The Concept Behind Operation Wallacea and Friends of Wallacea Sophia Wood CEO, Friends of Wallacea Ecuador Country Manager, Operation Wallacea What is Operation Wallacea? ● Biodiversity research expeditions in 13 countries ● 200+ academics and 80+ PhD students leading projects ● Over 500 papers published in peer-reviewed journals ● 54+ new species described to science The Opwall Model ● High school & university student tuition fees fund long-term research ● No dependence on grant funding ● 25+ year relationships with local NGOs and indigenous communities ● Data used to design and assess conservation projects with local benefit Applied Conservation: The Wallacea Trust ● UK Registered charity that funds conservation intervention schemes with local partners ● Providing data to create marine protected areas in Akumal Bay (MX), Wakatobi (IDN), Tela Bay (HND) ● Applied conservation projects with self-sustaining income Tourism for Conservation: Friends of Wallacea ● Partnering with rural & indigenous communities to develop wildlife tourism that supports conservation ● Usually not in formal conservation areas - funding research/protection ● Currently working in: Romania, Croatia, South Africa, Ecuador, and soon Indonesia and Guyana Why We Launched Friends of Wallacea ● Indigenous communities protect 80% of biodiversity ● Help provide digital presence, sales force ● Support for regenerative tourism models ● Reach global tourism market LT&C Example: Angofa Wildlife Tours ● Developing new income source to support conservation & research in rural Transylvania ● Four way partnership for success - local partner ADEPT ● Launched February 2020 LT&C Example: Save Guyana’s Wildlife ● Longer expedition-style project ● Partnership between GTA, Opwall, and Friends of Wallacea ● Scheduled to start Spring 2021 ● Week-long wildlife service tours led by indigenous communities Scaling the Friends of Wallacea Model ● Virtual or in-person turnkey curriculum based on case studies to train local operators in regenerative tourism ● Licensing scheme for net positive impact tourism ● Partnerships with tourism boards for regenerative tourism development Our Team Sophia Wood Brian T. Mullis Dr. Tim Coles, OBE CEO, Friends of Wallacea Regeneration & Director, Operation 4 years’ experience Sustainability Lead Wallacea researching and 25+ years in CEO positions 25-year track record developing community-led with track record of developing & recruiting tourism and tech fostering positive participants for biodiversity investment in Latin conservation & monitoring programs in 13 America, Africa, and the socio-economic outcomes countries. South Pacific. through tourism. Want to learn more? Get in touch! Sophia Wood [email protected] +1 (206) 369-8572.