WLT
 An
international conservation charity, The World
Land Trust (WLT) is based in Halesworth,
Suffolk, UK. Founded in 1989 as the World Wide Land
Conservation Trust, the WLT works to preserve the world's
most biologically important and threatened lands.
The WLT has protected over 300,000 acres of habitats
rich in wildlife, in South America, Belize, Costa Rica,
the Philippines, and the UK.
It differs from most other international non government
organisations as it emphasises the importance of supporting
local conservation groups, always working through local
partners. Also, unlike the majority of international
organisations the WLT uses local expertise when running
projects, rather than putting their own people in charge..
The World
Land Trust relies on donations from the
public to help purchase land. And although the WLT raises
funds for purchase overseas, the management and ultimate
ownership is with the appointed local conservation group.
The WLT is strongly opposes "green colonialism".
How this works is that the WLT assists with technical
expertise, (eg fundraising, publicity, marketing etc)
but wherever possible supports the development of local
expertise, by funding study tours and training.
Encouraging small-scale, sustainable development, means
projects can become financially independent, which contrasts
with many international projects that have lavish funding
initially, but cannot be sustained without grant aid.
The World
Land Trust does not hoard reserves of cash
– believing that it should spend as much as possible
on land purchase and management, and the development
of sustainable income for the reserve. It tries to have
enough funds for three months operation.
Support the World Land Trust
Supporting
the WLT helps protect the habitat of the Spectacled
Bear which is on the Endangered Species List
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