Letter to our stakeholders

Dear readers,

An eventful reporting year lies behind us. We are delighted to present the 2023 Annual Report of the Wyss Academy for Nature at the University of Bern, which looks back at our fourth year since inception. In line with our strategy, we remain committed to finding innovative solutions towards addressing the needs of nature and people. 

Envision a world in which nature conservation and human well-being are not only mutually dependent, but also reinforce each other. Finding ways of realizing this vision: that is what the Wyss Academy is about — in the regional hubs in East Africa, South America, the Swiss Canton of Bern, and since 2023, also in Southeast Asia. In the latter region, we are especially pleased to report, our new, small hub team based at the Centre for People and Forests (RECOFTC), at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, is already actively conducting work in Laos (in Sayaboury Province) and in northern Thailand. 

Annual theme: Economic approaches to change

The private sector is crucial to advancing the systemic change necessary to protect our planet. What could economic activity look like if the needs of nature and people were considered from the start? We closely examined this question in the year under review. In Peru, for example, our local partners are collaborating with Amazon nut (also known as Brazil nut) Brazil nut farmers to develop an innovative and sustainable tourist offering in the Tambopata National Reserve, in the region of Madre de Dios. In the Canton of Bern, we aim to sustain the forest and simultaneously improve the value chain of the regional logging industry. In Kenya, community groups are earning income, from dried oyster mushrooms grown on elephant dung. 

Core activities: Partnership-based exchange and commitment

One of the highlights of the last year was our Board’s project visit in Kenya in March. In addition, members of our Advisory Committee visited the Amazon region of Madre de Dios, Peru, in August, where they gained insights into the work of our Hub South America and local partner organizations. The exchange that took place with various stakeholders during both visits was inspiring and educational for everyone involved.
In addition, our competence centers – which work closely with our hubs in areas such as Research & Innovation, Global Policy Outreach & Synthesis, and Learning, Monitoring & Evaluation – also made progress towards the achievement of our strategic goals. For example, the Changemakers Program launched in 2023 empowers young people to contribute to systemic change. Out of 600 applicants, 31 young participants from Kenya, Peru, and Switzerland were selected to jointly design and complete a six-months training program tailored to their needs. The training has enabled them to implement their own projects towards positive change in their environments, on behalf of both people and nature. The program was led by our Competence Center for Global Policy Outreach & Synthesis.

A new research area added to our portfolio of expertise

We are also very pleased that a fifth research area has been added to our Competence Center for Research & Innovation. Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Quynh Nguyen, the Team Environmental Governance and Global Development began its work in mid-2023. Its main areas of focus can be found here.

Strengthening the relevance of knowledge with inter- and transdisciplinary projects

In addition to topic-specific scientific work, our research teams were also deeply engaged in inter- and transdisciplinary projects last year. These projects are exemplary of the Wyss Academy’s approach, which emphasizes addressing diverse global challenges in a networked, systemic manner. In Peru, for example, we collaborated with farmers’ organizations and other stakeholders to identify what these groups actually need in order to practice sustainable agroforestry. In Kenya, we worked together with our partners to develop solutions for improving water resources and biodiversity in the catchment area of the Ewaso Ng’iro North River – with the declared aim of “Wealthier people in healthier environments!” And in the Amazon region of Peru, our Artisanal Gold Mining project has been investigating, among other things, what hinders miners from using alternatives to mercury for gold extraction.

A concluding message

As of the end of 2023, the Wyss Academy for Nature employs 90 people from a total of 12 countries. This cultural diversity drives us forward each day as a learning organization. And it provides the ideal foundation for achieving our ambitious goals. We are committed to not only identifying innovative solutions to today’s urgent challenges, but also to applying, continuously developing, and improving such solutions. Our sincerest thanks go to our staff and partners for their dedication and for the significant strides we have made together on this path. We would also like to thank the Board and the Advisory Committee for their support, guidance, and trust.
And now we wish you an informative and enjoyable read.