Gemfields

Gemfields produce ethically mined coloured gemstones with a strong focus on Zambian emeralds and have been working with World Land Trust since 2010 as part of their commitment to addressing the impact of mining on the environment. In the past Gemfields have collaborated with WLT and our partner Wildlife Trust of India on the Emeralds for Elephants events held in 2010 in London and 2011 in Mumbai, India. These auctions of bespoke emerald jewellery raised vital funds for WLT’s Indian Elephant Corridors appeal which aims to save key corridor habitats for the Asian Elephant and reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Gemfields are also working to conserve biodiversity around their Kagem mine in Zambia and funded a WLT site visit to assess how best to protect and manage this part of the Miombo landscape for the benefit of wildlife. Their long term plan is to implement a conservation programme at the site in order to protect and enhance as much of this important habitat as possible. The first phase is to carry out a rapid biodiversity assessment which will be carried out by a team of UK and Zambian researchers and field assistants led by University of East Anglia (Norwich).

Gemfields have also funded the design and production of organic cotton bags for WLT use at events and have co-sponsored advertorials to help spread the word and continue to introduce new people to the work of the World Land Trust.

Elephants can cause devastating damage to crops and buildings if they are within their traditional migration routes. WLT works with the Wildlife Trust of India to reduce this conflict by voluntarily relocating villagers to a safer location. Photo © WLT.

This "tusker" was photographed using the elephant corridor protected by Wildlife Trust of India, with help from World Land Trust and Elephant Family, in Kerala. This is ultimate proof that wildlife corridors are working, both for elephants and humans. Photo © WTI.