Wilderness International
Wilderness International is a non-profit foundation that permanently protects rainforest through transparent €1/m² forest sponsorships, operating sister foundations in Germany, Peru, and Canada across Amazon and temperate rainforest ecosystems via individual donations, corporate partnerships, and ambassador-led campaigns.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersDresden, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wilderness International does
Wilderness International is a non-profit charitable foundation (Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) headquartered in Dresden, Germany, that purchases ecologically valuable wilderness areas and protects them permanently through ownership by three sister foundations in Germany, Canada, and Peru. Its core product is a transparent wilderness sponsorship (Wildnispatenschaft) priced at €1 per square meter, where donors receive a personalized certificate with aerial drone imagery and exact GPS coordinates identifying their protected parcel in either Peru's Amazon (Madre de Dios, 'Secret Forest') or Canada's temperate rainforest (Porcher Island, British Columbia, 'Misty Forest'). The foundation structure legally prevents the land from being sold, inherited, or transferred, and an independent Satzung requires the land remain untouched except for research purposes, establishing perpetual protection.
The organization operates a multi-channel acquisition model combining a self-service online donation portal (donate.wilderness-international.org) with payment processing via Stripe, ambassador-driven campaigns with named personalities (Robert Marc Lehmann, Fabian Kahl, Tomary, Yvonne Pferrer, Jeremy Grube, Mission Erde e.V.), corporate partnership programs (including Wacken Open Air and Audi Environmental Foundation), and event-driven school fundraising (Wildnislauf charity runs). Revenue streams span one-time donations, recurring monthly/annual Naturschutz-Abo subscriptions, corporate partnerships, and ambassador merchandise. Supporting technology includes drone-based parcel monitoring, a partnership with ETH Zürich (with Audi Environmental Foundation and DJI) on eDNA biodiversity analysis, an interactive virtual forest map for donor engagement, sector-specific CO2 calculators, and a standard marketing technology stack (Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, Hotjar, Brevo, Pipedrive).
The customer base spans individual donors as the primary segment, environmentally conscious corporate partners, schools participating in Wildnislauf events, scientific and research collaborators (Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Fauna Forever, Camino Verde, Fundo Ten Paciencia, Cowichan and Gwich'in First Nations), and influencer/content creator ambassadors. The organization has been independently validated through the Phineo 'Wirkt!' seal, a BAUM e.V. process audit, 1% for the Planet membership, and Biodiversity in Good Company certification.
Wilderness International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wilderness International
- Legal name
- Stiftung Wilderness International
- Website
- https://wilderness-international.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wilderness International is a non-profit foundation that permanently protects rainforest through transparent €1/m² forest sponsorships, operating sister foundations in Germany, Peru, and Canada across Amazon and temperate rainforest ecosystems via individual donations, corporate partnerships, and ambassador-led campaigns.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wilderness International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Forest Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD), Rainforest & Jungle Ecotourism Tours (THAAAEAF)
Keywords
Where Wilderness International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dresden
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Wilderness International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- One-time Forest Protection Donations: Individual donors contribute €1 per square meter of forest they wish to permanently protect. Donors receive a certificate with aerial photo and GPS coordinates. The donation refinances the land purchase and secures long-term protection.
- Conservation Subscription (Naturschutz-Abo): Recurring monthly or annual donations through a subscription model that progressively protects growing areas of forest. Cancelable at any time.
- Corporate Partnerships: Companies become corporate partners and contribute to forest protection. Revenue comes through customized conservation programs and employee gift options.
- Ambassador/Mission Campaign Merchandise: Ambassadors like Robert Marc Lehmann sell merchandise (books, calendars, planners, photo books) with proceeds going to additional forest protection.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Per-square-meter forest protection donation |
| Subscription | Monthly | Conservation Subscription (Naturschutz-Abo) |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Wacken Community Forest Target |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Wilderness International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wilderness International purchases ecologically valuable, threatened primary forest areas in Peru's Amazon (Secret Forest, Madre de Dios) and Canada's temperate rainforest (Misty Forest, British Columbia), registers them under three sister foundations (Germany, Canada, Peru), and protects them perpetually. Individuals and companies fund this work through a €1 per square meter donation model, receiving personalized certificates with aerial photography and exact GPS coordinates identifying each protected parcel. Recurring donations (Naturschutz-Abo), corporate partnerships, gift sponsorships, and ambassador-branded campaigns sustain ongoing land acquisition and on-the-ground guardianship.
Product overview
Wilderness International is a nonprofit foundation (Stiftung) operating three sister organizations in Germany, Canada, and Peru. The core product is the Wilderness Patenschaft (Wildnispatenschaft) — a symbolic wilderness sponsorship program where donors pay €1 to protect 1 m² of rainforest in Peru (Amazonas, Madre de Dios region, Secret Forest) or temperate rainforest in Canada (Porcher Island, British Columbia, Misty Forest). Donors receive a personalized certificate with aerial photography and exact GPS coordinates of their protected parcel. The organization offers this as a one-time donation, a recurring Naturschutz-Abo subscription, or as a gifted Wildnispatenschaft. Supporting digital products include a CO₂-Rechner (specialized calculators for travel, households, businesses, and medical sectors), an Interaktiver Wald (virtual interactive forest map for remote exploration), and community forest campaigns co-branded with ambassadors (Mission Peru, Mission Kanada, JerYve, Tomary, Fabian Kahl, Wacken). Conservation service products include Forest Guardian patrols, biodiversity monitoring, an eDNA drone-based species survey project with ETH Zürich, agroforestry projects, environmental education in Peru, a research fellowship program, and the Wildnislauf school charity run. Corporate partnerships provide business engagement options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wildnispatenschaft (Wilderness Sponsorship) A per-square-meter forest protection donation where individuals pay €1 per m² to permanently protect a specific parcel of rainforest in Peru's Amazon (Secret Forest, Madre de Dios) or Canada's temperate rainforest (Misty Forest, Porcher Island, BC). Donors receive a personalized digital certificate with aerial photography and exact GPS coordinates identifying the protected parcel. Suitable for individual donors seeking transparent, traceable environmental action.
