Forest for People (FFP) was established by founder and world-renowned conservation expert, Leif Cocks, as a result of his 25+ year career working with orangutans, other rainforest fauna, and supporting the indigenous rainforest communities to live and prosper sustainably within the last remaining viable rainforest ecosystems.
FFP projects not only include direct support to indigenous rainforest communities through projects such as childhood nutrition and education, but also helping the communities develop sustainable forms of agriculture under the rainforest canopy. And further, helping source both markets and fair prices for the commodities produced. Other initiatives include the support for sustainable eco tourism.
FFP works to support both ‘hunter gather’ and ‘slash and burn agriculture’ communities. Both practices were sustainable over centuries, until their ancestral lands have been eroded by the conversion into unstable mono cultures, such as palm oil, pulp paper and rubber.
It is our goal to help the transition to new agricultural practices, such as jungle rubber, shade coffee, and vanilla, etc. under the rainforest canopy, so that the communities can live and prosper sustainability within the last variable rainforest ecosystems, along with the natural fauna and flora.
All indigenous rainforest communities live and prosper within sustainable rainforest ecosystems.
To ensure rainforest communities prosper in harmony with the flora and fauna.
Since its formation in 1998, Wildlife Conservation International has contributed more than AUD$31 million directly into orangutan conservation projects and has earned a reputation amongst its partners and donors for being financially responsible and transparent.
We are committed to making sure your donations work as hard as possible. We don’t have an office - each member of our team works from their own home, using their own electricity, internet and infrastructure. This helps keep our overheads amongst the very lowest in the sector, and ensures as much of your donation as possible goes straight to where it’s needed most.
We are also working hard to increase and secure our future income streams. Our big goal is to raise $20 million dollars every year for ten years, until we can make each ecosystem economically as well as environmentally sustainable, because we know that’s the only way we can secure the long term survival of rainforest ecosystems. And we will achieve this, with your help!
Summary of Achievements in 2022/23
Forest for People is a project of Wildlife Conservation International (WCI) founded in Perth, Western Australia in 1998. It is also the registered charity in New Zealand that exclusively raises funds for this humanitarian cause.
Over two decades WCI grew considerably due to the valuable support of donors and the relationships that were established with other conservation groups, local authorities and businesses. Initially saving orangutans, through The Orangutan Project, it also started saving other Critically Endangered species such as Sumatran tigers (International Tiger Project) and Sumatran elephants (International Elephant Project). Finally starting its humanitarian project Forests for People. Annual Reports
For more information about our achievements, fundraising and distributions of funds visit our latest annual report.
For more information about our achievements, fundraising and distributions of funds visit our latest annual report.
Wildlife Conservation International comissions an independent accounting firm to audit our organisation each year. The audit information is submitted to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and other regional authorities where required.
For our most recent financial year (2022-2023) Wildlife Conservation International commissioned SW Audit to perform the audit.
View 2022-2023 Audited Financial Statement (Wildlife Conservation International Limited)
View 2022-2023 Audited Financial Statement (Australian Orangutan Project)
View 2021-2022 Audited Financial Statement (Wildlife Conservation International Limited)
View 2021-2022 Audited Financial Statement (Australian Orangutan Project)
View 2020-2021 Audited Financial Statement (Wildlife Conservation International Limited)
View 2020-2021 Audited Financial Statement (Australian Orangutan Project)
View 2019-2020 Audited Financial Statement (Wildlife Conservation International Limited)
View 2019-2020 Audited Financial Statement (Australian Orangutan Project)
View 2018-2019 Audited Financial Statement (Wildlife Conservation International Limited)
View 2018-2019 Audited Financial Statement (Australian Orangutan Project)
View 2017-2018 Audited Financial Statement
View 2016-2017 Audited Financial Statement
We are working to save up to eight ecosystems of the right type, shape and size of rainforest, which will allow the rainforest ecosystems to be environmentally sustainable, as well as support viable populations of Critically Endangered species. In addition, we are working with the indigenous communities to develop wildlife friendly agricultural systems under the rainforest canopy, so the ecosystems become not only environmentally sustainable , but economically sustainable.
This will require us to increase income to AUD$20 million annually.
Wildlife Conservation International is committed to social equity within all of our conservation projects and programs, and within our organisation. This is consistent with the essential characteristics of our organisation’s mission and concern for social justice and equity.
Wildlife Conservation International will at all times endeavour to:
Wildlife Conservation International will not discriminate based on a person’s: race, colour, national or ethnic origin, nationality, religion, sex or gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, intellectual or physical impairment and disability.
Wildlife Conservation International complies with all relevant legislation in its pursuit of equal employment opportunities.