As part of our Slow Fund Series, we’ve teamed up with Wow Nature—a reforestation project in the Alta Badia in the heart of the Dolomites. 

Replanting Trees in the Dolomites with Wow Nature

This ongoing reforestation project with <a href="https://www.wownature.eu/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">WOWNature</a> aims to visit Alta Badia for tree planting days to create a “food forest,” where visitors can forage naturally growing herbs and berries in the area. Continuing to plant new trees and adopt adult trees so they are protected in all phases of life is essential for the preservation of this beautiful area in the Italian Alps. The food forest development will eventually lead chefs from local hotels and restaurants to forage ingredients for their own menus, creating a truly unique kilometre zero approach to the Slow Food movement that the region is famous for.<a href="https://butterfield.com/get-inspired/replanting-trees-in-the-dolomites" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about the project.

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Eco-sustainability and environmental protection are innate values of the people living in the Alta Badia region of the Dolomites. WOWNature is a reforestation project in the Alta Badia, aiming to restore the century-old forests that incurred significant damage following Storm Vaia in 2018. The Slow Fund has committed funding over three years of $3,000 per annum.

The Slow Fund helps to support Kuska School, an alternative educational initiative in Ollantaytambo, Peru, where education, community and an appreciation for Mother Nature are fostered.

Scholarship Fund with Kuska School

As the only local education offering in rural Ollantaytambo, the school utilizes the multi-cultural environment to nurture individual creativity for local children. The curriculum focuses on developing each child at their own pace.Kuska School offers a multi-grade educational environment, accommodation for visiting guest teachers, and a fully organic farm.

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The Kuska School is an alternative educational initiative in Ollantaytambo, Peru, where education, community and an appreciation for Mother Nature are fostered. While monthly enrollment fees are manageable for some families, equal opportunity for education is bolstered through a community scholarship fund, which B&R is helping to support until 2024. This means that families who cannot afford to send their children to the Kuska School can still enroll their children in classes alongside their peers. The Slow Fund has committed funding over three years (inception 2022) of $8,000 per annum.

As part of B&R’s commitment to reversing global biodiversity loss, we are supporting a number of projects over the coming decade with a focus on conservation research, restoration or protection of ecosystems.

Wolverine Research in the Columbia Mountains

Wolverine Dens and Drones in the Columbia Mountains - Written by researcher Andrea Kortello&nbsp;Wolverine are legendary characters in wilderness tales, ferocious and relentless… how they can take down a moose, and stand down a grizzly bear in a fight over a carcass. How they’ll raid trapper’s cabins and steal from the trapline. How they’ll run up a mountain summit like it was flat ground. They live in cold, snowy, inhospitable mountain and arctic environments. They seem unstoppable. But they have a sensitive side too, they need those cold snowy environments to store food and make dens. So on a big scale, they are at risk from shrinking habitats due to climate change.&nbsp;They are also vulnerable to human disturbance on a smaller scale, especially around maternal denning areas.&nbsp;Just one person on skis can cause the female to abandon her den, and seek out a more secure location for her kits.&nbsp;&nbsp;Wolverine dens are holes in deep snow, often under a large boulder or deadfall, near treeline in roadless valleys. If wolverine aren’t disturbed, the female will use a den or series of dens in the same vicinity year after year, and her daughters, or unrelated females, will use it again when she is gone. These areas are really important for wolverine populations to maintain a presence on the landscape, but there have only been a handful of dens found in BC and not much more than that again in all the rest of North America.&nbsp;With the increasing popularity of backcountry skiing, heliskiing and snowmobiling, and new logging roads that provide access into previously unvisited valleys, the amount of undisturbed habitat is shrinking rapidly. Our project uses non-invasive methods like; snowtracking, citizen science, aerial surveys, remote cameras and drone photography to locate wolverine denning areas so they can be protected from disturbance at critical times of the year; between February and May. A concentration of wolverine tracks in snow indicates that a wolverine has been staying in the same area for an extended period and wolverine don’t tend to stick around one spot unless they are taking care of babies. If we find a concentration of tracks, we can fly the area with a drone and take photos without getting too close to the den ourselves.&nbsp;But it's not easy. In southeastern British Columbia, there are approximately two wolverine per 1000 km2 of rugged mountain terrain, that’s an area about the size of Rome. It takes a lot of searching to find wolverine tracks. In addition to our own surveys, we use citizen science; asking ordinary folk who are out in the snowy mountains working or recreating to keep an eye out for wolverine or wolverine tracks. This puts a lot of extra eyes on the ground! People can report their sightings to https://wolverinewatch.org.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is also a handy site for learning about what wolverine tracks look like and other conservation research related to wolverine. Wolverine are among the most mysterious and elusive mammals around and citizen science observations have helped us locate 9 new denning areas so far! It’s a great way for non-scientists to become involved in wildlife research and make a big contribution to wildlife conservation.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you’d like to explore the wilderness British Columbia offers, <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/start-planning" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reach out to Tom Abraham</a>, our Experience Designer for the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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As part of B&R’s commitment to reversing global biodiversity loss, we are supporting a number of projects over the coming decade with a focus on conservation research, restoration or protection of ecosystems. The wolverine research project uses innovative non-invasive ways to study this elusive animal in south-eastern BC and ensures that research is guiding species management and conservation in the region. The Slow Fund has committed funding over three years (inception 2022) of CAD5,000 per annum.

