Who We Are

The Sacred Natural Sites Initiative (SNSI) is the work of the many hands, hearts and minds. Coordinated by Bas Verschuuren and Robert Wild, it is hosted by ETC Foundation, Netherlands and supported by a management group and intern volunteers. SNSI is guided by an International Advisory Group. The Advisory Group includes guardians of sacred natural sites - and members form their close supporting communities - as well as others from different professions, spiritualties, religions and life paths. All advisors have worked in support of sacred natural sites and their guardians and also represent important institutional linkages. Together they bring important perspectives and experience to the initiative.

Coordinators

Bas Verschuuren - The Netherlands

Bas is a Dutch freelance researcher and project coordinator and core member of EarthCollective, an international peer-to-peer network of social and environmental entrepreneurs, making positive ideas happening. Since 2006 Bas serves as a co-Chair to the IUCN Specialist Group on Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas under the World Commission of Protected Areas. Read More »

Robert Wild - United Kingdom

Robert Wild is a nature conservation practitioner with over 25 years of experience of working with communities at protected areas in Africa, Caribbean, Asia and Europe. He has lived and worked in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and the Turks and Caicos Islands in the West Indies. Read More »

Management

The Sacred Natural Site Initiative is hosted by ETC Foundation a not for profit foundation based in the Netherlands. Since 1980, ETC has managed a wide range of development programmes including the international COMPASS Network of field based NGO and university partners that develop, test and improve Endogenous Development (ED). ETC provides the legal and institutional basis for SNSI operation, provides contractual supervision as well as project and financial management. Day to day management of SNSI is provided by a management group composed of ETC staff and the Coordinators whilst support is provided by voluntary interns to communications, case-study development and fundraising.

Rianne DollerWriter, The Netherlands
Wim HiemstraETC management, Friesland
Gilles HavikCase Study Facilitator, The Netherlands
Andrew ZylstraWebsite Development, Australia

Advisory Group

The Sacred Natural Sites Initiative is honoured to be advised by a broad and experienced group of International Advisors. Rooted in the nature conservation movement the Initiative sets great store by advisors that included individuals that are themselves guardians of sacred natural sites, or from such communities and can bring the voices of guardians themselves to the international community. Advisors also include conservation practitioners, activists and academics with deep and long experience of working with sacred natural sites.