Celebrating our Fellow Grassroots Organisations
There are so many amazing conservation organisations out there giving it their all to support and improve our precious natural environment that it would be absolutely impossible to namedrop them all here, but today we are celebrating just a few of our very favourites from across the globe. All of which are doing amazing work, and all of which you can get involved with or support today!
ARCHELON is The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, a country which is host to the world’s largest breeding population of loggerhead sea turtles (IUCN Vulnerable status, 2015), as well as some green sea turtle (IUCN Endangered status, 2004) populations. Crucially, there are a large number of nesting sites in Greece, all of which are vulnerable to an array of human impacts. Since 1984(!), ARCHELON has been actively working to better understand and protect local sea turtle populations, which means that they now have some of the longest running conservation datasets globally. The organisation has been a powerhouse in protecting local populations through directly monitoring sea turtle activity, educating local communities and tourists on the habits and importance of nesting sea turtles, and establishing a rescue centre in the centre of Greece.
ARCHELON has had great success in safeguarding sea turtle nesting sites, and has even seen an uptick in the number of annual nests laid on some of their monitored beaches, thanks to the habitat and direct nest protection ARCHELON has provided. Last year a whopping 6,700 nests were recorded in one bay! ARCHELON takes on volunteers every summer, and you can also visit their rescue centre to see some of their work - check it out here.
Back on land, Care for Wild have the largest orphaned rhino sanctuary in the world, and are dedicated to working towards a future for thriving black and white rhino populations in protected, biodiverse ecosystems. Care for Wild work to quickly respond to and rescue rhinos in life-threatening situations, rehabilitate individuals and facilitate gradual reintroductions into the wild for this keystone species. They also support and empower local communities to act as good environmental stewards, and have a strong and efficient anti-poaching team. But beyond this, and crucially for the future of rhino populations in the Greater Barberton Nature Reserve (South Africa), Care for Wild promote a holistic, well-rounded approach to environmental protection. This includes working to reclaim and preserve the Noordkaap River, protect riparian tree zones, and remove invasive plant species.
Alarmingly the number of rhinos poached in South Africa in 2023 rose to 499 individuals, increasing for the third year running after a consistent decline following the peak of the crisis in 2014. As a keystone species, rhinos are ecosystem engineers, and an integral part of the South African ecosystem but right now, black rhinos are critically endangered, and white rhinos are near threatened. The work that Care for Wild does is pivotal in creating a future where these important animals can thrive. That’s why we are so happy to be partnering with them, and supporting their work as part of our upcoming Kruger Experience.
The Tropical Research and Coral Conservation (TRACC) Centre is nestled in the centre of the Celebes Sea, working to combat the effects of local fish bombing practices on coral reefs surrounding nearby islands. Yes, you read that right…fish bombing. Unfortunately, this practice is somewhat commonplace for local, undocumented, fishermen who have no alternative source of income. However, decades of this destructive fishing practice has decimated the local coral reefs, and the ecosystems that they support. When corals take such a long time to grow, reestablishing a thriving reef on a dead and fragmented seabed is an uphill battle with no easy fix. TRACC is combatting this through a combo of monitoring ecosystem health, coral planting and rebuilding coral substrate, and researching alternative ways to directly restore reef health (hello 3D printed reefs!). With more than a decade’s experience in the area, TRACC have built an important relationship with local communities, as well as a solid bank of data detailing both baseline and current information on reef structures and populations. The work that TRACC is doing on trialling novel techniques for coral restoration could also be applied on a much bigger scale, so we are excited to see what this organisation comes out with next!
You can read more about TRACC’s work, or even sign up to volunteer with them, here. Several of the PWYL team members have helped out with TRACC’s work on Pom Pom Island (including myself), and would be happy to share more about their experience with you!
Surfrider Foundation Australia
Bringing it closer to home, Surfrider Foundation Australia is a grassroots (or, as they put it, ‘sea-roots’) organisation founded in 1991 dedicated to protecting Australia’s coastline for the benefit of all those who depend upon it. Surfrider represents the voice of the coast by leading important campaigns for both local and national issues impacting the coastline around Australia. The organisation now has 15 local branches across Australia, ready to help support and tackle local coastal issues, as well as a strong, centralised team working to address large-scale issues impacting the entire Australian coastline. Understanding the real issues that are facing Australia’s oceans and empowering people to both act locally and take a stance politically is what sets Surfrider apart. Without organisations like this working to educate people and mobilise communities to take action, driving meaningful changes to benefit our oceans is a real challenge. See their latest campaigns, and how you could get involved, here.
These are only some of the extensive network of organisations unitising to protect and advocate for our natural environment! Be sure to follow us on Instagram where we showcase likeminded organisations monthly!
Written by Charlotte Hansford
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