Take Action — Anne Innis Dagg (AID) Foundation

Established in 2020, the Anne Innis Dagg (AID) Foundation provides support to organizations and individuals that protect the survival of the most magnificent creature on the planet, the giraffe. The Foundation directs funding to programs that raise the voices of marginalized women+ in science and education in support of Anne’s lifelong principle that people, animals and their surroundings deserve mutual respect.

Over the last 30 years, the giraffe population in Africa has reduced by up to 40%, with some sub-species being listed as critically endangered. According to the IUCN Red List, the giraffe adult population was listed at just under 70,000 in 2016. Protecting giraffes has required a multi-faceted approach due to the many threats that they face: habitat destruction, poaching, wildfires, drought, and illegal trafficking of trophies. This has put extraordinary pressure on giraffes and their habitat, therefore requiring not just coordinated efforts between the national authorities and site level conservation programs, but also matching support from organizations and partners whose goals are to protect this iconic species.

Anne is known around the world for writing The Giraffe: It’s Biology, Behaviour and Ecology, which is highly considered to be the “bible” of giraffe study. She has been a prolific writer throughout her life and has covered a range of topics including animals, ecology, locomotion, and feminism. Despite her numerous academic accomplishments, Anne experienced career-altering discrimination in the educational system that continues to stifle the advancement of many women in the STEM fields. Through the AID Foundation, Anne is committed to creating support for women+ and raising the voices of marginalized people in Africa and around the world. The AID Foundation has forged strategic partnerships to fulfill Anne Dagg’s mission and many conservation and educational programs are currently underway.

It is important to know that all operation costs and management fees associated with the Anne Innis Dagg Foundation are covered by Anne Dagg personally. Anne did this to ensure that 100% of your donations go to fund the valuable initiatives we’ve co-developed with our partners.

OUR PARTNERS OUR WORK

Anne’s trip to Kenya in January 2020 allowed her to visit some of her favourite locations to spot giraffe. She was reminded of the challenges they face and returned with a set of directives for her foundation. We needed to partner with like-minded conservationists who are doing work in the field. The Anne Innis Dagg Fund was established within Wild Nature Institute and African Wildlife Foundation to section off projects specific to Anne’s objectives.

The world is in the midst of a climate crisis that is made worse by a biodiversity crisis. Wild Nature Institute (WNI) programs address these two crises at the same time through science, education, and action. Protecting Wild Nature and Biodiversity is our best defense against the climate crisis. WNI scientists led by Monica Bond, PhD and Derek Lee, PhD, conduct original field research, analyze existing available data, and synthesize primary scientific literature to inform education and actions that protect wild nature. They are doing a tremendous amount of work, both in terms of science and education. WNI is actively collecting data and doing research on over 4,000 giraffes in Tanzania.

Anne Dagg was a fellow member of the Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group with Derek Lee of the Wild Nature Institute, who is based in Tanzania. They reconnected and spoke about the power of education and how it can establish a future for conservation. This year, the AID Foundation funded the first Anne Innis Dagg Education Coordinator for Wild Nature Institute.

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is a large organization with activities in many African countries. For our purposes, Anne narrowed the scope to concentrate on “giraffe-focused” efforts close to the work being done with WNI in Tanzania. AWF has ongoing giraffe conservation work on the Kenya side of the cross-border landscape but have not yet secured funds to implement planned activities on the Tanzania side. Any funds raised on behalf of the Anne Innis Dagg Foundation will allow AWF and its partners to implement critically needed giraffe conservation activities in Mkomazi National Park and the surrounding area. AWF will ensure the transboundary giraffe conservation work is coordinated for the benefit of the species and people. With AWF staff and offices in both Kenya and Tanzania, this presence on the ground will help ensure effective project operations.

“My life long passion has been, and continues to be, to help giraffes to survive and thrive in the wild.”