Our Commitment

Research, Community Work and Protection

Cross-generational commitment to nature and species conservation by supporting audited NGOs and conservation projects around the globe.

Caring For Conservation Fund

Research, community work and the implementation of concrete and solution-oriented conservation measures
C4C is convinced that this triad forms the basis for successful and sustainable nature and species conservation.
Learn more about the individual pillars, backgrounds, facets, and approaches below.

Protection

The protection and conservation of valuable natural areas is one of the most important actions in nature and species conservation. However, due to continuously rising population numbers, more and more habitats and ecosystems around the world are having to give way to humans, making their protection a growing challenge, but at the same time an even more urgent task.

In particular, the remaining intact ecosystems require our attention. Thus, it is important to actively seek solutions in cooperation with local populations and stakeholders in order to preserve these habitats. Unfortunately, this is often hampered by a lack of alternatives on the labour market, as well as a lack of resources and lobby interests.

Land protection in emerging economies further raises the question of whether the relocation of local communities to other regions by “foreign western organisations” is morally justifiable. This point underlines the importance of cooperation, integration, and seeking alternatives with the local population.

The Caring for Conservation Fund focuses on the roots of the problems and thus tackling the causes. We are solution-oriented and cost-conscious. Therefore, we rely on close cooperation with local communities and jointly seek a meaningful and sustainable alternative to strengthen both conservation and local people. In addition, we work with a number of experienced NGOs that have been audited by us, who share this objective and whom we know personally.

Fighting the Causes

Caring for Conservation is familiar and experienced with this issue. Our approach focuses on the roots of the problems and thus allows us to tackle their causes Thus, we rely on close cooperation with local communities and jointly seek a meaningful and sustainable alternative to strengthen both nature conservation and the local people. In addition, we work with a number of experienced NGOs that share this vision.

Research

Research is an essential component of sustainable nature and species conservation. It is suitable both for identifying problems and for measuring the effectiveness of implemented nature conservation measures. Only if the crucial problems influencing nature and species conservation in a region are understood it is possible to come up with measures in a targeted manner to achieve success.

Research proves useful in understanding direct factors influencing animals and plants, as well as in connection with the local population. In addition, cooperation with scientific institutions such as universities or research communities opens up a wide range of expertise and financial possibilities, which, if used wisely, can achieve significant successes in nature conservation.

Dr Michael Riffel and Tom Riffel, the founders and directors of C4C, have a scientific background and place a corresponding emphasis on supporting meaningful and scientifically guided conservation projects. Caring for Conservation also welcomes budding conservationists and collaborates with universities so that students and interested laypeople alike can gain practical experience in research and scientific work.

Community Work

The cooperation with the local population and their involvement in conservation measures is indispensable. Local public relations work and the strengthening of economic performance in local communities make up an integral part of sustainable nature and species conservation. Without long-term income security, the efficiency and acceptance of any conservation work is severely limited.

Ensuring sustainability in local communities is usually done by providing training, education and employment opportunities for inhabitants, who in this way become advocates for conservation themselves.

Caring for Conservation makes its own assessment of the situation on the ground, i.e., the communities’ situation and the work of NGOs that support them. If C4C considers these to be meaningful and sustainable, this paves the way for cooperation and support. We only support those we know personally and whose work we can see as fit for purpose for nature conservation.