The Slow Fund is proud to support the preservation of culture and traditional arts in the Basque region in partnership with the Musika Etxea Academia Municipal de Folklore.

Commissioning New Instruments for Musika Etxea

The academy is dedicated to teaching traditional Basque music and dance just north of Rioja. Through concerts and Agurra dancing, the school has kept this slice of Basque heritage (from instruments to attire) alive throughout the city with its performances.B&amp;R’s travellers in the Rioja&nbsp;region are often treated to a private performance of traditional Basque music and dance.

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Focused on preserving the culture of traditional arts in the Basque region, the Musika Etxea Academia Municipal de Folklore is an important organization in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. The Slow Fund supported the commissioning of new instruments for the Academia Municipal de Folklore, and the teaching of students on performing traditional Txalaparta, Alboka and Txirula music.

#BIKEYGEES e.V is a Berlin-based project that offers cycling training for refugee women, in turn developing their cycling skills as a sustainable approach to personal empowerment. 

Fostering Freedom Through Mobility in Berlin with #BIKEYGEES e.V.

<a href="https://bikeygees.org/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#BIKEYGEES</a> training sessions include practical cycling experience, multilingual traffic lessons and the basics of bike repair. So far, the project has helped over 1,200 women and girls learn how to ride a bike through training sessions at selected refugee shelters across Berlin and surrounding Brandenburg. All the trainers and volunteers are women, ensuring a safe space for all participants. Aside from the skills developed through the training, the sessions build confidence, connection, independence and the JOY of cycling!&nbsp;

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#BIKEYGEES e.V is an inspiring story of hope and empowerment. Now in its seventh year, the Berlin-based project offers cycling training for refugee women and is open to all women and girls interested in developing their cycling skills as a sustainable approach to personal empowerment. Their work centres around the belief that mobility, through cycling, is a fundamental step towards independence and empowerment for refugee women and girls. B&R is proud to support these remarkable women through the Slow Fund, committing funding of US$10,000 per annum to their work. Grant commencement 2021 through to 2023.

The Slow Fund supports EFA, a foundation that helps young women from the Imlil Valley in Morocco pursue their studies up through high school and go on to study at University.

