I’ve started this blog to share a resource of conservation tools that I know can make a difference anywhere in the world. I’m starting with the opportunity conservationists need to grap onto with two hands - blogs.

Most conservationists I know have a mental block about the internet, websites and all things technical including blogs. I want to demystify blogs and wake you all up to the fact that blogs can be your best friends in conservation.

A blog is also known as a weblog which sounds complicated but it’s just an online diary and guestbook.

A personal blog is your best friend because although it is the fastest growing new activity on the internet, you can do it and be part of it without any training - from today! Blogging is the ultimate in free speech, it allows everyone to share their thoughts – about everything and anything.

It’s true, absolutely anyone can start a blog! There are millions of them out there already and growing by the millions every day about all manner of topics – especially politics. I specialize in wildlife conservation blogs which are under represented, especially in Africa, Asia and south America. But this is about to turn around…

WildlifeDirect pioneered the use of blogs for conservation community building to raise awareness and much needed funds. Through the Wildlifedirect.org blog hosting platform there is a large community of field based conservationists in some of the most remote corners of the wilderness who are using blogs to inform the world about their lives in the field, to raise global awareness, to involve the community of readers, to solicit help, and to share and learn. A community of supporters on Wildlifedirect.org are starting their own blogs to support specific projects - these are campaign blogs. This has been so successful that some projects have raised significant funds through their blogs.

If you are a conservationist, here are Six reasons why you should start a blog

1. A blog will allow you to express yourself and raise awareness about things that are important to you and the world, as they happen. Blogs are current and if you post articles as thing happen you could boost your reputation as an expert in your field and generate tremendous media interest. Two rangers in the Democratic Republic of Congo now run one of the most well known conservation blogs raising significant awareness and funds for Gorilla protection in the Virunga National Park.

2. Blogs enables you to establish relevant networks and stay in touch with people who care and are willing to help. A blog allows you to keep communication lines open with so that you can always interact with readers and supporters. It also helps nurture trust in you as an individual. Another blog, manioc valley from the Congo written by the Wildlifedirect team has drawn attention to the plight of internally displaced people, schools, a hospital, and the domestic energy crisis there. This has led to a campaigner starting a companion blog called ending charcoal to explore alternative energy in Africa and to raise funds for implementation.

3. It’s a great way of generating knowledge through sharing and getting regular feedback. Readers can comment on what you have posted and leave you information, advice, criticisms, and links to resources that you need. Joyce Poole and Petter Granli ’s blog, Elephant Voices shares information on research in elephant communication and how this is relevant to conservation policy.

4. Even an idiot can blog – it’s easy, it’s free and it’s is not labour intensive. You don’t need any computer programming knowledge. Posting once every two days is enough – this takes only a few minutes. I know this first hand because I’m an idiot and I have a blog! Wildlifedirects blog community includes NGO’s, individuals, international organizations, scientists, explorers, fund raisers, Maasai warriors, community organizations and even government rangers. Blogging can be done anywhere so long as there is network. Bloggers can post using computers or telephones from virtually anywhere on this beautiful planet, including the middle of the rainforest in the Congo.

5. It is a FANTASTIC way to promote your cause, project, NGO or website. Blogs can be linked to all these which will drive traffic to your other sites. It may be your most cost effective means of advertising your organization. Check out how it has been used to draw attention to the Mara Conservancy to raise funds to overcome a crisis in the Masai Mara. Also see

6. Blogging WILL make a difference in conservation. By talking, informing, sharing and participating in networks bloggers from all over the world are equally empowered to have a voice, and have access to a global community of environmentally conscious supporters. Rangers, scientists, conservationists, teachers, students, community workers, volunteers … can all have a say through blogs. Balemba in the Congo uses the Rumangabo Youth Alliance blog to network with schools around the world, and give his sporting event a global audience.

In addition, WildlifeDirect offers a bunch of freebies to help conservationists raise money so that they can get on with what matters - saving the wildlife. This includes free technical support, marketing support, media support and financial support. Not just any old financial support like all those other NGO’s that help you raise funds, we’re talking funds transferred for free (donations are transferred net only of bank transfer fees). That means WildlifeDirect takes nothing from donors, that’s Zero, Nada, Zilch… and yes, when you put your funds through the big conservation orgs you WILL feel a big ‘ouch’ - up to 40% of your money can be deducted for ‘overheads’ so WildlifeDirect is pretty extraordinary.

If you are convinced then you will want to start a conservation blog with WildlifeDirect immediately! Just write to me! paula@wildlifedirect.org