The Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) is a nature conservation charity offering funding, profile, and training to proven grassroots conservation leaders in the Global South. Whitley Awards - our flagship conservation prizes - are won competitively and are worth £40,000 in project funding over one year.
It ran from 12:00 PM, 30 November 2021 to 12:00 PM, 7 December 2021
Registered Charity in England and Wales (1081455)
£100,000
£100,325
Donations
52
Championed by The Reed Foundation
Multiple locations
In recent years, our natural world has come under increasing pressure. The planet is facing unprecedented loss of species, accelerating threats from climate change, and large-scale habitat destruction. As these interconnected challenges grow, we face causing irreversible damage to the natural processes that support our existence. The impact of this is devastating, and yet, less than 3% of philanthropic funding goes towards environment-related issues. We believe that this can and must change.
We need to support local leaders who are running effective conservation projects in those countries experiencing the greatest biodiversity loss. In-country nationals have the local knowledge and skills to address key issues. The benefits extend not just to halting and reversing wildlife decline but, working with communities, their projects can also address a range of social issues, such as human poverty, using strategies that encourage economic growth, all while tackling environmental issues.
The network of Whitley awardees that I have come to meet is inspiring and helps expand my perspectives on my own work. This is one of the things I value the most of the whole Whitley experience.
“The greatest legacy of WFN is the growing network of winners themselves who represent some of the best conservation leaders in the world”.
“This partnership was so powerful that it allowed us to create and leave huge conservation areas as our legacy for the planet and future generations. WFN believed in us”
"The support of organizations such as WFN ...makes all the difference."