During Climate Week NYC, WildArk co-hosted a special event alongside Re:wild, Bush Heritage Australia, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Friends of Bush Heritage Australia, and the Karrkad Kanjdji Trust (KKT), with the generous support of the American Australian Association and Australian Ethical.
The event showcased Australia’s extraordinary biodiversity and the leadership of First Nations peoples and leading conservation not-for-profits, who are protecting and managing the landscapes we all call home.
“Australia’s story is one of deep connection between people and place,” said Kirstn Scholtz “By highlighting Indigenous-led conservation and cross-sector collaboration, we’re showing the world that real solutions already exist — we just need to scale them.”
This was the first time WildArk joined one of the world’s most influential climate gatherings . The annual event brought together leaders, innovators, and communities from across the globe to accelerate action on the climate and nature crises.
For WildArk, being there was about ensuring that Australia’s wild places and the people protecting them have a voice in global conversations shaping the planet’s future.
“Australia is home to some of the most unique species and ecosystems on Earth — many found nowhere else,” said WildArk General Manager Kirstin Scholtz. “But these landscapes are also among the most vulnerable to climate change. We’re here to share what’s working, to learn from others, and to build new alliances for nature.”
The twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss are inseparable. When ecosystems collapse, the planet’s ability to regulate carbon, water, and temperature collapses too. From more intense wildfires to species extinctions, the signs are clear: the natural systems that sustain us are under immense pressure.
Yet within those challenges lies extraordinary opportunity. Protecting and restoring wild places is one of the most powerful climate solutions available.
“Nature has all the solutions we are looking for,” said Kirstin Scholtz. “Every hectare of forest or wetland that’s restored helps cool the planet, store carbon, and support communities that depend on it.”
Amid the urgency of the climate crisis, WildArk’s presence at Climate Week was a reminder that there is hope — and that hope lies in collaboration.
There’s a global community rising to the challenge. By standing together — Indigenous leaders, scientists, conservationists, investors, and citizens — can protect what remains and restore what’s been lost. WildArk is proud to be part of that collective movement for the wild.
