“Conservation in Africa today has to take a highly strategic approach if it is to save the wildlife and landscapes we love.”

~ Dereck Joubert

Conservation takes many forms. Our projects are strategic, comprehensive, and action-oriented.

The Great Plains Foundation takes a holistic view of conservation and all of the projects, whether wildlife, landscape or community focused seek to restore, reinvigorate, and protect wilderness areas. The following initiatives are focused on specific species conservation, but with a goal to preserve and protect the overarching ecosystems in which these species reside.

In 2015, Southern Africa was losing a rhino to poachers every 6.3 hours. More rhinos were being killed than breeding could replace; an emergency response was needed. Great Plains came together with tourism partner andBeyond, to move rhinos from poaching hot spots in South Africa to safe havens in Botswana under our Rhinos Without Borders joint venture.

Project Ranger began as an emergency intervention in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, as travel and tourism were brought to a standstill, national parks, protected areas and lodges were left empty. Stop a Poacher. Sponsor a Ranger. Save a Species.

Conservation areas need boots on the ground. Without these frontline rangers, poachers have it all their own way. But we often do not need armed antipoaching forces, what we need are eyes and ears.

The goal of the Sapi Restoration Initiative is to restore this depleted landscape through a combination of strategic protections, a comprehensive conservation plan, species reintroduction, and conservation tourism.

As National Geographic Explorers, Great Plains Founders, Dereck and Beverly Joubert established the National Geographic Big Cats Initiative (BCI). More than a decade later, BCI has funded more than 150 projects in 28 countries.