In August, Jayden Gunn, the vice chair of K2W Link, attended the 12th World Wilderness Conference – WILD12 hosted by the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council of the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA.

Jayden presented on K2W Link and the Power of Collaborative Conservation. K2W Link is more than just a project to reconnect habitats; it’s a platform for connecting people and fostering a sense of shared responsibility for our environment.

By bringing together diverse stakeholders, including First Nations communities, conservation groups, and local residents, K2W is building a strong network of support for conservation efforts in the Southern and Central Tablelands region of NSW. Through citizen science projects, educational programs, and landholder engagement, K2W is empowering individuals to play a meaningful role in protecting our natural heritage.

Jayden joined Australians, Jess Abrahams, a national nature campaigner for the Australian Conservation Foundation and BJ Cruse, a Yuin man and chairman of the Eden Aboriginal Land Council, to share conservation stories and learnings from their work across Australia. They joined wilderness advocates and leaders of organisations from 37 countries.

The Coalition WILD invited Jayden to review and vote on the resolution process addressing environmental challenges. There, he endorsed a goal of having more organisations dedicate time to youth mentorship and training.

“The focus of the congress was First Nations, and it was a cry for help for their culture, cultural practices and wild places. It was quite incredible to hear the stories. At the congress, they recognised that 10% of the land on earth is managed by Indigenous tribes and within that land is 80% of the biodiversity on the planet,” said Jayden.

“One of the resolutions and goals of the WILD12 congress was to see their 30 x 30 plan come to life, which would see that 10% of indigenous managed land increased to 30% by 2030 in an attempt to protect and expand on the world’s wild places, and it’s inhabitants.

“These efforts show the resilience of cultures around the world and that should inspire us all to look to protect, promote and ensure the longevity of our own indigenous cultures, right here in Australia” Jayden said.