Wildlands South America

The Project
The wildlands of South America present one of the most important reservoirs of biodiversity on the Earth. We seek your help with a program of systematic exploration and mapping of these wildlands and an assessment of their contribution to regional and global biodiversity.

A primary goal of the project is to identify and characterize wildland areas that are vulnerable to fragmentation, development and biodiversity loss. Our goal is to provide a rich source of information on wildlands and related biodiversity that can inform conservation initiatives at local, national and global scales. This is accomplished through close collaboration between enthusiastic and skilled volunteers and partners at local, national and global levels. South America still has immense wildland and biodiversity resources that are unparalleled in today’s world – but the wildlands that harbor much of this biodiversity are disappearing rapidly due to human development and resource extraction.

Volunteers can participate in several ways. If you are planning to travel and explore parts of South America, we can give you maps, instruction, initial reports, data sheets, and many other things that can aid your exploration of the wild parts of South America. You can then field check the maps and initial reports, collect data on flora, fauna, ecology, geology, archeology, cultural uses, and many other characteristics of the vast wildlands that still exist in South America. You can also participate in one of the many expeditions that we are planning over the next few years, meet other scientists, conservationists, and other volunteers who are interested in learning more about the wild side of South America and its tremendous biodiversity. On these expeditions, you can help map, gather data and other information that will be very helpful in the eventual protection of these incredible wildlands.