over twelve million hectares of diverse wetlands, forests, and grasslands; protect keystone endangered species in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin and North America, including the Snow Leopard, Elephant, Tiger, Cheetah, Red Panda, and Wolf; and benefit over 200,000 people through increased food security, income and employment. For more information visit: www.wildlifefriendly.org

About WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society)

MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: 347-840-1242.

Visit: www.wcsargentina.org;

https://www.facebook.com/TheWCS;
https://www.youtube.com/user/WCSMedia
Follow: @thewcs

Contact:

Wildlife Friendly

info@wildlifefriendly.org
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Twitter
Instagram

Elephant Friendly™ Tea helps secure a future for wild elephants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wild Elephants in Assam India Photo: Anshuma Basumatary

Wild Elephants in Assam India Photo: Anshuma Basumatary

Las Vegas, Nevada: – June 12, 2017– The Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) and the University of Montana (UM) Broader Impacts Group are pleased to announce the launch of the world’s first Elephant FriendlyTM Tea Certification at this year’s World Tea Expo, where the Elephant FriendlyTM Tea team will showcase tea from plantations that are certified as Elephant FriendlyTM, supporting the survival of the endangered Asian elephant.

WFEN, a global community dedicated to the development of products and tourism that contribute to the conservation of threatened wildlife and to the economic vitality of rural landscapes, is partnering with the University of Montana, home to the top-ranked Wildlife Biology program in North America, to engage tea growers, sellers and consumers in a ground-breaking farm-to-cup approach to support the conservation of endangered Asian elephants, Elephas maximus.

Since the early 1800’s tea consumption has been on the rise, and today it is the most popular beverage worldwide. Tea plantations have replaced much of the natural habitat of Asian elephants and other species. Habitat loss and the associated human-elephant conflict, which often leads to loss of life for both people and elephants, have contributed significantly to the decline of Asian elephant populations. According to the IUCN Red List, Asian elephants are an endangered species, with an estimated 40,000-50,000 remaining across their range countries, a decline of over 50% in the last 75 years. India holds at least 50% of the remaining population and is the world’s second largest tea producer, with tea lands primarily located in areas historically inhabited by elephants.

Engaging tea growers as active partners in elephant conservation is critical to the future of Asian elephants in the wild. Agricultural lands planted for tea production can play a vital role as corridors of movement between natural areas. Tea plantations often serve as nurseries where mothers give birth and rest for a few days until their newborn babies are strong enough to move with the herd.

However, agricultural practices on tea estates can present potential hazards for elephants, such as the use of deep and narrow drainage ditches which can trap infant and juvenile elephants. Improperly installed electric fencing or sagging electricity lines can pose electrocution risks for elephants. Chemicals used in conventional tea production, if not stored securely or applied judiciously, can poison elephants. In addition, human-elephant conflict can have grave consequences for both elephants and tea worker communities.

An innovative market-based solution comes in the form of a new Elephant FriendlyTM Certification program providing Lake Missoula Elephant Friendly Teaan opportunity for tea growers to make changes that reduce their negative impacts on elephant populations and enables companies to tell a story of coexistence to consumers. In the spring of 2017, the first Elephant FriendlyTM Tea plantation was certified in Assam, India. This organic farm serves as a model to other growers who are interested in becoming certified under this program. Lake Missoula Tea Company in Montana, USA, is the first business to carry Elephant FriendlyTM Tea for sale. The first restaurant to carry the certified tea, Caffe Dolce in Missoula, Montana, has also joined the growing community of vendors who are committing to sourcing Elephant FriendlyTM Tea.

Lisa Mills, who serves as the liaison for the University of Montana on this project, explains: “We are encouraged by the interest we are seeing from tea growers and tea buyers who want to join the Certified Elephant FriendlyTM Tea program. With a percentage of every sale going back to support elephant conservation in the communities where the tea is grown, tea drinkers can enjoy great tea while supporting human-elephant coexistence.”

“To be certified under this program tea growers must meet strict “elephant friendly” standards which have been vetted by experts on elephants in this part of the world, “ said Julie Stein, Executive Director and Co-founder of WFEN. “We are excited to see that the tea is commanding a strong price premium in the marketplace, which is early proof-of-concept that consumers will support the conservation mission. “

By buying Elephant FriendlyTM Tea consumers are helping sustain wild elephant populations and secure their future. Interested companies and consumers can learn more at https://elephantfriendlytea.com/or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/elephantfriendlytea

