In former communist Russia, zapovedniki (wilderness areas) were protected and maintained assiduously for scientific baseline research. However, in the last 15 years these areas have come under dramatic assault, due to slashed budgets, responsibilities being delegated to the Federation States, vast reductions in the social welfare system, and the rise of criminal syndicates. Authorities have little budget or system to cope with the issues. Many of our close colleagues are working diligently on keeping the zapovedniki protected. Kathleen Braden, a geography professor at Seattle Pacific University, provides an overview of some of the issues and her experiences in the Russian zapovedniki in the August 2008 International Journal of Wilderness.
 

WILD announces two new partnerships for the protection of wilderness and large landscapes, primarily focused on the US, but of international importance and relevance. Both partnerships address landscape-scale conservation opportunities and connectivity in North America (to avoid situations like shown in this photo!) and abroad more effectively, with less over-lap and more communication between different working groups. The Center for Large Landscape Conservation, based in Bozeman Montana, is now a program within WILD. The CLLC, lead by Gary Tabor, works in the western US (with strong ties to Australia and Africa) on large landscape issues such as climate change, habitat fragmentation, and more. WILD’s working partnership with Y2Y (Yellowstone to Yukon initiative) is prompted by our welcoming Harvey Locke onboard as WILD’s new Vice President for Conservation Strategy. Locke brings a depth of knowledge and experience to WILD’s work, and has created a bridge between WILD’s international work and the Yellowstone to Yukon initiative.

We know that government officials, land managers, students, researchers, conservation professionals, artists, native peoples and many others will attend WILD9 in November – but WHO are these people?  Just a few that we’ve heard from recently include: a post-graduate student in the Environmental Management Department of Lomomosov Moscow State University; an environmental educator and activist from Jamaica, West Indies; a professor at the Department of Forest Science at the University of São Paula, Brazil; a conservation planner for South African National Parks; a landscape scientist in South Australia; native Pygmy trackers from Lope National Park, Gabon, a student of photojournalism in Colorado, USA, and many more! The Minister of Environment in Mexico has just sent invites to his peers in Ministries from 35 nations! Be a part of this diverse gathering for wilderness, register today!

Protecting wilderness is a great way to address climate change, but very few people know about it! You can help spread the word by creating an action with 350.org for 24 October 2009. Take a hike in your favorite wilderness, do a presentation on the wilderness you are working to protect or create your own special way to show the importance of protecting wilderness because of it's crucial role in addressing climate change. Send us your photos - upload them on Flickr - talk about them on Twitter! Please use the tag #350WILD9 so that we can track our collective actions!

We’d like to send a very special thank you to a donor whom we never knew. Kathy Huebner passed away late last year, and generously dedicated a portion of her estate to protect wilderness, world-wide. Kathy was impressed by our work and quietly added us to her Will.  We are truly humbled by her generosity and vision for wild-nature. Her donation gives WILD strength during these trying economic times, and allows us to continue to achieve the conservation goals we've planned.  Thank you Kathy!

Have you considered a bequest? Our staff is available to talk with you about creating a legacy gift.  We hope that you’ll consider supporting wilderness not just in your lifetime, but for generations to come.  You can contact the WILD office at (303) 442 8811 or via email.

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