International Animal Rescue Marks Earth Day 2025 with Stories of Hope and Harmony
By Jill Dando News
International Animal Rescue (IAR) marks Earth Day 2025 by sharing Stories of Hope and Harmony, highlighting how they’ve worked with communities through empathy and collaboration to help humans and wildlife coexist.
These powerful images capture real-life moments of people forming deep connections with nature and animals, showing that coexistence is not just an ideal, but a global reality.
IAR CEO Gavin Bruce says: "Earth Day brings us face-to-face with our connection to nature and the need to work alongside communities to deliver long-term conservation solutions which benefit both the community and the environment. We can't just take away income streams; we need to provide alternatives to achieve long-term conservation goals, and that's what we've been delivering. From Indonesia's rainforests to Armenia's hills, we have shown that we can succeed when we educate and support communities in new ways, which improves their prosperity and wellbeing, while also delivering a positive impact for nature."
In Indonesia, IAR’s partner YIARI has planted over 130,000 trees.
Their broader forest protection efforts cover 300,000 hectares—key habitats for species like orangutans—preventing an estimated 70 million tonnes of CO2e from entering the atmosphere. Forest conservation is vital for countless rare and endangered species.
Some key IAR community initiatives:
- The Power of Mama: The first 96-strong female firefighting team in Borneo.
- Community Empowerment: Supporting forest-edge communities with education and alternative income sources.
- Scholarship Programme: Provides high school access to youth in remote areas, offering bikes and boarding where needed. Currently, 28 students are supported, with 11 graduates—many now aiming for careers in medicine or teaching.
- Access to Literacy: Reaches out to unschooled children and women with limited educational opportunities, setting up libraries and donating laptops in remote villages to promote learning and reduce illegal activities.
- Learning Centre: The Sir Michael Uren Learning Centre in Ketapang is a hub for education, conservation, and community building, engaging locals, institutions, and NGOs to support sustainable growth.
- Agricultural Programmes: In regions affected by illegal mining, YIARI teaches organic farming and sustainable practices while providing tech and educational access.
- Rescue and Release: Over 770 animals released across Indonesia, with 565 species protected in the Batutegi forest.
- Habitat Conservation: 300,000+ hectares of forest preserved, preventing 70 million tonnes of CO2e emissions through peat swamp protection.
"For example, the journey of The Power of Mama shows the power of grassroots initiatives and collective action in wildlife conservation. These remarkable women are safeguarding forests, educating the next generation, challenging gender norms, inspiring change, and building resilient communities. Their connection to nature and dedication is a testament to local engagement's crucial role in achieving lasting conservation outcomes."
