From Giraffes to Grasslands: 10 Reasons to Stand with African People & Wildlife in 2025

2025 is a landmark year for African People & Wildlife as we celebrate 20 years of protecting wildlife and uplifting communities. This milestone is a time to acknowledge our achievements and launch our ambitions for the future. Our 10 highlights from 2024 are a testament to decades of dedication. If you need more reasons to give, below are 10 ways your generosity will contribute to building a lasting legacy of impact. 

Consider giving $20 per month to honor two decades of progress, or $40 per month to symbolize 20 years of achievements and 20 more years of impact ahead. Together, we can empower communities, protect wildlife, and create a sustainable future.

1. Transforming Coexistence in Mkomazi

Elephant-human conflicts rise as habitats shrink, often leading to crop destruction and dangerous encounters. Our expanded programming in Mkomazi will equip communities with coexistence tools and training to manage these conflicts, ensuring safety for both people and elephants.

2. Celebrating Tanzania’s Biodiversity with Twiga

Launching this year, the Twiga documentary with Ngoteya Wild celebrates the iconic giraffe and its connection to Tanzania’s rich biodiversity. Featuring the role of Maasai pastoralists and healthy rangelands, this film highlights how conservation is powered by local communities.

3. Scaling Mama Asali for Greater Impact

The Women’s Beekeeping Initiative will continue to scale up with a third processing center, empowering more women to create honey-based products. This program not only boosts women’s incomes but also strengthens conservation by supporting pollination and native plant restoration!

4. Building Healthy Communities Through Education

Health education is a cornerstone of resilient communities. In 2025, we will continue integrating topics like disease prevention and family planning into our suite of holistic conservation programming, fostering stronger, healthier advocates for sustainability.

5. Driving Climate Action Through Local Leadership

This year, we are thrilled to celebrate Alais Morindat’s recognition as a National Geographic Explorer. Alais will lead a new initiative to blend traditional Maasai knowledge with modern science to address climate challenges, restore degraded lands, and support his rural community in shaping sustainable futures.

6. Tackling Rangeland Connectivity and Resiliency

Through adaptive land management, invasive species removal, and sustainable grazing, our rangeland programs are creating healthier ecosystems that benefit wildlife and pastoralist communities. Scaling these efforts in 2025 will increase connectivity and resilience across key landscapes.

7. Generating New Opportunities for Women

When women lead, communities thrive. In 2025, we’ll welcome new mentees to our African Women in Conservation program and offer new pathways to female leadership, including our inaugural Women in Conservation Conference, continuing to break barriers and create opportunities for women in natural resources management.

8. Expanding Life-Saving Warriors for Wildlife

Our Warriors for Wildlife are essential to human-wildlife conflict resolution - and we are quickly approaching the 200-officer mark in communities across Tanzania. This year, we’re enhancing their capacity in regions like Mkomazi and Mikumi, equipping these teams to respond to conflicts quickly and effectively.

9. Engaging Communities with ACTIVE™ Solutions

Our ACTIVE™ Community Engagement approach empowers people to tackle conservation challenges head-on with a commitment to lasting change. By blending environmental education, resource management training, and participatory planning, our team reaches across cultures (and borders) to advise conservation programs throughout Tanzania, Southern Africa, and beyond based on our 20 years of experience.

10. Empowering the New Conservationists

Our youth-focused programs inspire the next generation of conservationists. With scholarships, environmental education, and wildlife clubs reaching thousands, we are equipping young leaders to advocate for and steward their communities and environments.

At the heart of our work over the past 20 years is the strength of partnerships—the connections we’ve built with communities, supporters, and organizations who share our vision. These relationships fuel our success and set the stage for a brighter future. Your support makes all the difference.

Let’s make 2025 our most impactful year yet. Join us today!