- Naturschutz-Abo (Conservation Subscription) A recurring monthly or annual donation subscription that progressively expands the area of protected forest over time. Cancelable at any time. Designed for individual donors who want to make ongoing contribution to permanent forest protection rather than a single one-time donation.
- Wald verschenken (Gift Wilderness Sponsorship) A gift version of the wilderness sponsorship through which a donor purchases a sponsored parcel of forest on behalf of another person. The recipient receives a personalized certificate with GPS coordinates and aerial photograph of the protected parcel. Intended for birthdays, holidays, and other gifting occasions.
- Corporate Partnerships (Unternehmenspartnerschaften) B2B partnership program for environmentally conscious companies to fund forest protection as part of their sustainability and ESG commitments. Offers customized conservation programs, employee engagement and gifting options, and brand association with permanent primary-forest protection. Companies can protect designated forest areas in Peru or Canada.
- Testamentsspende (Bequest / Legacy Donation) A legacy giving offering that allows individuals to protect a forest area through their estate or will, enabling posthumous forest protection that remains legally permanent through the foundation structure.
Companies that use Wilderness International
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Wilderness International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration18 records
Feature4 records
Wilderness International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Fauna ForevercoreLong-term partnership with Fauna Forever for biodiversity research and monitoring in Peru. Their team is permanently on-site conducting research projects that also monitor protected areas. Dr. Chris Kirkby leads Fauna Forever projects including wildlife research, environmental education, and local community development in Madre de Dios region.
- Bamfield Marine Sciences CentrecoreResearch alliance in Canada focusing on interactions between terrestrial and marine ecosystems, as well as practical training of conservationists. Collaboration with Canadian universities for scientific research in protected areas.
- ETH ZürichcorePartnership for eDNA (environmental DNA) pioneer project to study biodiversity in protected areas using drone-based environmental DNA collection. Supported by Audi Environmental Foundation and DJI.
- Camino VerdecoreLocal agroforestry pioneer partner in Peru. Part of Agroforestry Project launched December 2023 to educate farmers on agroforestry and sustainable cultivation practices, minimize deforestation causes, and develop alternative income sources with local families.
- Fundo Ten PacienciacoreLocal agroforestry pioneer partner in Peru collaborating on agroforestry education and sustainable land use practices with neighboring farmers in Madre de Dios region.
- Cowichan First NationscoreLong-standing collaboration including cultural exchange programs, a totem pole created as a gift for Cologne, and conservation expeditions connecting Indigenous knowledge with wilderness protection on Vancouver Island.
- Gwich'in / Teetl'it Gwich'incoreJoint expeditions in 2007-2008 to raise awareness about conflict between First Nations land use plans and mining claims in Peel River region. Successfully contributed to 80% of Peel River area being permanently protected in 2017. Collaboration with Fort McPherson community.
- Mission Erde e.V.flagshipFlagship partnership with Robert Marc Lehmann's Mission Erde organization. Joint campaigns 'Mission Peru' and 'Mission Kanada' featuring expeditions, merchandise sales (books, calendars, planners, photo books) with proceeds funding additional forest protection.
- Wacken Open AirflagshipPartnership with heavy metal festival to protect 4,000,000 m² of Peruvian rainforest (equivalent to festival grounds) by 2032. Festival organizers protected initial 1,000 m²; community fundraising campaign ongoing.
- Audi Environmental FoundationcoreSupporter of eDNA pioneer project with ETH Zürich and DJI for drone-based biodiversity monitoring in protected areas.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Wilderness International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wilderness International social profiles
Digital presenceWilderness International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wilderness International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Wilderness International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wilderness International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wilderness International
What does Wilderness International do?
Wilderness International purchases ecologically valuable, threatened primary forest areas in Peru's Amazon (Secret Forest, Madre de Dios) and Canada's temperate rainforest (Misty Forest, British Columbia), registers them under three sister foundations (Germany, Canada, Peru), and protects them perpetually. Individuals and companies fund this work through a €1 per square meter donation model, receiving personalized certificates with aerial photography and exact GPS coordinates identifying each protected parcel. Recurring donations (Naturschutz-Abo), corporate partnerships, gift sponsorships, and ambassador-branded campaigns sustain ongoing land acquisition and on-the-ground guardianship.
Is Wilderness International a public or private company?
Wilderness International is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Wilderness International founded?
Wilderness International was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wilderness International based?
Wilderness International is headquartered in Dresden, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Wilderness International make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. One-time Forest Protection Donations are the primary driver. The others are conservation Subscription (Naturschutz-Abo), corporate Partnerships and ambassador/Mission Campaign Merchandise.
Does Wilderness International have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wilderness International.
What industry is Wilderness International in?
Wilderness International's product category is Forest Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAC, Land Trusts & Protected Areas, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAD, Forestry & Reforestation. Its NAICS code is 712190 and its SIC code is 800.