Humpback whale's tail flukes break through the ocean surface in a spray of water.

Transparency

See how your support is used

Your support helps secure real wilderness, one square metre at a time

When you support Wilderness International, you deserve to know where your donation goes, how it's used, and what it helps us achieve. We’re committed to being open about our finances, our conservation work, and the forests we protect.

Transparency helps us stay accountable to our supporters, our partners, and the places we work to protect.

Upward view of tall forest trees with dense green foliage and canopy against bright sky.

Our impact so far

about 21.6 million

square metres of wilderness

purchased and secured through registered ownership (as of May 2026)

about 20.5 million

square metres of wilderness

already funded through donations from supporters

about 1.23 million

tonnes of CO2

permanently stored in the biomass of these forests

Picture gallery

Explore a selection of pictures from our work.
Misty mountain landscape with dense coniferous forests and a calm lake in the foreground under cloudy skies.
A short caption for this picture.
Sunrise over a dense rainforest canopy shrouded in morning mist beneath a golden-orange sky.
A short caption for this picture.
Aerial view of a turquoise lake surrounded by dense forests and steep rocky cliffs at sunrise
A short caption for this picture.
Misty rainforest canopy at dawn with towering trees beneath an overcast sky and morning fog.
A short caption for this picture.
Misty mountain landscape with dense coniferous forests and a calm lake in the foreground under cloudy skies.
Canada's temperate coastal ecosystems thrive with your support. Your donations fuel conservation efforts that protect these vital habitats.
Misty rainforest canopy at dawn with towering trees beneath an overcast sky and morning fog.
Your support funds on-the-ground conservation efforts that safeguard the ecosystems, wildlife, and the Indigenous communities who call the Peruvian Amazon rainforest home.

Where your donation goes

Your support helps protect wilderness for the long term

You deserve to know how your donation is used, so you can give with confidence. We’re committed to being open about where your support goes and how it helps protect wilderness. Here’s how your donations are used:
CAN$1.50 = 1m2

Initial costs

38 cents Land purchase
20 cents Environmental education & communication

Long-term costs

19 cents Long-term protection & research
18 Cents Preparing for land purchase
5 cents Operating costs

See what your support protects

Read our Impact Report to see how your gift becomes permanent wilderness protection. Discover the decisions behind our projects, how land is secured, and the real progress we're making together.
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Open magazine displaying an overview map of protected forest areas in Canada and the US, alongside a

Download the 2008-2025 Impact Report

How we protect wilderness for the long term

  • Brown bear wading through green marsh grass near a mountain lake surrounded by dense coniferous forest and snowy peaks.

    We carefully assess the land we protect

    Together with scientific partners and conservation experts, we prioritize areas with high biodiversity, strong carbon storage in living biomass, geographic location, and urgent threats. Before any purchase, we confirm the data on site through rapid assessments. This approach ensures that we protect forests where protection matters most.
  • Bearded man in profile holding binoculars against lush green foliage background.

    We protect beyond the purchase

    Our work continues long after a purchase is complete. Donations help fund Forest Guardians, monitoring expeditions, research, environmental education, and partnerships with local organizations. We also set aside funds for ongoing costs such as property taxes, helping us care for the areas we protect over the long term.
  • A hand touching wet green leaves on a mossy tree trunk in nature.

    We put legal protection in place

    The land we purchase is legally registered, with all three Wilderness International organizations (Canada, Germany, Peru) named on the land title. This shared ownership structure helps ensure that the protected land remains protected for the long term.

Protect precious wilderness with your donation

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Independent review

Wilderness International has undergone independent assessments in Germany covering our impact, transparency, and organizational practices. These reviews reflect our commitment to responsible conservation and open, accountable use of donations.

For U.S. donors, we work with American Friends of Canadian Conservation (AFCC), which has formally qualified Wilderness International as a partner for processing U.S. donations.

Transparency FAQ

  • How do you ensure protected land remains protected?

    We purchase and legally register land before we begin asking for donations. Donations then re-finance the purchase of land that is already secured, so your support helps protect a specific area that Wilderness International already owns.

    All three Wilderness International organizations (Canada, Germany, Peru) are registered as owners on the land title. This shared ownership structure means no single entity or individual can unilaterally decide to sell or alter the property. Our bylaws require the forest to remain untouched, prohibit resale, and limit access to research and documentation.

  • After a land purchase, how are land stewardship programs and ongoing costs funded?

    Purchasing land is the first step in our conservation work. To ensure lasting protection, every donation includes a portion for ongoing stewardship, including our local Forest Guardian program, monitoring and research expeditions, environmental education, and communication.

    Ongoing costs remain comparatively low, and we’ve invested a portion of donations to generate annual returns that help cover permanent costs such as property taxes without relying on new donations.

  • Where can I explore the areas you protect?

    You can explore the forests you help protect through our online maps. They show property boundaries, areas that have already been permanently protected, and recent aerial imagery.

    Secret Forest - Peru
    Misty Forest - Canada

    Your conservation certificate also includes the exact GPS coordinates of the area your donation helped protect.

  • How are local communities involved in your work?

    Long-term conservation only works when we partner closely with local communities. We invest directly in local partnerships and education alongside our land protection efforts:

    • Canada: We collaborate with local groups to build environmental programming, partner with science organizations, and work alongside First Nations communities.
    • Peru: Our local Forest Guardians patrol reserves, partner with local organizations on sustainable agroforestry initiatives, and run community environmental education programs.

    Learn more about our projects in Canada and Peru.

    Learn about our approach to conservation work.

  • Who is AFCC and what is their role in the donation process?

    TBD