Some of the most biodiverse and stunning coral reefs are found in the Philippines. Currently, overfishing not only threatens the natural beauty of the sea, but is devastating the primary source of animal protein for Filipinos. An environmental disaster is quickly turning into a humanitarian crisis. Rare identified a simple solution in one community in the Philippines. By protecting reefs while reducing fishing pressure the community of Apo Island actually saw fisheries rebound. Rare now trains dozens of local leaders, Rare Fellows, to repeat that basic solution so that success in one community eventually becomes the new norm nationwide. That’s essentially what Rare does: find a compelling solution to a conservation problem and repeat it.
Rare trains Fellows to run Rare’s signature Pride campaigns and equips them with the ability to inspire communities to adopt sustainable behaviors through marketing techniques. In the Andes, Fellows ensure sustainable supplies of water to remote communities through community support for better land management. In the Philippines and Indonesia, Fellows empower communities to manage sustainable fisheries that feed hundreds of millions of people. In China, Fellows facilitate community agreements with the government that support wetlands conservation that benefits people and nature.
Conservation is critical to human wellbeing. Humans depend on natural resources in ways that most people do not fully understand. Many Rare Fellows are fighting an uphill battle to protect species and habitats in ways that benefit local communities.
