Photo credit: V5 Initiative.
Rewilding is happening now all over the world, both on land and at sea, bringing back key species and restoring entire ecosystems at all scales. We are now an alliance of over 200 organisations that are restoring nature around the world.
We warmly introduce V5 and their SOSOrinoco Initiative, that are helping to protect and rewild the Venezuelan Amazon rainforest and support the local communities at the core of their work.
Saving Venezuelan Amazonia
Partner Organisation: V5 Initiative
Location: Venezuela
Since 2017, V5 Initiative has focused on the Venezuelan humanitarian, political and environmental crises that are impacting the hemisphere and is tackling the myriad of issues that must be considered as we envision a ‘day after’ the so-called Bolivarian Revolution for the country and the region.
Working deeply with the local communities, their SOSOrinoco initiative works to combat illicit and legal mining, health crises, environmental destruction, loss of sovereignty and human rights violations. Located in the Amazonia and Orinoquia regions of Venezuela, at the intersection of the Precambrian Guiana Shield and greater Amazonia, straddling the Guyana border, this region was, until recently, one of the world’s most pristine and biodiverse regions.
Orinoco Geese. Photo credit: Mauricio Acosta from Getty Images.
SOSOrinoco is dedicated to the protection and restoration of degraded areas of the Amazon rainforest, with a strong focus on preserving the biodiversity and ecosystems of the Orinoco River Basin and surrounding areas. Their work includes addressing illegal mining, deforestation, and environmental degradation that threaten the Amazon’s delicate ecosystems. SOSOrinoco is responsible for the most detailed reports on threats the mining arc represent to ecosystems and human rights. Reports, data and maps are all available to the public on their website.
In addition to environmental conservation, SOSOrinoco is committed to supporting indigenous communities whose cultures and livelihoods are deeply intertwined with the health of the rainforest. These efforts often involve collaborating with indigenous leaders and organizations to defend indigenous rights, preserve traditional knowledge, and protect land from external threats like illegal mining and logging.
Native Indigenous Orinoco Tribe in Traditional Wooden Canoe. Photo credit: Photospirit.
Venezuela is one of nine Amazonian countries, the largest of which is Brazil, but sadly, the invasion of Amazonia by illegal armed groups is widely occurring in the region and one of the epicenters of this new threat to Amazonian forests is Venezuela. Unlike other countries in this region where governments turn a blind eye or are overwhelmed, the criminal narcostate in Venezuela, led by Nicolas Maduro, is actually partnering with these criminal gangs. Unfortunately, criminal groups are all joining forces across all of Amazonia to plunder the forests and abuse indigenous people.
We are intentionally vague about their specific accomplishments due to the risk involved for all on the ground. However, we are very excited to have the V5 initiative as a new GRA Alliance Partner.
Dive deeper and get in touch with their team via their website.
If you are rewilding and would like to join the alliance, please get in touch with our team.