The International Anti-Poaching Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\nFounded in 2009, the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF) has transformed the traditional adversarial approach to conservation into an innovative and empowering model to protect wildlife and habitats. The IAPF connects, protects and restores landscapes, working together with local communities, governments and NGOs, through their Akashinga conservation model, featuring all- female teams of wildlife rangers in Africa. The Akashinga program trains and deploys local women into ranger roles, while addressing the broader needs of surrounding communities, including education, clean water, healthcare and infrastructure development. The IAPF employs more than 500 staff across 8.5 million acres in Southern and East Africa, and the goal is to expand to 1,000 women protecting 15 million acres of wilderness by 2026. The IAPF also operates the internationally recognised ISO 9001 certified LEAD Ranger program, which delivers tailored training, long-term support and mentoring to develop wildlife crime enforcement leaders and instructors who remain based in the ecosystems they are protecting.<\/p>\n
Damien Mander<\/strong><\/p>\nIAPF Founder and CEO Damien Mander, 42, is an Australian-born environmentalist based in Zimbabwe. In 2009 while travelling through Africa post military service, he was inspired by the dedication of rangers and the plight of wildlife. Liquidating his life savings, the International Anti-Poaching Foundation was established to protect nature. Damien later co-founded LEAD Ranger, and in 2021 he co-founded the Conservation Landscape Alliance, a collective of organisations working together to achieve landscape-scale conservation in the community-owned wilderness areas of Africa. He is the winner of the 2019 Winsome Constance Kindness Gold Medal, a prestigious international recognition for services to animals and humanity.<\/p>\n
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\n <\/a><\/p>\n Image 1: Akashinga Rangers<\/b><\/strong> <\/a><\/p>\nAkashinga rangers on patrol in Zimbabwe<\/p>\n
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