Involvement of local communities in Wildlife Friendly™ enterprises

Enterprises are most successful when they leverage strong community involvement, collaborate with a local conservation organization, and are dedicated to the conservation of wildlife. Forming strong partnerships and avenues of communication on the ground ensures that certification benefits local communities and incentivizes the protection of biodiversity.

Open avenues of communication, and the development of trust with all stakeholders, are critical in enabling the success of local partnerships and enterprise-based approaches.

Forming partnerships early in the project planning process, and involving local partners in the early stages of implementation, helps to ensure local investment of the program itself and stewardship of the species that certification seeks to protect. These partnerships are most successful when communities and local groups see the value in certification and seek out external support themselves.