ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Dedicated to the Idea That People Can Live in Harmony with One Another and the Natural World
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ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Dedicated to the idea that people can live in harmony with one another and the natural world. LEARN MORE arcus.link/mission 2_Letter from Jon Stryker 3_Letter from Jason McGill & Annette Lanjouw GREAT APES & GIBBONS SOCIAL JUSTICE 10_Logging Threats Continue in World’s Most Diverse 20_Activists Take Bold Steps to Bring Rights Home Great-Ape Habitat 22_Faith Leaders Call for “Golden Rule” of Mutual Respect 12_Drone Maps Offer New Hope for Sierra Leone Chimps 24_Immigrants, Trans Rights Groups Stand up to 14_Sumatra Conservationists Win Victory U.S. Backlash in Orangutan Habitat 26_2017 Social Justice Program Grantees 16_2017 Great Apes & Gibbons Program Grantees 30_Financials 32_Board & Staff B SOCIAL JUSTICE ARCUS FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2017 1 Dear Friends Dear Friends The presentation of this report marks one of the most that is destroying the forest homes of great apes, gibbons, and We’re pleased to share our 2017 annual report. In a to subscribe to the impossible. Seeing the possible in the face reflective times of the year for me. I think back, look forward, so many other endangered species. The population of mountain difficult year, it’s important to take stock and acknowledge of daunting odds is what drives these engaged and committed and contemplate where we are right now. Like most architects, gorillas in Africa’s Virunga Massif has grown by a quarter since the challenges we’ve faced while remaining confident in the individuals and inspires us every day to support their work. when I walk into almost any built environment, I can hardly 2010 to about 1,000. A new species of Indonesian orangutan— unflagging commitment of those around the world who stand No less dramatic are major land conversion and stop myself from scrutinizing how things are and dreaming comprising merely 800 individuals—was identified in 2017. up to deeply rooted prejudice and strong opposition, to realize infrastructure projects that are encroaching upon the about how they could be. (Perhaps it is an incurable affliction?) Unfortunately, those orangutans were immediately designated our shared vision for social justice and conservation. developing world’s forests and posing threats to the wildlife and So, when I decided to begin work in conservation and social as critically endangered, with their population projected to In our social justice work, Arcus focuses on improving people there. These forests include the habitats of great apes justice 18 years ago, I naturally assumed that same mind frame. decrease to 250 individuals by 2060. the lives of some of the world’s most marginalized LGBTQ and gibbons across Southeast Asia and tropical Africa. These I was sure we could figure out ways to transform this world In times like these, we clearly see why we must stay the people, including transgender communities, ethnic and projects lead to significant loss of tree cover and fragmentation into something different and better—more equitable, more course. Early this summer, Arcus board members and some racialized groups, the young and old, immigrants, and of habitats, posing further threats to apes, who face continued democratic, more beautiful. We really had no idea exactly what staff went with me on a learning trip to Kenya. A Kenyan LGBTQ others. We are neighbors, entwined in each other’s families, displacement or long periods in captivity. changes Arcus could effect, nor how long it would take, but activist, concerned about sustaining fragile human rights gains communities, and ecosystems—our lives contingent on the In this report, you’ll meet Tatyana Humle, a researcher the amazing team at Arcus never doubted we would make a of recent years, asked how we were addressing what she planet’s finite resources. at the University of Kent, who is using drones in Sierra Leone significant difference and that we had a clear responsibility to perceived as a retreat from human rights protections in the We have long known that for those most marginalized in to track the behavior of chimpanzees living within or close to give it all we had. United States. She pointed out that movements in places like LGBTQ communities, mere survival can require a daily struggle agriculture sites. You’ll also read about the country’s Tacugama I still believe we are making huge strides in social equity Kenya—one of the countries where the Williams Institute noted against poverty, violence, and social rejection. Our recently Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a safe haven for displaced chimps, and conservation although every year I am reminded that a decline in acceptance—need models of success to point to revised strategy thus centers on fostering deeper and longer- that works with surrounding communities to help foster respect fighting for these causes can be a very long game. A