Wildlife Works

Employing over 1,000 people worldwide, Wildlife Works is a global leader in using REDD+ to combat environmental degradation and reduce deforestation-related emissions. The company directs millions of dollars to indigenous populations in critical forests, ensuring that communities benefit from preserving local landscapes and promoting wildlife-friendly development. These payments include direct revenue for self-determined development plans and investments in infrastructure, education, medical care, social programs, and job creation.

Mike Korchinsky, a Canadian-born entrepreneur now based in the U.S., founded Wildlife Works in 1997 to protect wildlife-rich forests by offering alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture and poaching. The company began with an eco-factory in Kasigau, Kenya, which used financing from selling organic, fair-trade apparel to support local sustainable development and wilderness conservation. By 2008, Korchinsky and his team were pioneering efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation through the United Nations' REDD+ initiative, promoting the role of carbon markets in financing global forest conservation.

Wildlife Works continues to expand its portfolio of REDD+-funded projects, positioning itself as a leading organization in this field. From the Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project in Kenya, the company actively promotes conservation. It protects endangered species by compensating forest communities for their efforts.

They have received numerous awards for their community-centered conservation efforts, including Telly Awards for their educational films and recognition from the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance for their work in biodiversity protection and climate change mitigation.

The company's current projects include large-scale initiatives such as the Mai-Ndombe REDD+ Project, which protects 300,000 hectares of critical habitat for bonobos and forest elephants, and the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project, which safeguards over 200,000 hectares of natural habitat vital for endangered elephants and other wildlife. Wildlife Works has partnered with over 100,000 community members in Kenya, creating jobs and supporting sustainable economic development. The Kasigau project now employs over 450 people, with more than 90% from the local community and one-third being women.