Heart of Wild: The Mission
The Heart of Wild mission is to ensure a sustainable future for wildlife and its habitat by addressing one of the key challenges of conserving biodiversity hotspots: a lack of economic opportunities for local communities.
THE PROBLEM.
Not only do economically challenged countries have some of the highest birth rates (with the ten highest existing in Africa), but many of these underdeveloped nations happen to contain the highest levels of biodiversity on the planet.
When a lack of economic opportunity exists in these regions a number of conservation challenges are likely to arise, such as poaching of endangered species and illegal harvesting of their habitats.
Unfortunately, for many people living in these high human-wildlife conflict areas these actions have become less of a choice and more a sole means of income.
As the human population continues to increases in biodiversity hotspots the pressures placed on wildlife and its habitat also increase. This often translates into a diminished ability for wildlife and humans to peacefully and sustainably coexist. In turn, many of our planet’s wildlife species are becoming threatened with extinction.
THE SOLUTION.
At Heart of Wild we understand there is no single solution to the threats facing wildlife and its habitat. Instead we aim to support holistic approaches to global conservation by addressing one key area: economic opportunity. Our social business model utilizes the power of a digital marketplace to connect people living in high-priority conservation regions with global consumers, and in turn bring new, sustainable economic opportunity to individuals living in these areas.
To accomplish this we work with talented artisans in biodiversity hotspots and help bring their handcrafted products to the global market. From fashion items such as jewelry and handbags to one-of-a-kind home decor, all the products featured in the Heart of Wild Marketplace are handcrafted with purpose, each with a unique story to tell.
At Heart of Wild we understand there is no single solution to the threats facing wildlife and its habitat. Instead we aim to support holistic approaches to global conservation by addressing one key area: economic opportunity. Our social business model utilizes the power of a digital marketplace to connect people living in high-priority conservation regions with global consumers, and in turn bring new, sustainable economic opportunity to individuals living in these areas.
To accomplish this we work with talented artisans in biodiversity hotspots and help bring their handcrafted products to the global market. From fashion items such as jewelry and handbags to one-of-a-kind home decor, all the products featured in the Heart of Wild Marketplace are handcrafted with purpose, each with a unique story to tell.
LEARN MORE HERE: THE MODEL.
SHOP HERE: THE MARKET.