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WHAT IS IT?
WHAT IS IT?
The ReWild Child Project is our ambitious rewilding and education initiative for the young people of Ireland. We will be protecting and restoring important habitats in the name of future generations. We're going to share the journey with Ireland's schools as an inspiring and practical educational resource by creating Ireland's first online biodiversity education centre. We'll be able to reach every classroom in Ireland - creating exciting virtual habitats where Ireland's 8,500 schools and 100,000 educators can bring their 1 million young people to learn about tackling the biodiversity crisis and boost their eco-literacy. This is a huge, ambitious and exciting project and entirely crowd-funded by individuals, schools and businesses.
WHY?
In a nutshell, we are causing one of the largest extinctions of life in the history of planet earth.
Nationally, Ireland is ranked 228th of 240 countries for biodiversity intactness. We are one of the worst in the world.
What does that say about us? And what message is that to our children?
If we continue, the complete collapse of the natural world is an absolute, scientific certainty.
What we must do right now is equip young people with the knowledge and love of nature and preserve as much as possible for them.
Nationally, Ireland is ranked 228th of 240 countries for biodiversity intactness. We are one of the worst in the world.
What does that say about us? And what message is that to our children?
If we continue, the complete collapse of the natural world is an absolute, scientific certainty.
What we must do right now is equip young people with the knowledge and love of nature and preserve as much as possible for them.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
We've made this as easy and affordable as possible. By purchasing our certificate for €4.95 we buy 1 sq m of land.
For a little more than the price of a coffee you literally create space for nature, forever.
If you can give more, please do. We have a range of options available from 1 sq m all the way up to 1 acre. Everyone can get involved including individuals, schools and businesses. Perhaps your classroom would like to purchase 1sqm? Perhaps you could purchase 1sqm for each of your employees? Maybe your Transition Year group would like to raise funds? Businesses please bear in mind you can reclaim 23% VAT on all costs listed for this unique service. Please get in touch with us here to become an official supporter of this pioneering Irish biodiversity and education project.
For a little more than the price of a coffee you literally create space for nature, forever.
If you can give more, please do. We have a range of options available from 1 sq m all the way up to 1 acre. Everyone can get involved including individuals, schools and businesses. Perhaps your classroom would like to purchase 1sqm? Perhaps you could purchase 1sqm for each of your employees? Maybe your Transition Year group would like to raise funds? Businesses please bear in mind you can reclaim 23% VAT on all costs listed for this unique service. Please get in touch with us here to become an official supporter of this pioneering Irish biodiversity and education project.
WHY US?
Here at Biodiversity in Schools we have a long track record in delivering high quality, innovative, impactful education programmes. We are Ireland's national biodiversity education organisation for young people, we launched Ireland's first biodiversity education officer network, we are the leading supplier of outdoor learning resources to schools and coordinate the national mark of excellence in outdoor education - the Nature Hero Awards. As an independent, innovative, highly effective social enterprise we work to our own remit while reinvesting all our profits back into achieving our goal... inspiring children and protecting nature.
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A LITTLE MORE SCIENCE...
A LITTLE MORE SCIENCE...
There is no nice way to put this... the natural world is on the brink of complete collapse. That's a simple, sad, scientific fact.
The next generation who are currently sitting in classrooms all over the country, and who we work with every day, are about to inherit a planet on the brink and it is our moral responsibility to do all we can to help.
Right now one of the sixth largest extinction events in the history of planet earth is underway. Every single day on average 50 species are going extinct. Gone, gone forever. This is happening on our watch and we are the ones at fault. Since the 1970s, we have managed to eradicate almost 70% of all mammal, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish populations.
As David Attenborough points out: "if we don't take action, the collapse of our civilizations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon."
Biodiversity and the services provided by ecosystems give us absolutely everything we need to survive. It provides us with materials, oxygen, food, medicine, cleans up our environment, recycles our waste and supports our mental wellbeing. This happens every minute of every day. Without it we simply could not survive. Nature does this at no cost, it never asks us anything in exchange and all we have to do is respect it. When these systems collapse - which they scientifically, absolutely, inevitably will if we stay on this track - life as we have been accustomed to simply cannot continue. We owe it to the children of Ireland to do our absolute best to preserve as much as possible while we still can.
The next generation who are currently sitting in classrooms all over the country, and who we work with every day, are about to inherit a planet on the brink and it is our moral responsibility to do all we can to help.
Right now one of the sixth largest extinction events in the history of planet earth is underway. Every single day on average 50 species are going extinct. Gone, gone forever. This is happening on our watch and we are the ones at fault. Since the 1970s, we have managed to eradicate almost 70% of all mammal, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish populations.
As David Attenborough points out: "if we don't take action, the collapse of our civilizations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon."
Biodiversity and the services provided by ecosystems give us absolutely everything we need to survive. It provides us with materials, oxygen, food, medicine, cleans up our environment, recycles our waste and supports our mental wellbeing. This happens every minute of every day. Without it we simply could not survive. Nature does this at no cost, it never asks us anything in exchange and all we have to do is respect it. When these systems collapse - which they scientifically, absolutely, inevitably will if we stay on this track - life as we have been accustomed to simply cannot continue. We owe it to the children of Ireland to do our absolute best to preserve as much as possible while we still can.
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FAQs
FAQs
Who owns the land?
The land will be owned by Biodiversity in Schools for the purpose of nature conservation and education in perpetuity.
Where is the land?
It's not possible to give you an exact 1 sq m plot. However, when you buy a certificate you will receive a unique order number. Write this on your certificate in the space provided to validate your certificate. Also record the date on your certificate. As we purchase land the date you purchased your certificate will correspond to land locations. We estimate a 3 year fundraising drive until December 2025 after which purchases will begin.
Is this a Non-profit project?
We are running this project as a not-for-profit project and as land purchases begin we will publish summary accounts of how the money was spent. Biodiversity in Schools is a social enterprise, not a charity. Like a charity we re-invest our profits into achieving our environmental goals. However, unlike a charity, we do not ask for donations. We raise our funds through an entrepreneurial model of selling innovative products and services. The ReWild Child Project is not a donation but the purchase of a service. We function as a limited company. Therefore, like all limited companies our annual accounts are publicly available.
What type of land are you focusing on?
Ideally, we will focus our efforts on land with a high biodiversity value. After this we will target low productivity agricultural land which has a high nature value and would benefit from rewilding. We will look into all habitat types from woodlands to wetlands. We follow best scientific advise throughout.
Is there a minimum target?
We aim to raise funds over a period of 3 years with a financial target of €250,000.
