Why

Conservation action beyond governmental mandate is a vital component of worldwide efforts in protecting species and habitats and in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. The implementation of privately and community owned protected areas as well as company and individual conservation efforts is continuously gaining momentum - including for example innovative approaches in educative tourism. 

The Southern Hemisphere offers a striking amount of such conservation areas and projects, representing a wide range of motivations, sizes, corporate models and stories. Well known types in Africa, for example, are game ranches, game reserves, nature reserves, eco-estates or mountain retreats, amongst many more... These provide a set of invaluable and diverse benefits to society - both tangible and intangible.

We believe that the private landowners, reserve and lodge managers, project managers as well as all other actors and stakeholders behind these approaches are at the forefront of enhancing international conservation through their expertise, skills and local insights - let us share and utilise this knowledge! 

We have the vision of achieving a paradigm shift in the conservation sector towards a global conservation economy for inclusive transformation.

What

PLCnetwork of the Southern Hemisphere is a unique platform and consulting firm with a passion for private, community and company conservation across the global South. Our aim is to induce long-lasting social change for conservation, and conservation for social change.

Our mission is applying a conservationpreneurship approach to implement community development and nature-based solutions together with conservation actors.

Whether you are starting up or are established in the conservation and tourism sector since a long time:

We tell your story!

We promote your conservation area, eco-destination or conservancy!

We support your conservation initiative or community project!

We offer personal connections based on trust!

We promise professionalism and transparency!

We are:

• growing a comprehensive interactive network of Conservation Areas and Projects across the Southern Hemisphere;
• establishing a neutral platform for discussion and interaction around all aspects of private, community and company conservation; at the interface of academia, authorities, industry and citizens;
• becoming a hub for exchanging knowledge, telling stories, addressing challenges, showcasing action, creating collaborations and establishing partnerships;
• attracting individuals and organizations from all backgrounds and sectors to engage in our network;
• avoiding middlemen in the investment chain for conservation and community efforts by offering funding honesty, and channelling 60-90% directly into projects.

PLCnetwork aims to increase the publicity, networking opportunities and business potential for our members as well as the engagement of the public in building resilient conservation economies.

Our network and platform offer an interactive geographical map, a directory of members, individual member profiles, news and stories, an impact hub for listing member initiatives, social media platforms and other tools of outreach, engagement and capacity building.

Further, we encourage the opportunity for any interested member of the public to get involved and contribute via our communication channels, such as Facebook or the provided email addresses. 

Who

Julia developed her passion for social-ecological systems thinking and storytelling in South Africa during her doctorate research and subsequent diverse entrepreneurial endeavours, especially when engaging with stakeholders for conservation impact. She is striving to implement functioning conservation economies which are transformative and inclusive. Julia is published in several scientific articles around this topic.

Dr Julia Baum is the Founder and Director of PLCnetwork

Jonas fosters innovative project ideas and develops collaborations with external partners for PLCnetwork. He lives in Germany and works as Cabin Crew Member in Switzerland.

Jonas Baum is our Innovation Coordinator

Associates & Advisors

Serge is an experienced primatologist and conservation practitioner, residing in Cameroon. He is the Founder of the local NGO Biodiversité-Environnement et Développement Durable (BEDD), is Lecturer at the Garoua Widlife College and member of the IUCN/World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). He is rendering important support to our network in the French-speaking countries of Central- and West-Africa.

Dr Serge Alexis Kamgang is our associate and advisor in francophone Africa

Isabel is the Founder of Earth Awareness, an environmental education, leadership and life skills organisation - and the manager of our member Tswehe Wildlife Reserve. In 2021, Isabel embarked on the MPhil Management Coaching journey at University of Stellenbosch Business School. Her coaching philosophy aims to develop leadership skills in managers and leaders of the non-profit sector as well as communities, looking at using coaching as a conservation transformation tool and method. As passionate adventurer and enthusiastic story teller, writer and public speaker Isabel has published two books which are available via Amazon.

Isabel Wolf-Gillespie is our associate and advisor for Conservation Leadership Coaching

Nathaniel holds a first degree in Geography and Rural Development with a minor in economics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. Currently, he is pursuing a second degree in law. Nathaniel is a non-profit developer and manager with in-person training on project management, marketing and communication in Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania. He is also the winner of the Anti-Corruption Debate by Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII). As the President, he is leading Young Africans for Opportunities (YAFO), and as the CEO the African Institute for Defi and Blockchain (AidBlock).

Nathaniel Dwamena is our associate and advisor for DeFi and Blockchain 

Partners

Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative, South Africa

The Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative aims to link three mega-reserves, the Garden Route National Park, The Baviaanskloof World Heritage Site and the Addo Elephant National Park by means of ecological corridors to protect and restore the integrity of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and to foster sustainable livelihoods. Eden to Addo initiates, facilitates and supports the declaration of protected areas and biodiversity stewardship on private land in South Africa connecting areas of conservation priority.

Sponsors

WholeSurgical

WholeSurgical is a site dedicated to medical professionals, research facilities, hospitals and patients which offers a wide range selection of medical instruments, equipment and parts.

Visit their store: www.wholesurgical.co.za

WholeSurgical sponsored our article 'Conservation innovation using blockchain solutions' featured in Private Game Magazine, Issue 5, 2022. 

  Heartfelt thank you from the entire PLCnetwork team!