Who We Are
Celebrating and empowering all acts of conservation is at the core of what we do, whether it’s a simple pollinator garden or a complex wetlands restoration.
WHC conservation programs advance companies’ biodiversity, sustainability, employee engagement and community relations goals.
Successful WHC conservation programs align with local, regional and national conservation priorities and contribute to collective positive outcomes for people and nature.
We partner with corporations, their employees, NGOs, government agencies and community members to empower science-based projects for conservation, education and recreation.
We’re the only conservation organization to work exclusively with corporate landowners to establish, enhance, maintain and protect biodiversity around the world.
Since 1988, WHC has certified more than 1,000 habitat enhancement and conservation education programs worldwide.
Successful WHC Certification programs have been proven to provide substantial benefits to communities, increase employee morale, further sustainability goals, and strengthen relationships with stakeholders. Establishing and maintaining credibility of your programs not only promotes your biodiversity efforts, but will also yield a greater return on investment.
Other positive outcomes include:
At WHC, we are committed to the idea of radical transparency. This means we are open and direct with information about our organization, procedures and outcomes. We believe this level of transparency is a requirement of any certifying body and hope that it drives conversation, innovation and ultimately, increased actions for a nature-positive world.
The private sector has a critical role to play in the biodiversity crisis in managing, restoring and protecting lands for nature. We encourage companies to tell their stories about their biodiversity work and achievements. Storytelling serves a variety of business goals and ultimately will increase long-term investments for corporate conservation efforts.
It is in the recognition aspect of our work where the risk of greenwashing accusations lies. WHC statements will always reflect true and accurate information related to our work, including but not limited to WHC Certification, membership and sponsorship data.
We also hold our network partners accountable to telling true and accurate stories about their work with WHC. Here is how we advise that companies should and should not communicate about WHC Certification.
Announcement: Share that a conservation program at a specific site has received or renewed WHC Certification.
Celebration: Share that a company has X number of WHC-certified programs with some achieving silver and gold tiers of recognition.
Goal setting: A company’s suite of certified programs across a territory is an indication of their aspirations towards sustainability or better corporate citizenship.
Vision: Communicate a company’s vision or goal for biodiversity that seeks to deliver a nature-positive result is a good evolution in a company’s citizenship journey.
False Claims: Do not claim that a product developed at a corporate operation with a WHC-Certified program is somehow greener e.g., “Our widget was produced at a factory with WHC Certification.”
Omissions and Vagueness: Do not imply that an entire operation or company is “WHC Certified” when its certification applies to a specific site or program.
Outright Lies: Do not say that a company has achieved or renewed WHC Certification when it has not.
Financials and Policies
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