big part of as they educate and campaign in East Africa. Our exchange term partnerships with our movement through interconnected for the non-human apes in their midst. my conviction that things are improving is due to the amazing reaffirmed just how fleeting or tenuous change can be—and goals (See pages 4-7). The fact that nearly half the world’s Also in these pages is a focus on a consortium of changemakers working on the frontlines and especially at the how a small victory here inspires another victory there. human population lives in systemic poverty only reinforces for organizations in Democratic Republic of the Congo, holding grassroots—comrades whom we have been honored to get to Last year, the foundation completed a strategic review us that we must also partner with other movements. fast to a moratorium on logging that protects one of the know and support. I believe we should celebrate them, and of our LGBTQ programs—reflecting on the character of Arcus, Whether in the United States, where a “family separation” most important rainforest habitats of the bonobo. And you’ll we feature many of them in this report. We can and should our desired impact, and the strategies we should pursue. I am immigration policy was being reversed as we went to press, or learn, in a preview of content from the latest volume in the be incredibly proud of our movement’s accomplishments grateful to the team, but particularly to Annette Lanjouw and elsewhere, inhumane acts and policies underscore our decision State of the Apes series, about a conservation success in and the individuals who have risen to the forefront of this Jason McGill, our amazing co-executive directors, who did a to focus our work geographically. We are working more closely averting the potential impact of a large-scale power plant life- changing work. fantastic job leading that process. As a result, Arcus’ Social with activists, funders, and others in the southern United States, on the Sumatran orangutan, of whom only 6,000 to 8,000 Over the past years, we have been alternately bolstered Justice team will now be focusing our domestic LGBTQ work including many border states; across Mexico, the Caribbean, individuals remain. by new milestones and challenged by setbacks across both across the southern United States, and our international work and Central America; and in East and southern Africa. We urge you to get involved in the conservation and our mission areas. We have ample reason both for optimism in eastern and southern Africa, Central America, Mexico, and Ensuring safety from persecution—whether within or social justice movements you read about in these pages by and concern. A recent Williams Institute study found that since the Caribbean. In these regions, we believe that our knowledge, outside one’s national borders—is one of three goals of the joining our online communities or visiting arcusfoundation. 1980 more than a third of the world’s countries have become experience and networks can make the greatest impact. revised LGBTQ strategy. It’s also the aim of several individuals org/partners where you’ll find links enabling you to support a more accepting of LGBTQ people, while about a quarter have With the past to inform us and our values to guide us, we profile in this report, including Jholerina Timbo of Windhoek, broad range of our partners in their efforts toward a world where become more hostile. However, the study also indicates that we will not be deterred. Our board, staff and grantee partners Namibia, and Daroneshia Duncan of Birmingham, Alabama— we live in harmony with one another and our environment. countries at polar extremes of acceptance or hostility are are, more than ever, cohesive, global and strategic. We share both mobilizing resources to ensure an end to transphobic becoming more so. This past year, we have seen, from unlikely the will and imagination to see our mission through. We can bullying, violence, and discrimination—and Joshua Sehoole, institutions and actors, opposition to lives envision a world more beautiful, equitable and just—and we chipping away at widely and liberties that we and our grantee are as determined as ever to realize that vision. held prejudices that fuel partners are working hard to protect. violence against lesbian, These challenges include immigration trans, and intersex people policies that undermine the safety of in southern Africa. LGBTQ people who cannot live safely in What unites them their home countries, and abandoned is that they saw a need, Jason McGill & Annette Lanjouw commitments to address climate change Jon L. Stryker, President and Founder took action, and refused Co-Executive Directors 2 2 SOCIALLETTERS JUSTICE ARCUSARCUS FOUNDATION FOUNDATION ANNUAL ANNUAL REPORT REPORT 2017 20173 3 GreatApes Gibbons We believe that respect for diversity among peoples and in nature is essential to a positive future for our planet GOALS and all its inhabitants. LGBTQ Safety Increased We partner with experts and activists—brave advocates for change—who push boundaries and confront tough challenges.