I am so very excited to finally announce that our project fund is set up and ready to go!

WHAT IS THE PROJECT FUND?

I normally donate a percentage of my profits to conservation charities, but this year, I wanted to take ownership over where the money from my art is going and how my collectors, supporters and friends are helping to make a difference. I have therefore set up a project fund and 30% of sales from my 2022 collection 'Impermanence' will be going directly into funding these hand-picked projects from various charities and foundations. Alongside this, I want to give people the opportunity to donate directly into the fund. This is the perfect option for those who want to help make a difference, but cannot afford an original piece of art.

THE PROJECTS

Room to Roam

IFAW’s Room to Roam initiative is a new and visionary approach to conservation in Africa, with elephants and people leading the way. Backed by 20 years of science, fieldwork and engagement with local communities, Room to Roam will ensure the persistence of viable and stable elephant populations long into the future. By securing and connecting habitats, and by bringing people together, we will create safe passages for elephants and other wildlife to move freely within their home ranges of East and Southern Africa. 

The result is greater biodiversity, a natural resilience to climate change, and a future where animals and communities can not only coexist but thrive. 

Safeguarding the Snow Leopards of Himachal Pradesh

In partnership with Nature Conservation Foundation and Explorer's Against Extinction, snow leopards are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. Globally, less than 7,000 are known to exist in the wild. In India, this number is expected to stand at roughly 600.

Today, climate change and changing land use are among the major threats faced by snow leopards. The high Himalaya that is home to snow leopards in India, are even more sensitive to climate change. NCF camera traps have recorded co-occurrence of common leopard, a species usually found at lower elevations, and snow leopard in a few pockets. This could be one visible effect of warming.

There is a need to understand how snow leopards are responding to these imminent changes given their rare and elusive nature. Field studies to set up camera traps and record the presence of snow leopards and other species will be carried out in transition areas where these species could co-occur. This will involve multiple expeditions into remote areas with limited to no connectivity, to set up cameras. Cameras will have to be set up in a planned manner so as to ensure adequate coverage of the potential habitat which ranges over very large areas.

Planting Seagrass Around the UK

Seagrass is home to protected species of seahorses that live in UK waters – they’re also breeding grounds for cuttlefish and sharks, and nurseries for cod, plaice and pollock.

Just as importantly, particularly in light of the current climate crisis, seagrass absorbs 10% of the carbon buried in ocean sediment every year, making it a brilliant weapon in the fight to halt the warming of the planet.

The Marine Conservation Society is doing ongoing work to restore seagrass around the shores of the United Kingdom.


Research on Carbon Stored in Sharks & Turtles

Vital research on the contributions that marine species, such as sharks and turtles, make to combatting climate change, will be undertaken by IFAW. Carbon gains could potentially be achieved by addressing such threats as bycatch and illegal fishing. Investing in species conservation has direct climate benefits, and with solid research backing this up, climate funding will be put into local coastal community efforts to conserve such species.

How can I donate to the project fund?

If you would like to donate directly to the project fund and contribute directly to vital conservation efforts worldwide, you can do so by clicking the link below.