Stewardship of Natural Resources and the Environment operates as one of the core pillars and is deeply connected to the principles of Inner-Development/Inner-Leadership and Self-Knowledge, and Animal Anti-Cruelty, Welfare and Wellbeing. We acknowledge the sacredness of nature and affirm the vital importance of preserving, rehabilitating and revering our indigenous fauna and flora while promoting awareness of their value.

 

‘From a young age my parents took our family on regular visits to the Kruger National Park and on holidays where we hiked in the Drakensberg Mountains.  This awakened a deep love for animals and the natural environment but also a serious concern about the heavy footprint humankind is leaving on our ecosystems.”
– Lorraine Forbes

 

“We need to recognise the intrinsic rights of nature and animals so that human beings can coexist harmoniously within nature and not see nature as a commodity to be exploited.”
– The Sophia Philanthropic Foundation Ethos

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Guiding Principles
 

• We support organisations that reflect our values and make ethical decisions in the best interests of animals and ecosystems.
   

• We exclude any programme involving any form of animal cruelty, hunting or trophy hunting.
   

• We will not support organisations, people and governments that wish to exploit/own/use the wilderness and its creatures for profit in the name of sustainable use.
   

• We prefer Conservation PBOs/NGOs over state-led programmes unless exceptional alignment with our vision is demonstrated.
   

• As we believe Inner-development is essential, we encourage projects that include a component of personal growth, self-reflection and conscious leadership, ensuring deeper and more sustainable outcomes. Conservation must be grounded in respect, kinship, and mutual belonging, acknowledging the delicate web of life in which we are all entangled.
   

 

Priority Focus Areas
 

• Climate change mitigation and adaptation.
   

• Biodiversity protection, addressing threats such as habitat loss, invasive species, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.
   

• Corridor creation in conservation, to allow for safe wildlife movement and the flourishing of indigenous species – especially in the Cape Floristic Region, a World Heritage Site.
   

• Programmes in the regional area of the Sabi Sand - where the Forbes family have interests and where the Founder’s great appreciation, love and concern for wildlife evolved - to ensure a positive future for the wilderness, wildlife and communities through a holistic approach to conservation and sustainable tourism. We support the creation of corridors... where indigenous wildlife can move safely and freely without persecution and where our vulnerable and threatened flora is protected and can thrive.

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Inner Leadership and Personal Development​

We champion a new model of conservation leadership – one that integrates self-awareness, resilience, holistic thinking and well-being.
 

• Conservation leaders should be trained not only in ecology but also in inner leadership: self-reflection, emotional intelligence, crisis navigation and the capacity to inspire.
   

• Business leaders, who often dominate conservation, need to understand not just economics, but also ecosystem health, biodiversity and community well-being.
   

• Ranger Corps and conservation teams should be supported in both technical skill-building and personal development (e.g. integrity, self-regulation, resilience). The concept of Sophia leadership is the conscious reconnection of mind, body, soul and spirit. Without this deeper awareness, we cannot truly solve the enormous challenges caused by human impact.

 

 

Community Engagement and Education

 

• Conservation must uplift local communities and include them as active stewards of the land.
   

• Youth education in areas adjacent to parks and reserves is essential for long-term conservation success.
   

• Skills development and job creation should be embedded in conservation projects, ensuring that ecological care is tied to human wellbeing.
   

• We encourage creative and interdisciplinary approaches that connect people, land, and future livelihoods.
   

• Traditional ecological knowledge with deep connection to land and balance with nature must be honoured and integrated.
   

• We are open to innovative, community-centered conservation models that think outside of the box. This will hopefully tap into a carbon crediting programme where communities can benefit... encouraging the preservation of natural habitats and use of alternative energy sources.

 

 

Sustainability and Impact​

Working with bigger landscapes, including corridor conservation where islands of biodiversity or separate protected areas are linked through corridors, are important considerations for the protection of biodiversity and the safe movement of wildlife. This is particularly important for the conservation of species that cannot be confined to protected areas such as birds of prey and leopards, and for allowing animal movement for genetic diversity.

 

• Encouraging the collaboration of NGOs – moving away from siloed efforts toward shared strategy and mutual reinforcement.

• Investing in forward-thinking coalitions that imagine new conservation futures and shift from reactive to proactive interventions.

 

Organisations often work in isolation, instead of coming together for greater impact. Supporting conservation movements and coalitions ensures sustainability and greater impact

 

 

Advocacy and Legal Influence

 

• Legal frameworks have unmatched longevity and reach. We support campaigns, coalitions and advocacy work that shape laws and policies to protect ecosystems and species e.g. The Rights of Nature.
   

• Conservation must become a mainstream political and public concern, with deep education and ethical awareness at its core.

 

Enacted laws have the greatest longevity and widest reach... which is why Peace Parks and the Wilderness Foundation work with politicians and government departments.

 

 

Consciousness and Sacredness

Our work is ultimately spiritual and moral. The Sophia Philanthropic Foundation calls for a restoration of sacredness in how we live with nature - through ritual, reverence and awakening to the reality of ecological collapse. Our central aim is to foster Sophia Consciousness - an inner awareness that reconnects us to the Earth, honours more-than-human life and reimagines our place within the web of existence.

 

“If we are to keep our family homestead safe for coming generations, we must awaken to a new respect for the family of life.  We are kin to, and must be kind to, all creation. Overcoming speciesism – the illusion of human superiority – will be the next step in our moral and spiritual evolution.” – Gary Kowalaski, The Souls of Animals.

 

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