Encore: Dreaming Big with Richard Bonham, Big Life Foundation
August 28, 2017
Hosted by Eli Weiss
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Information
Episode Description
Today we cap off the trilogy of Big Life Foundation, with my guest Richard Bonham, co-founder and keystone of the trio of creators in the model of Big Life’s structure. Richard grew up in Kenya, witnessing first-hand the increase in human population closely followed by changes in land use, and thus the wildlife, coupled with the increase in human-wildlife conflict. By creating clear links between land use, value and benefit, turned into an economic model where community ‘buy-in’ is critical to the success of any program, Big Life is a lesson in contemporary conservation- which is to bring innovative strategies and collaborative partnerships between communities, NGOs, national parks and government agencies, that the underlying vision and mission is one where resources- people and wildlife and land use-support and elegantly engage locals and visitors alike toward meeting term conservation.
Our Wild World
Monday at 8 AM Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel
An informative and lively opportunity for listeners of all ages to learn about and raise awareness of contemporary challenges in wildlife and environmental conservation, both in Africa and parallels in the U.S., while also providing direct avenues to a variety of projects to personally take action and get involved.
While our project focus covers sub-Saharan Africa, the results of what we accomplish have global impacts, and further, how we choose to live daily will have impacts upon the future of Africa, our world’s wildlife and people. Our topics will cover a variety of themes including current news, what you can do now, what conservation and sustainability actually mean, how poverty impacts sustainablilty, foreign aid, book reviews, animal behavior, photography, living with wildlife in your back yard, interviews with renowned experts, and your questions and answers. Our Wild World is broadcast live every Monday at 8 AM Pacific Time on the VoiceAmerica Variety Channel.
Eli Weiss
A photographer, philanthropist and Wildlife Conservationist, Eli Weiss grew up in Illinois, Wyoming and Colorado, attended university in Colorado and the UK, and after spending time in Aspen from 1963-1979 she settled in Woody Creek, where, in 2000 she founded the non-profit WildiZe Foundation. In Founding Wildize, Weiss was able to combine her love of photography, art, nature, environmental ethics and conservation in such a way as to benefit our planet. The Foundation serves individuals and educational institutions dedicated to the conservation of wildlife, wildlife habitats and the indigenous cultures of Africa and raises awareness through on-the-ground projects and education both in Africa and the United States. Their mission is to establish direct relationships to projects in sub-Saharan Africa, offering targeted grant funding that support conservation efforts, educational programs and sustainable indigenous economies. Several times per year, Weiss visits the Foundation's grantees across sub-Saharan Africa, developing ongoing programs and building new, long-term relationships. Weiss has worked with experts and leaders in the field of conservation, administering over 2.5 million dollars of public and private grant funding across 75 grantees from specialists to community groups, giving her a well-rounded depth of knowledge critical to raising awareness of the various issues and toward implementing solid solutions based on science, the environment and culture.