Empowering Female Education with Education For All

In the High Atlas region of Morocco, more than 70% of young women have no access to education due to the vast distance to the closest school, high cost for transportation and the likelihood that family funds are often allocated to their male siblings instead.EFA has established five houses that provide lodging, meals and education to support nearby communities. Butterfield &amp; Robinson sponsors three young women, allowing them to live at these houses, receive education and nurture their spirit of togetherness and learning.In getting to know these women, they have shared their aspirations with us. They include becoming an engineer to build schools and hospitals, studying architecture abroad, and studying medicine to become a surgeon.Their stories inspire us, as they speak of representing females in male-dominated industries and the importance of supporting each other and the communities they come from.

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Education For All is a foundation that helps young women from the Imlil Valley in Morocco pursue their studies up through high school and go on to study at University. The Slow Fund committed a total of $6,969 in funding during 2019 and 2020. 

The Slow Fund is proud to support the Ujubee project, a conservation effort focused on recording scientific data on wild honeybee populations in South Africa.

Supporting Research With Ujubee Project

This provides an opportunity to study their natural habitat and behaviour, contributing valuable research that can help honeybee populations around the globe.In turn, Ujubee can take steps in order to protect the delicate biomes where these bees live, ensuring both the survival of the bees and the range of species their pollination helps to maintain—specifically, the fynbos region of South Africa, which is the smallest and most diverse floral kingdom in the world.When possible, we bring our travellers through these areas in the Western and Eastern Cape, led by an ecologist to explain the importance of biodiversity and habitat conservation.

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The Ujubee project is a conservation effort focused on recording scientific data on wild honeybee populations in South Africa. Unlike many parts of the world where bee populations are managed by humans and live in manufactured hives, South Africa is home to honeybee populations where 80% remain wild and an integral part of their habitat’s ecosystem. The Slow Fund has committed a total of $7,500 in funding for 2019 and 2020 and will receive further funding in 2022.

Nimaida Noboru is the sole rice farmer of the all-but-abandoned site in Ozuchi, Japan. The Slow Fund supports Nimaida in his rice production practices and educates visitors on traditional Japanese farming.

Rice Production with Ozuchi Village

Nestled in the Noto mountains, the remote village of Ozuchi is true preservation of historic, rural Japan.&nbsp;The Slow Fund supports Nimaida’s efforts and rice production practices and has included a stop at Ozuchi on our Japan Walking trip.

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Nimaida Noboru is the sole rice farmer and caretaker of an all-but-abandoned site in Ozuchi, Japan. He returned to the village where he was raised to tend to his family’s land. Throughout the year, Nimaida welcomes agriculture students, volunteers, and tour groups to learn about how he helps preserve the heritage of the land. In helping Nimaida develop this visitors program, the Slow Fund both supports Ozuchi and educates visitors on traditional Japanese farming. The Slow Fund committed funding over two years (inception 2019) of $5,000 per annum.

As part of our Slow Fund, B&R has teamed up with World Monuments Fund (WMF), the non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting endangered ancient and historic sites around the world.

Preserving the Angkor Park with World Monuments Fund

B&amp;R’s values are exceptionally well aligned with the philosophy and goals of the WMF: we genuinely believe in and practice the virtues and benefits of responsible and sustainable tourism; we have immense respect for the places we travel and the people we meet; we believe in going in deep and off the beaten path to reveal the true character of a destination; and we know firsthand that by sharing our passion with our travellers we can send them home more enlightened, enlivened and educated than when they left.

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We’re thrilled to be the official travel partner of the World Monuments Fund (WMF), the non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting endangered ancient and historic sites around the world. Working with the WMF, we've been able to craft trips that feature behind-the-scenes tours and insider access to some of the world’s most treasured sites. The Slow Fund committed $20,500 of funding during 2019 and 2020.

The Slow Fund is proud to support World Land Trust in their efforts to protect the world’s most biologically significant and threatened habitats.

