PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
Building a future in which people live in harmony with nature.
People depend on the natural world—its Sky, Country and Saltwater—for their ways of life.
WWF-Australia's approach recognises that long-term conservation and robust natural resource management is only possible and successful when it is sustained by, and benefits, local people and communities.
We understand that people who live in the places where we work are critical partners in conservation. Our work with local communities has led to transformative results both socially and environmentally. By practising inclusive conservation, we can create new partnerships and ways of working that help both people and nature thrive.
Practising inclusive conservation
WWF-Australia's inclusive conservation approach aims to deliver well-being and equitable outcomes for people as well as restore and regenerate nature.
Learn about our values and how we aim to practise inclusive conservation across the organisation.
How we work
Indigenous engagement on Country
First Peoples have practised and passed down centuries of expertise in Caring for Country. Traditional Knowledge and land management are key to recovering the landscapes and animal populations that were once lost, as well as building back resilience.
Learn how WWF-Australia supports Traditional Owners, Indigenous rangers, Traditional land management practitioners and their communities to help care for Country.
Gender Equity, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)
We are committed to promoting gender equity, disability and social inclusion in our conservation programs as part of our efforts to deliver positive outcomes for people, nature, and climate.
WWF-Australia works closely with partners in this country and across the globe to improve access, participation and power in decision-making processes in conservation for those affected by marginalisation, particularly women and people with disability.
Supporting community development, livelihoods and climate resilience
WWF works globally to promote nature-based solutions and prioritises actions that benefit people, nature and climate. We develop measurable, people-centred initiatives worldwide and emphasise the benefits of protecting and restoring nature to businesses, cities, communities and governments.
This includes Climate Resilient by Nature, an Australian Government initiative, in partnership with WWF-Australia, advancing high-integrity, equitable nature-based solutions to climate change in the Indo-Pacific.
Championing diverse voices
We aim to secure a defining moment for climate, nature and communities to stabilise global warming to 1.5°C. We are doing this by building networks that spread awareness around COP31, supporting decision-making processes that elevate First Nations and Pacific experience and knowledge and working with the WWF international network to magnify collective climate action.
Implementing safeguard frameworks
WWF is committed to safeguarding people and environmental landscapes where we work. Safeguarding requires us to take measures to protect the health, well-being, and rights of people and the environment. This includes child safeguarding and the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
WWF embraces a human rights-based approach mandated across all our work by our core standards – the Statements of Principles on Human Rights, Gender Equality, and Indigenous Peoples and the Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework.
