The Arcadia Fund – protecting threatened habitat through local stewardship.
Pressure is mounting on the world’s remaining natural heritage, including a major threat from our changing climate. The Arcadia Fund is at the forefront of FFI’s work to tackle these pressures and reduce extinctions.
How the Fund works
The Arcadia Fund has been working since 1998 to combat biodiversity loss through land purchase or management, which crucially involves local land stewardship. The Fund protects key habitats at immediate risk and those which influence how surrounding land is used. In some situations the Fund buys land, but in other cases it is safeguarded by changes in management regimes, such as putting in place stewardship agreements. This 'bespoke' approach means the Fund is flexible - it acts quickly, effectively and without bureaucracy.
Local land stewardship
In almost all cases, local people and organizations working in partnership with FFI take on the ownership and management of the land. FFI itself does not hold the land. As soon as the circumstances are right FFI will ensure that local organizations can manage it themselves. It is only through local engagement and governance that habitat protection can be achieved over the long term.
The Fund’s success
Since 1998 the Fund has secured over 4.4 million hectares of threatened habitat, and has directly contributed to the conservation of over 13.9 million hectares, an area equivalent to the American state of Florida and larger than the country of Greece.
• Responding to climate change - our estimates suggest that protection of this land has avoided the release of some 204 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
• Improving local livelihoods - the Fund simultaneously conserves threatened land whilst improving the quality of life for communities, rather than depriving them of a resource they depend on.
• A future for Wild Hunting Dogs, Rhinos and Belize Forests - the Fund has made significant contributions to the conservation of endangered wild hunting dogs in Mozambique, white whiskered spider monkeys in Brazil, eastern black rhinos in Kenya, Ecuadorian Chocó forest, South African fynbos flower meadows and tropical broadleaf forest in Belize.
What’s next?
An Arcadia investment of US$9 million has enabled FFI to raise a further US$53 million since 1998 – we can make your donation go a long way and have a lasting impact.
To find out more about supporting the Arcadia Fund, please contact Jo Coombes at jo.coombes@fauna-flora.org or call +44 (0)1223 571000. For other information regarding the Arcadia Fund please contact abigail.entwistle@fauna-flora.org.
Read more about important Arcadia projects
If you want to help shape the destiny of life on earth before it’s too late, then membership of FFI is a must for you. Join FFI today.
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