Protecting the World’s Most Threatened Habitats with World Land Trust 

Butterfield &amp; Robinson has partnered with <a href="https://www.worldlandtrust.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">World Land Trust</a>, pledging US$50,000 per year for the following three years to their '<a href="https://www.worldlandtrust.org/appeals/buy-an-acre/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Buy an Acre</a>' program, supporting the purchase and protection of some of the world’s most threatened habitats and the wildlife and local communities that depend on them.&nbsp; Photo Credit:Wetland restoration at the Guapi Assu Reserve in Brazil via WLT/Kirsty BurgessValcheta Stream, Somuncura Plateau via Fundacion Somuncura

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World Land Trust (WLT) is an international conservation charity that protects the world’s most biologically significant and threatened habitats. Working through a network of partner organizations around the world, WLT funds the creation of reserves and provides permanent protection for habitats and wildlife. Partnerships are developed with established and highly respected local organizations who engage support and commitment among the local community.  

The Slow Fund is proud to support Salarte in their aim to restore, conserve and revitalize one of the most iconic saltpans of Cádiz: Balbanera.

Restoring Critical Saltpans in Andalucía with Salarte

The objective of the funding supplied by the Slow Fund in 2022 is to restore, conserve and revitalize one of the most iconic saltpans of Cádiz: Balbanera. <a href="https://salarte.org/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Salarte</a> aims to create and maintain a dynamic space that generates ecological, socioeconomic, and environmental prosperity for this wetland.It will show how conversation and the green economy can work hand in hand through gastronomy, tourism, and wetland farming. In addition to enhancing biodiversity, it will generate multiple associated benefits in terms of the creation of income, wealth and employment based on endogenous resources, with the premise of the sustainability of the actions that are proposed to ensure low environmental impact.B&amp;R is proud to support Salarte as part of the Slow Fund’s mission to help people and nature thrive in harmony.&nbsp;

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The Association for the Land Stewardship and the Recovery of the Salt Marsh (SALARTE) is a private non-profit organization founded in 2012 that works on the recovery, management and enhancement of coastal saltpans, conservation of biodiversity and the promotion of local employment upon endogenous resources. This association was born from the urgent need to restore and “awaken” ancient living territories, once a source of wealth and social cultural pride of Cadiz, previously abandoned. Salarte’s goal is to  serve as an example of the importance of engaging civil society in the restoration of a natural habitat through “territory stewardship”, and to prove that its active management generates environmental and social benefits. Salarte seeks to reproduce the model of management of living territories through stewardship, counting on the support of environmental managers, technicians, companies, entities, institutions and administration.

This is the story of Two Fires: a social enterprise for Rwandan creatives and the opening of a new photography gallery in Musanze, the country’s gorilla-viewing hub.

Launching a Social Enterprise in Rwanda During a Global Pandemic 

<a href="https://www.twofirescreativegroup.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Two Fires Gallery</a> acts as a bridge to communicate the stories of local Rwandan artists with visitors respectfully and provides a space for photographers to visually illustrate the social issues in Rwanda. This allows international guests to have an authentic exchange and be truly connected to the people of Rwanda, as not many travellers who visit the country have the opportunity to learn about the deeper issues that Rwanda faces and interact with the local community outside of gorilla trekking. To learn more about the inception of the gallery, <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/get-inspired/launching-a-social-enterprise-in-rwanda-the-story-of-two-fires" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click here</a>.

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Two Fires Gallery is a small photography gallery nestled in Musanze, Rwanda's gorilla-viewing hub. The gallery is dedicated to providing a physical space for emerging East African photographers and local community members to share their work and tell the stories of Rwanda through photography and digital storytelling workshops. This year's Slow Fund grant is going towards producing a 4-5 day digital storytelling workshop for women affected by gender-based violence in Rwanda. The workshop will be facilitated online by the Story Centre in Berkley and build in-house capacity for the Two Fires Creative Group at the same time. Part of this year's grant will also go towards supporting a Rwandan female photographer's creative journey: producing, printing and exhibiting a story at the Musanze gallery. 

Replanting Trees in the Dolomites with WOWNature

The Initiatives