In celebration of Earth Month, The Walt Disney Company is highlighting some of our commitments to taking meaningful action to support a healthier planet for future generations. By reducing our environmental footprint, investing in animal care and conservation, and telling stories that inspire action, we continue our longstanding work to ensure that people, plants and animals have a healthy place to call home.
The Walt Disney Company EMEA supports eight conservation projects, and the complete list of The Walt Disney EMEA conservation projects can be seen below.
One highlight of Disney EMEA’s efforts as part of the company’s global conversation campaign is, The Lion King: Protect the Pride, which is focused on protecting and revitalising the lion population across Africa by raising awareness and contributing to the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund. Since 2017, Disney has granted nearly $32.8 million to 80 organisations and supported 116 projects across 23 different countries to protect the lion population. Protect the Pride is continuing to make progress towards its 2050 goal to double the number of lions across South Africa.
Internally, The Walt Disney Company EMEA has had over 250 VoluntEARS dedicate nearly 1,900 hours to support sustainability and conservation causes. Of that, 63 VoluntEARS and 266 hours have taken place through our partnership with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the UK, who continue to work with Disney to counter the growing environmental threats to our planet and protect wetlands for future generations. Disney VoluntEARS have completed numerous projects including coppicing trees, repainting bird hides, reprofiling banks and general maintenance and clearing areas within the wetlands.
Disney EMEA Conversation Projects
The Lion King: Protect the Pride, Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund
The Lion King: Protect the Pride campaign focuses on protecting and revitalizing the lion population. Disney is collaborating with the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund and local country conservation partners to support their vision to double the lion population across Africa by 2050 through efforts that engage communities to ensure a future for African wildlife and their habitats.
Conserving the Western Kalahari, Cheetah Conservation Botswana (Wildlife Conservation Network)
Offering support to strengthen and diversify livelihoods among communities in priority wildlife areas of the Western Kalahari of Botswana to enable coexistence with cheetahs and other threatened
carnivores. Assessing and initiating conservation-friendly livelihood projects, training farmers in sustainable agriculture, and raising environmental awareness, especially among youth.
Linking Lemurs and Leaders: Madagascar, Conservation Fusion
Building conservation leaders and connecting communities in Madagascar to the science of conservation through active participation in conservation education and leadership training. Highlighting tangible benefits of ecotourism and restoring critical lemur habitat by planting 60,000+ trees annually.
Saving Wildlife: Gorillas (Year 9), Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center
Working with communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to reduce hunting, and explore strategies to reintroduce rescued gorillas back into the wild. Increasing community protection of great apes through the support of community education and development programs to support people while inspiring conservation action.
Community-led Custodianship for Southern Ground-hornbills, Mabula Ground Hornbill Project
Reversing the decline of the southern ground-hornbill in South Africa by mitigating threats like lead poisoning and traditional medicinal trade and reintroducing birds in areas of local species extinction. Providing artificial nests, rearing chicks for reintroduction, predator-proofing of nest trees, and undertaking a national communication/awareness campaign to reduce lead poisoning.
Expanding Okapi Conservation Project Initiatives, Okapi Conservation Project (Global Wildlife Conservation)
Growing efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to protect wildlife, support community wellbeing, and provide conservation education on the importance of protecting the forest for people and okapi. Hiring and supporting local staff to develop educational programming, as well as supporting the agroforestry and nursery programs that help increase community food security and empower community members to support the sustainability of their land.
Save the Elephants (Wildlife Conservation Network), STE’s Elephants and Bees Project
Reducing elephant-human conflict in Kenya by using honey bees as a natural deterrent to cropraiding elephants. Tracking success through radio-collared elephants. Providing community-wide education and training for sustainable, elephant-friendly livelihood alternatives to traditional maize farming.
Saving Wildlife: Elephants (Year 9), Wildlife Conservation Society
Supporting work that addresses both poaching and human-elephant conflict, protects elephant habitat, promotes conservation legislation and helps train local conservationists in Kenya.
For more on Disney’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, please see The Walt Disney Company’s Global CSR Report 2023.