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MAJOR FUNDING BOOST FOR CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IN GHANA

February 25, 2025

25 FEBRUARY 2025 (Calgary, AB) – The Wilder Institute is celebrating a transformative step forward for conservation and community development in Ghana. As part of Canada’s commitment to strengthening climate action and supporting vulnerable communities, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced more than $87 million in new development assistance funding last week. Among the recipients, the Wilder Institute will receive $9 million over the next five years to support biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable livelihoods in Ghana’s Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary and Avu Lagoon Community Protected Area. 

“This investment is a game-changer,” said Dr. Gráinne McCabe, Chief Conservation Officer at the Wilder Institute. “By strengthening conservation efforts in the region, this funding will help safeguard vital ecosystems while also creating ripple effects that will support and empower local communities—particularly women and youth—as they build resilience in the face of climate change and environmental pressures.” 

Biodiversity loss is a growing challenge in Ghana, where pressures from resource extraction, development, and climate change threaten both wildlife and the well-being of local communities. Many rural economies depend on healthy ecosystems, making conservation efforts essential for sustaining livelihoods and ensuring long-term economic stability. Women and children, who are often the most reliant on natural resources, are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation. 

This critical funding will enable the Wilder Institute and its partners to scale up ecosystem restoration efforts, bolster climate resilience, and create sustainable economic opportunities—particularly for women and youth—while working to safeguard vital wildlife and habitats in the area. 

“Our collective future depends on the action we take to protect the environment and equip regions of the world that are disproportionately affected by climate change,” said Minister Hussen. “Our global efforts, together with partners, lead to a sustainable future for all, a future that includes greater security, prosperity and well-being for Canadians and people around the world alike.” 

For more than 20 years, the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary has been a leading example of how conservation and community development go hand in hand, with the Avu Lagoon Community Protected Area following suit for over a decade. With this new grant, the Wilder Institute is poised to strengthen and expand its integrated approach, addressing poverty, gender equality and social inclusion, and biodiversity loss in tandem. This funding marks a pivotal moment, driving both local communities and conservation efforts towards a more resilient and sustainable future. 

The Wilder Institute remains committed to a future where people and wildlife thrive, together.

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Global Affairs Canada News Release 

For more information contact: 

Alison Archambault 

Director, Brand & Engagement 

403.232.7766 | 403.919.9482 | mediarelations@calgaryzoo.com  

About the Wilder Institute
The Wilder Institute is a global authority on wildlife conservation, reintroducing threatened species to the wild and empowering communities to conserve and sustainably manage their own natural resources to positively impact both nature and communities. Our passionate team of staff and volunteers is committed to building a future where people and wildlife thrive, together. Through an inclusive conservation approach and innovative science, we work to save threatened and endangered species and return them to the wild, where our planet needs them to be. We proudly own and operate the Archibald Biodiversity Centre, Canada’s largest conservation breeding and research facility. Our expertise lies in conservation breeding and community conservation, using a collaborative approach to work alongside communities and create lasting benefits for both nature and people. Join us in making the world a wilder place—learn more at WilderInstitute.org.