The idea of creating a ‘Gaia’ Foundation emerged in the early 1980’s, from Liz Hosken, Edward Posey and a group of ecological pioneers from the South, including Prof. Wangari Maathai (Kenya) and JosÈ Lutzenberger (Brazil). Their common vision was to demonstrate how human development and wellbeing are derived from the health and understanding of the living planet (Gaia), and indeed the Universe itself, of which we are an inextricable part.

The Gaia Foundation was founded as a registered Charity (no.327412), with Sir Laurens van der Post as its first patron. We are honoured to have Thomas Berry as our current patron.

The organisation soon became known for enabling “Voices from the South” to be heard at environmental debates. Its strength was in linking pioneers (Gaia Associates) and grassroots actions for the protection of biological and cultural diversity in Africa, Latin America and Asia, to interest groups and funding entities in the UK and Europe.

An early focus was to support indigenous communities in the Amazon in their struggle to secure the rights to their territory, and Gaia was successful in raising international awareness and support in Europe. A Micro-projects programme for rainforest community initiatives enabled funds and technical support to be channelled to indigenous groups in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Venezuela (also in Thailand and Malaysia), for legal training, productive projects, territorial demarcation and cultural recuperation.

This heralded a long-term partnership between Gaia and several Colombian non-government organisations, including FundaciÛn Gaia Amazonas, and the launch of the COAMA programme for the consolidation of indigenous territories in the Colombian Amazon region. Since 1991, COAMA has received funding from the European Commission and other European governments (Austria, Denmark, Holland and Sweden), and was honoured with the Right Livelihood Award in 1999. Activities in support of indigenous education, health and self-determination, now include indigenous communities in trans-boundary regions between Colombia, Brazil and Venezuela.

By the late 1980s Gaia was also working with groups in Africa, such as the Green Belt Movement in Kenya and the Valley Trust in South Africa, and supporting community-level actions for the environment, reforestation, health and food security.

In the mid-1990s, however, Gaia’s work in Africa was influenced by growing threats to biological and cultural diversity through the privatisation of rights and natural resources. Genetic engineering, agro-biodiversity, patents and trade, became a key focus and Gaia developed new partnerships with groups such as the Institute for Sustainable Development (Ethiopia) and Biowatch (South Africa). Biodiversity and community rights were also themes of concern for Gaia’s partner organisations in India, especially the Navdanya movement, founded by Dr. Vandana Shiva, working directly with peasant farmers and with policy-makers on agricultural diversity, sustainable livelihoods and organic farming.

An active role in the international arena was required, to strengthen legally binding agreements that would provide some protection for local control over biological and genetic resources. Gaia enabled partners from Africa to work with European allies and participate directly in negotiations such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Seed Treaty, and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Model laws on biological resources and community rights were also drafted and endorsed by the African Union (formerly the Organisation of African Unity –OAU), providing a firm and common African position at world negotiations on trade and biodiversity.

To support this work as well as local-level actions to protect on-farm and wild biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge, Gaia joined with GRAIN to launch its Local Biodiversity and Global Trade programme. The programme has played a formative role in the African Biodiversity Network (ABN), and supported micro-projects in Latin America and Asia.

The ABN, a regional network that promotes the sustainable development and conservation of biodiversity in which local communities and indigenous knowledge play a central role, was consolidated in 2002 and funded by SIDA (Sweden), the Dutch Biodiversity Fund and the European Commission.

As our history shows, a global network has developed over the years with Gaia as a facilitator in the flow of information, exchange, reciprocity and support. Many partners have also established learning centres and these are being linked and supported through the Earth Community Network.

Gaia House in Hampstead, the home of the Gaia Foundation during 1984-2004, provides Associates and partners from the South with a place of tranquillity for rest and work. It offers a small resource centre, and is developing courses for youth and the local community. The Gaia Foundation operates from office premises nearby.

We invite you to learn more about our projects and partner organisations, the philosophy that underpins our work, and to join us for one of our Gaia Evenings or courses.

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VACANCIES

Advocacy Officer for the African Biodiversity Network. Full-time, based in Africa. More detail.

Gaia Learning Centre

2008 Programme of Events.

A range of workshops and evenings, to inspire and strengthen our relationship with the natural world and influence the choices we make in our daily lives.

** BOOK NOW **
Wild Law Workshop - 26-28 September - with the Environmental Law Foundation and the UK Environmental Law Association.

Earth Ethics Series

Summaries from recent Gaia Evenings.

Zero Carbon Britain - by Peter Harper

Restoring the Mythological Paradigm - by Jules Cashford

The Colombian Amazon: An Indigenous Peoples' Journey - by Dr. Martín von Hildebrand

Changing America's Environmental Laws - by Andrew Kimbrell.

Science's Changing Myth - by Prof. Brian Goodwin.

Countdown: Life on a Hotter Planet - by Mark Lynas.

A New Relationship with the Living Earth - by Dr. Rupert Sheldrake.

Get Involved

Other events and links to inspire you:

The Age of Stupid - the unmissable new climate change documentary for the big screen. Documentary footage, drama and cutting-edge animation asks "Why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance?"

Earth is Community - DVDs
For anyone who was not able to make our Earth is Community event, celebrating the vision and path of Thomas Berry. A set of DVDs with the main presentations, now available.

Earth Community Network

Schumacher College and Bija Vidyapeeth offer residential courses on Earth democracy and sustainable living. Visit the Earth Community Network for more opportunities in experiential learning - in Brazil, Kenya, India, UK.