About the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

WFEN and its certification programs represent grassroots farmers, ranchers, artisans, indigenous peoples and conservation heroes from around the world, including two World Bank Development Marketplace Award winners, a U.N. Equator Prize winner, leadership in the world’s marketplace for REDD+ Carbon Offsets, a Time Hero for the Planet, and a National Geographic Big Cats Initiative grantee. Certified Wildlife Friendly® products contribute to the conservation of over twelve million hectares of diverse wetlands, forests, and grasslands; protect keystone endangered species in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin and North America – including the snow leopard, tiger, elephant, cheetah, red panda, and wolf – and benefit over 200,000 people through increased food security, income and employment. For more information visit: www.wildlifefriendly.org

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

About the University of Montana

The University of Montana (UM), located in Missoula, Montana, USA, is a higher education institution, home to the top-ranked Wildlife Biology Program in North America and award-winning research, outreach and business innovation programs. The Elephant FriendlyTM Program is a partnership between the University of Montana’s Broader Impacts Group at https://www.umt.edu/big/, the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network, and business and conservation science advisors from across the globe. The UM Blackstone Launchpad and UM School of Business provide additional planning and marketing support.

Contact  

Wildlife Friendly

Julie Stein: Julie@wildlifefriendly.org

University of Montana

Lisa Mills: lisa.mills@mso.umt.edu

 

 

 

Certified Wildlife Friendly - Lion Tailed Macaque_Color_Lion Tail Macaque
Wild Kaapi
empowers coffee drinkers to do good with every cup of Certified Wildlife Friendly™ coffee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WESTERN GHATS, INDIA: JUNE 1 2017—The Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN), a global community dedicated to the development of products and tourism that contribute to the conservation of threatened wildlife and to the economic vitality of rural landscapes, is pleased to announce the awarding of Wildlife Friendly™ Certification to Wild Kaapi™ coffee company.

Tiger in the Western Ghats. Photo: Ramki Sreenivasan

Tiger in the Western Ghats. Photo: Ramki Sreenivasan

Wild Kaapi™ emerged out of a scientific effort to measure on-farm biodiversity, market dynamics and the management actions of more than 1100 farmers in India’s Western Ghats. The Western Ghats of India are a global biodiversity hotspot home to the largest population of wild tigers, elephants and endemic amphibians and birds not found anywhere on the planet. The coffee landscapes of Karnataka present ideal conditions for promoting wildlife-friendly practices in coffee production.

Wild Kaapi’s coffee is sourced from coffee farms that are now certified Wildlife Friendly™ through rigorous scientific audits for birds, butterflies, mammals, amphibians and trees. The vision for the company is to build sustainable livelihoods and create a network of coffee growers who foster thriving populations of wildlife on their lands while delivering the highest quality of freshly roasted coffee to consumers.

WildKaapiCoffeeAvinash Sosale co-founder of Wild Kaapi™ explains “Our company has established new standards for supporting wildlife on coffee farms in the Ghats through a certification program which incorporates local expertise and knowledge optimizing the ecological, social and economic value of coffee production landscapes. We believe innovation and partnerships based on rigorous science will forge new paths for conservation.”

At launch Wild Kaapi™offers single origin coffees from Wildlife Friendly™ farms in the Chikmagalur District in Karnataka, the birthplace of coffee in India. The freshly roasted coffee is sold online at www.wildkaapi.com and can be custom ground to the coffee connoisseur brewing preferences be it an Aeropress, Chemex or Moka Pot.

“Agricultural lands are increasingly important as critical refuges and corridors for wildlife globally who are facing multiple threats from climate change to habitat conversion” said Julie Stein, Executive Director and co-founder of WFEN. “We are thrilled to welcome Wild Kaapi™ as the first Wildlife Friendly™ coffee company in the world.  Wild Kaapi™ sets a high standard for ensuring biodiversity on coffee farms in India’s Western Ghats truly ensuring that we as consumers are empowered to support wildlife conservation and sustainable agricultural with every cup of coffee – a true triple bottom line win.”

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About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

WFEN and its certification programs represent grassroots farmers, ranchers, artisans, indigenous peoples and conservation heroes from around the world including two World Bank Development Marketplace Award winners, a U.N. Equator Prize winner, leadership in the world’s marketplace for REDD+ Carbon Offsets, a Time Hero for the Planet, and a National Geographic Big Cats Initiative grantee. Certified Wildlife Friendly® products contribute to the conservation of over twelve million hectares of diverse wetlands, forests, and grasslands; protect keystone endangered species in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin and North America, including the Snow Leopard, Tiger, Elephant, Cheetah, Red Panda, and Wolf; and benefit over 200,000 people through increased food security, income and employment.  For more information visit: www.wildlifefriendly.org

 

Wild Kaapi

Visit: www.wildkaapi.com

https://www.facebook.com/wildkaapi

https://www.instagram.com/wildkaapi

https://www.twitter.com/wildkaapi

 

Contact:
Wild Kaapi, Avinash Sosale: Avinash@wildkaapi.com

Wildlife Friendly, Julie Stein: Julie@wildlifefriendly.org