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Newsletter - January 2026
First of all, we wish you a wonderful year in 2026 and look forward to supporting local initiatives with your help.
We are a non-profit organization dedicated to achieving wildlife conservation through human development and improving lives through wildlife conservation.
Our work centres on field-based conservation initiatives where human development and environmental protection go hand in hand.
We identify, support, and promote initiatives and projects that make a tangible difference on land, in the ocean, and within communities.
Projects and partners are carefully selected directly in the field, based on their relevance, vision, and long-term impact.
Discover more about us here: Post
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We would like to start 2026 by highlighting two inspiring initiatives. |
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Oceans Forward
Protecting Caribbean Marine Ecosystems Through Turtle Conservation, Coral Restoration, and Community-Led Action
Since 2014, Oceans Forward has been creating lasting, community-driven solutions for marine conservation across the Caribbean, including Dominica. By understanding animal movements, protecting habitats, and fostering innovation, the organization builds transformative programs focused on sea turtles, and corals.
Sea Turtles All sea turtle species in the Eastern Caribbean are vulnerable or endangered. Oceans Forward works to end turtle hunting, protect critical habitats, and help these fragile populations recover. Their actions include:
- Supporting 30 beach patrollers across Dominica to stop illegal hunting and move nests from unsafe areas.
- Partnering with local governments and communities to advocate for turtle-safe marine zones and responsible coastal development.
- Collaborating with DomSeTCo to track international turtle movements and strengthen conservation efforts.
Corals Caribbean reefs are under severe threat from Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), which is destroying coral at an alarming rate as well as the global climate warming. These reefs are essential for marine life, coastal protection, and tourism. Oceans Forward is working to protect and restore coral ecosystems through:
- Coral health surveys and long-term monitoring.
- Advocacy for protected marine areas that safeguard coral habitats.
- SCTLD treatment and response programs.
- Coral rescue and incubation, helping reefs repopulation
Learn more about the Coral Rescue Center in Dominica through our latest field encounter with the Oceans Forward team.
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Imvelo Trust
Supporting Communities Around Hwange National Park
The communal area bordering Hwange National Park in the Tsholotsho region is home to some of Zimbabwe's most impoverished communities, living in challenging environmental conditions. Unemployment reaches 85-90%, the soil is infertile, and long dry seasons put immense pressure on both people and wildlife. The park's open boundaries create constant human-wildlife conflict: elephants destroy crops overnight, while lions, jackals, and hyenas prey on livestock. In such circumstances, poaching, often for bushmeat, can become a means of survival. To break this cycle, communities need opportunities to improve their livelihoods, safeguard wildlife, and thrive alongside it.
Conservation-Led Community Development Through CRCI and Imvelo Trust
In partnership with the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative (CRCI), supported by Indigo Earth Foundation, rhinos are being reintroduced into communal lands in a way that directly benefits local people through conservation fees. Complementing this effort, the Imvelo Trust develops community projects focused on education, healthcare, wildlife conservation, and access to essential resources. Funding for these initiatives comes from Imvelo Safari Lodges and charitable foundations established in Zimbabwe, the UK, and the US, enabling tax-efficient donations and long-term impact.
Proven Impact: Wildlife Conservation, Water Security, Healthcare, Education, and Livelihood Programs
For wildlife, Imvelo pioneered the installation and maintenance of solar-powered water pumps across southern Hwange, providing more than 800 million litres of water annually and sustaining over 10,000 elephants each dry season. The presence of safari guests in these areas also helps deter poaching, monitor vital systems, and create jobs for local people.
Over the past decade, Imvelo Trust has achieved significant results:
- 3.5 million school meals served, about 450,000 annually
- The Smile and See program delivering free dental and eye care to nearly 50,000 patients, including life-changing surgeries - Education support, bursaries, school supplies, and wildlife awareness programs
- Maintenance of over 100 boreholes, many solar-powered, providing clean water for communities
- Construction of teacher housing and school infrastructure - Employment opportunities across lodges and conservation projects
- Creation of community gardens promoting sustainable agriculture
Looking Ahead
Many of these initiatives rely on tourism and donor support to continue:
- Expanding school infrastructure and rhino sanctuaries
- Sustaining the Smile and See medical program
- Maintaining water points and garden projects
- Continuing to serve over 450,000 school meals each year
Project priorities are proposed by local communities and guided by a board of Zimbabweans who deeply understand regional needs. Together, CRCI, Imvelo Trust, and Imvelo Safari Lodges are building a model where conservation and community development go hand in hand, giving people a reason to protect rhinos, wildlife, and the ecosystems they share.
Discover how Imvelo Trust’s on-the-ground actions are driving conservation impact in our latest field encounter.
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Thank you for your interest and your trust.
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Indigo Earth Foundation
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