Our Mission
We believe that cultural diversity is inherently linked to biological diversity and that effective stewardship of our Earth must involve local people. We also believe that traditional knowledge
Marula fruits from S. Africa used for food and dye. Photo: A. B. Cunninghamsystems are invaluable to manage and conserve threatened landscapes and respond to global change. People and Plants International works alongside local groups to foster sustainable responses which build upon local skills and practices. We also work at national, regional, and international levels to guide policy and trade.
What Makes People and Plants International different?
- Our work is premised on long-term involvement with local communities, founded on mutual trust.
Stevanus Leni, Tehresia Ngeni, Maria Goreti Reti, weavers from Ende, Indonesia. Photo: A.B. Cunningham
Rather than implement projects, we build on local initiatives in response to local needs and priorities; - We bridge scales by working from the local to the global;
- We build on the complementary strength of scientific and local knowledge;
- Management is non-hierarchical and is led by a steering committee of six;
- The organizational structure promotes a lean administrative base;
- At 12%, institutional overhead is truly minimal, allowing nearly 90% of PPI funding to be applied directly in the field where it is most needed.
PPI has a long-term commitment to people and places. We have worked in a few selected sites of interest for over a decade. This long-term commitment allows us to see the results of our collaborations and to assess what is appropriate and effective - and what is not - within a particular social and environmental context.
People and Plants International was created in 2004 with the help of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and builds on the work of the 12-year People and Plants Initiative, a partnership between WWF, UNESCO, and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. This successful partnership provides a foundation for PPI's new projects.