GlobalGiving Climate Action Fund

Thanks to the support of more than 200 GlobalGivers like you, the five leaders of our inaugural Climate Action Fund cohort are turning the business-as-usual approach to global climate change upside down. Your generosity has not only increased the success of their existing conservation efforts but also sparked the creation of new sustainability initiatives. From training a new generation of coral gardeners in French Polynesia to introducing eco-friendly agricultural practices in Malawi, here’s the latest news from the Climate Action Fund. 

Instituto Chaikuni is playing a vital role in the fight against the devastating forest fires in the Peruvian Amazon. By reintroducing traditional knowledge, their project eliminates destructive slash-and-burn agricultural practices. This spring, the organization held its first course in permaculture design, inspiring many community members to transition to indigenous farming methods which preserve the ecological diversity of the rainforest. When properly maintained, these restored areas provide enough food, medicine, and timber to ensure economic security for local communities while simultaneously offering a refuge to the many incredible animal species which call the Amazon home. 

So far, Instituto Chaikuni has helped participating communities cultivate 8 hectares of productive, ecologically stable agroforestry plots. Learn more.

Sadhana Forest has made tremendous progress towards their goal of ensuring food security for more than 12,500 community members in Samburu, Kenya. Their success is in large part due to increasing levels of local interest.  

“We are seeing the community taking initiative to gather knowledge to independently plant trees at their homes and schoolyards. They are empowering themselves and encouraging each other and they know that we are here at Sadhana Forest to support them with advice, seedlings, and a helpful hand,”  Project Development Officer Mary McCarthy shared. 

As more people join Sadhana Forest’s efforts, they plan to focus on planting food-producing trees near schools to provide nutritious school lunches. Learn More. 

Warm Heart Worldwide’s “Stop the Smoke” campaign is reducing air pollution and helping farmers across Thailand generate income using biochar, an environmentally friendly alternative to harmful fertilizers and destructive slash-and-burn agriculture.

The impact of this project can be felt in stories like this one, which Warm Heart founder Michael Shafer shared with the GlobalGiving team in an article on our Learn Library. 

“Loong Ai was considered too old to help with the corn harvest. At the end of December, when Warm Heart set up its first biochar demonstration, he came to watch. While the others picked corn, Loong Ai quietly made biochar from dawn to dark. By the time the harvest was finished and the rest of the villagers came to make biochar, Loong Ai had made so much money that he bought himself a pair of big water buffalo that he named 'Oon' and 'Jai'—Thai for 'Warm' and 'Heart.'"

The overwhelming success of “Stop the Smoke” in Thailand has now sparked a sister project in Malawi, where 1,000 farmers have already learned how to make and use biochar. Learn more.

Corals for Conservation has launched a new initiative in Moorea, French Polynesia, where organization leader Austin Bowden-Kerby is training a new generation of coral conservationists. In an upcoming workshop series, interns from Fiji, Tahiti, and several other nearby islands will have the opportunity to gain knowledge of coral ecology and conservation. Through education, these young environmental activists will be positioned to save the lives of thousands of rare corals and pursue careers as coral gardners at resorts throughout the islands. By incorporating coral conservation into the fabric of local economies, Corals for Conservation ensures the preservation of these fragile ecosystems for years to come. Learn more.

Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda I.A.P, an alliance of organizations working towards sustainable development in Mexico, is investing in the future of our planet by training the next generation of environmental activists. Sierra Gorda offers courses in holistic land management, biodiversity conservation, and eco-friendly community development, building a culture of sustainability and increasing local resilience in the face of global climate change. Learn more

Thank you for supporting the GlobalGiving Climate Action Fund. Because of you, local climate champions will be able to tackle this global challenge from the ground up. We look forward to sharing more stories of how your generosity is supporting crucial conservation efforts in the coming months! 

With gratitude, 

Nicole Gieselman + the GlobalGiving Team