Our overall vision is a future where the communities we partner with are actively advocating for, and supporting, the restoration and conservation of the wild landscapes and seascapes we’re working in; and derive meaningful socio-economic and entrepreneurial benefit from these areas.
Wild Impact is an independent, tax-exempt non-profit organisation registered in South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Previously known as Africa Foundation, it was formed in 1992 and has it roots in the communities living adjacent to the Munywana Conservancy in South Africa; a conservancy formed through a partnership between &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve and adjacent landowners, committed to rewilding derelict agricultural land. The founders of &Beyond acknowledged that in order for conservation to be successful, partner communities had to share in the economic benefits of the conservation area and as a result formed a separate, non-profit entity to empower communities.
Phinda’s name, which means ‘the return’, has been prophetic in more than one way. Not only was the wildlife returned to the land but a significant portion of the land has since been returned to its ancestral owners in a ground-breaking agreement between &Beyond and the Makhasa and Mnqobokazi communities, making a marked difference in the lives of local communities. This partnership has been so successful that, as additional pieces of land have been handed back to the communities, they have requested that this land be included in the Munywana, believing that their best financial return would be gained through the use of the land for conservation.
Our vision, 32 years later, remains the same and our footprint has grown to 13 landscapes and over 70 communities but our sense of urgency has increased. &Beyond and Wild Impact have expressed an intention to double our impact in a third of the time:
Our work is anchored by our core methodology which encompasses a “listen, learn and co-create philosophy” recognising that it is our privilege to work collaboratively with our partner communities and conservation stakeholders
The vision for each region is based on its conservation and community potential. Our Theory of Change recognises that resilient communities are needed to conserve earth’s wild places and conserved wild places ensure resilience for humankind. Our work is structured around four focal areas: Conserving Ecosystems, Future Foundations, Tomorrow’s Leaders and Thriving Communities.
Wild Impact is a Public Benefit Organisation registered in South Africa. Reg. No.: 930002115