About Us
Partner Organizations
Main Partner Organizations

The Frankfurt Zoological Society is an international conservation organization managing projects in 18 countries and four continents. FZS’ vision is a world where wildlife and wild lands are cherished and sustainably protected for their intrinsic and economic value to present and future generations. Worldwide, 1277 colleagues work for FZS conservation projects where national parks and wilderness areas need their support. FZS’ partners include local communities, conservation authorities, national park administrations, and other NGOs.

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organization that takes on the complete responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. They currently manage 22 national parks and protected areas in 12 countries covering over 20 million hectares in: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan Zambia and Zimbabwe. African Parks utilizes a clear business approach to conserving Africa’s wildlife and remaining wild areas, securing vast landscapes and carrying out the necessary activities needed to protect the parks and their wildlife. African Parks maintains a strong focus on economic development and poverty alleviation of surrounding communities to ensure that each park is ecologically, socially, and financially sustainable in the long-term.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s story began in 1991 when Martin Copley purchased Karakamia Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Australia. It has since grown to become the largest private owner and manager of land for conservation in Australia. Through support from donors and innovative partnerships with Indigenous groups, governments and landholders, AWC now owns, manages or works in partnership across more than 12.9 million hectares. Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s vision is to see a world where Australia’s biodiversity is valued and effectively conserved by an engaged community. AWC manages the biggest network of feral cat and fox-free land on mainland Australia where we they successfully reintroduced endangered species to their former habitats. They also control or eradicate invasive ungulates and weeds, and implement one of the World’s largest fire management programs.

Rewilding Argentina is a non-governmental organization that works to reverse the species extinction crisis. Formed in 2010 by Argentinian conservationists, they inherited the legacy of Tompkins Conservation. They collaborate with national and provincial governments, as well as with other organizations and philanthropists, to protect and restore natural ecosystems and to develop biological corridors in Latin America. Rewilding Argentina works to recover complete and functional ecosystems through rewilding, based on their respect for the intrinsic value of all species, and by the goal of establishing development models that allow rural communities to live in harmony with the natural world. As results of their work, they have created or expanded 10 national or provincial parks in northern and southern Argentina. They are also continental leaders and pioneers in the reintroduction of locally extirpated species.
Sponsors

Oak Foundation commits its resources to address issues of global, social, and environmental concern, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged. Through their grant-making, they support others to make the world a safer, fairer, and more sustainable place to live. The Oak Foundation team believes that justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity are essential for building strong, thriving communities where everyone can reach their full potential.
Our Team
Project Coordination & Main Trainers
Ignacio Jiménez
Our training program is coordinated by Ignacio Jiménez, a conservation practitioner who has managed conservation programs in Central America, Madagascar, South America, and Spain for the last three decades. Ignacio has designed and coordinated more than 20 training courses on applied and interdisciplinary aspects of biodiversity conservation in 8 countries. He wrote and codirected the 27 minutes “Rewilding Iberá” documentary, and directed and/or wrote dozens of short videos in Argentina, Brazil and Spain. He’s also given a TEDex talk and lectures at several universities, including Yale and Duke. His research and conservation efforts have been featured in dozens of scientific journals, books and other publications. In 2022 he organized and coordinated the First Global Meeting for Translocation Practitioners. He’s the author of the conservation manual “Effective Conservation: Parks, Rewilding & Local Development” (Island Press), which compiles the ideas taught and learnt in years of intensive courses and actual conservation programs to present within a cohesive framework all major aspects that need to be taken in account in any conservation program. Presently, Ignacio works to establish new protected areas and manages a national communication campaign to promote protected areas in Spain.
Jorge Gibbons
Jorge acts as the main trainer on aspects related to team management. Jorge is a biologist who has spent the last two decades training business and nonprofit organizations in the fields of leadership development, conflict management and team effectiveness. Curious and passionate about human behaviour and performance, Jorge has designed and facilitated numerous training projects involving participants at all levels, from senior global leaders to frontline supervisors. As a practitioner of experiential education, his philosophy is that “one cannot think his way into changed behavior,” but rather one has to “act his way into changed behavior.” Jorge has coordinated training and coaching workhops for corporations like Thomsom Reuters, ExxonMobil, Roche, Biogen, Deutsche Bank, Imerys, Ernst & Young, and Salesforce, but also for conservation organizations based in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.
Astrid Vargas
Astrid brings thirty-five years of experience in biodiversity conservation, community engagement, ecosystem restoration, and Art 4 Action. Her work has made a positive impact on nature restoration initiatives across Europe, North America, South America, and Madagascar. Astrid is a wildlife veterinarian with a Ph.D. in Conservation Biology. She has built and led teams across three continents and spanning multiple countries. Her teams have delivered results through managing the complex, cross-disciplinary relationships between conservation science and research, technical practicalities, local communities and businesses, NGOs and international organisations, as well as local and international political imperatives. Astrid has coordinated International Conservation Action Plans for the recovery of two critically endangered species—the Iberian Lynx in Spain and the black-footed ferret in North America. This involved managing technical teams at the main breeding centres, coordinating efforts among 11 breeding facilities, and implementing National Recovery Plans in the USA, Canada, Spain and Portugal. In Madagascar she helped establish a new protected area in the North of the country. In collaboration with Commonland and local community members, Astrid was key in establishing the ALVELAL initiative—a large scale landscape and community restoration program in Southern Spain. Presently, ALVELAL is considered a beacon initiative in landscape restoration.