Wildlife Friendly
Introduction
Popularly known for its acronym WFEN, a derivative of its official name, Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network, Inc; Wildlife Friendly was founded in the year 2007 by the convergence of people from different stratification, including conservationists, business owners, farmers, harvesters ranchers, herders, artisans, and indigenous individuals from around the globe. WFEN is a global network built on the premise that not only do wildlife and humans can co-exist on a single planet and survive as neighbor but can also extend beyond the such purview and thrive. The sole mission of WFEN is to ensure the protection of wildlife in wild territories and on agricultural lands by certifying and availing practical tools to businesses that guarantee the coexistence and progression of nature and people. WFEN partners with herders and ranchers ensure that working lands are thoroughly reached and harnessed. As a result of this, these lands in turn allow the survival of wildlife during climate change.
Key Facts & Statistics
Founding Year: WFEN was launched to the world in the year 2007 approximately 15 years ago by a team of 50 experts from diverse fields.
Recognition: WFEN has been named and appeared on the list of top magazines including the Vogue Magazine
Company Type: A non-Profit Organization of Global Network
Market Reach: WFEN
Industry Type: Wildlife, Agriculture, Tourism
Key Achievement: WFEN conserves more than 13 million hectares of different wetlands, grasslands, and forests; protects keystone vulnerable species across the world including, Africa, Asia, Latin, and North America, as well as Europe; and lastly, the WFEN benefits more than 350, 000 individuals and business through increased food security, employment creation, and increase in income and profit margin.
Official Website: www.wildlifefriendly.org
History At A Glance
The WFEN was launched in 2007 when 50 experts from diverse field met at White Oak Conservation Center in Yulee, Florida in the month of March that year in a bid to share their individual’s experiences and view on how best to help promote an economic and business-oriented approach to wildlife conservation which is technically merged with the improvement of livelihood in the majority of the most vulnerable species all around the world. During the summit, the concept of the Wildlife Friendly branding and certification were rigorously addressed, and a team of the committee was selected to further carry out the frameworks of the initiative. Following the success of the selected committee, WFEN was therefore launched to the public in late 2007, and the committee automatically became the Networks’ initial board.
The Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network was primarily built to develop the marketing of products that conserve threatened wildlife in return help contribute to the economic development of local communities.
In the year 2009, after filling out all the necessary papers and document needed for registration, WFEN became a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. However, the registered status of the organization avails it the access to Certified Wildlife Friendly trademark which includes its brand and logo. By that time, the WFEN committee board had expanded a bit more than the previous state with the board made up of private sector as well as nonprofit professionals who are charged with the responsibility of managing and controlling the Network structure and overall operations, while the Certification committee are to be responsible for the management of the brand’s certification rudiments and processes.
However, in the same year 2009, following prior deep research, findings, discussion, and peer review from eco-label programs, WFEN ultimately released its Wildlife Friendly Certification initiative. The initiative opens as a growing program with the ISEAL Alliance, the global association for social and environmental standards as it registered with the status of an eco-label transparency initiative.
In a bid to further promote its newly launched initiative and bring its awareness to the public space, WFEN leverages several digital promoting and advertising means including the creation of websites, frequently release blog posts, creation of a Facebook page as well as a Twitter page. However, while utilizing the marketing means, WFEN ensures it often publishes content that focuses and delve more into what best practice to apply in terms of wildlife conservation while constantly supporting members of society to live in harmony with wildlife.
In June, the year 2011, the organization recorded a total number of 11 enterprises who have become an awardee of its Wildlife Friendly Certification. In essence, WFEN reveals these sets of enterprises are protecting more than 100 vulnerable species in more than 8 million hectares of diverse habitats, including wetlands, grasslands, as well as forests. In addition, WFEN also reveals that more than 200, 000 people who co-exist with wildlife are benefiting from these enterprises through full or part-time employment, or direct ownership.
Meanwhile, products products these enterprises produce include but are not limited to fibers (including yam and handmade products), apparel, jewelry, food, and species; handmade paper, semi-processed ingredients, green energy products, et cetera. The products are sold locally, nationally, and internationally. The certification list involves several top industry-leading enterprises like S&D Group, Whole Foods, and Aveda, as well as several other retailing enterprises that are committed to providing their customers with high-end services while promoting conservation and community development.
As of now, WFEN is constantly working along to ensure the expansion of its Wildlife Friendly Products, however, in another to ensure it attains its goals, WFEN has participated and showcased its products in several Zoo and Aquaria Committing Conservation (ZACC) events as well as global sustainable brands. WFEN is also devoted to continuing to serve as a reliable service provider for World of Good by eBay.
In addition to the organization’s commitment to the social course, it also ensures it provides constants education resources for the certified enterprises as well as avail them access t several of its ongoing educative programs, including the frequent release of research publications to ensure all interested enterprises and individuals share the same wildlife goals and vision.
Resources
In its entirety, WFEN leverages an array of valuable resources to aid its operations and approaches. The list below outlines the resources used>
Conservation Marketing Equation (Report and Worksheet)
The Green Marketing Trends Tool
New AND Evolving Web-bast Marketing
USAID / TRANSLINKS Natural Resources & Development Portal
Approach
WFEN Protects:
WFEN is committed to protecting wildlife in wild places as well as on working lands by availing its certification to cover all enterprises that are seeking and are interested in living in harmony with wildlife. WFEN portrays its commitment, transparency, and integrity of its activities and operations.
WFEN Harness:
WFEN helps equip the power of enterprises and business that return provide biodiversity as well as protection across the world and in addition avail the society with economic opportunities that helps them conform to living harmoniously with wildlife.
WFEN Links:
WFEN links Wildlife Friendly products and processes to consumers which allows top and industry-leading enterprises to vividly differentiate their products in the face of overwhelming competition.
How Wildlife Friendly Achieves Conservation
WFEN achieves conservation via the following channels:
Development, certification as well as promotion of responsible production and tourism practices
Through development along the Wildlife Friendly supply chain and in partnership with international brands
By empowering consumers through enlightenment about the impacts and importance of where and how products are made.
Operations Segments & Products Niches
Tourism
Guides
Operators
Lodges
Resorts
Agricultural
Coffee
Tea
Rice
Peanuts
Peanuts Butter
Honey
Vanilla
Cloves
Essential oils
Vegetable oils
Lamb
Pork
Turkey
Chicken
Botanicals
Goat Cheese
Eggs
Fiber and Handcrafts
Wool ( knitwear)
Felt goods (ornaments, accessories)
Paffia
Silk
Lokhta bark paper goods
Nettle / hemp goods
Hand wooden napkins
Beadwork
Jewelry
Cotton apparel
Other
Bushblock
Biofuel
Carbon Credits
Trademarks
The Certified Wildlife Friendly
Wildlife Friendly
Predator Friendly
Pros and Cons
Pros
Availability of informative, and educative resources to enterprises as well as consumers
Provision of constant support to help improve people’s awareness of Wildlife conservation
WFEN is quite passionate about its mission
Amazing work and organizational culture
Cons
Excess workload
No perks and stipends
No fixed timing
Conclusion
The creation of WFEN has been a colossal blessing to the world. Interestingly, the benefits this enterprise comes with is not just limited to humans living on the planet earth but also by extension, benefits wildlife. WFEN’s mission, vision, and core values indeed represent its purpose and essence of creation as it continually seeks the harmonious co-existence between humans and wildlife while improving the global interdependence of businesses and consumers through its global network.
