Vance Martin

Dedicated to collaboration and cooperation as an effective means of empowering a wider social movement for nature conservation, Martin has helped initiate or worked closely with others to foster many new projects and organizations. The significant collaborations include: International Conservation Caucus Foundation (with David H. Baron), Earth Vision Institute (with James Balog), documentary films Chasing Ice and Chasing Coral (with Jeff Orlowski and James Balog); and founding member of the Nature Needs Half Steering Committee (2015).

A key moment in Martin's career was his central role in conceiving, initiating and managing the first international agreement on wilderness signed by the governments of Canada, United States and Mexico in November, 2009, at WILD9 (9th World Wilderness Congress) (Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for Wilderness and Protected Areas Conservation). At that same time he also co-conceived and launched the Nature Needs Half vision and practice with friend and colleague Harvey Locke.

Martin is committed to the critical role of human culture as a necessary and effective force in nature conservation, and in creating solutions across boundaries and ideologies. Central to this is his dedication to working with Indigenous Peoples (IP) and local communities to assure respect and rightful regard for their knowledge, rights, and cultural practices. As well as working with traditional communities, elders and leaders in Africa, Asia, and North and South America, he co-founded the Native Lands and Wilderness Council with Terry Tanner of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (2005); co-founded with Sharon Shay Sloan the Indigenous and Community Lands and Seas project (2013); and continues to work very closely with Chief Tashka Yawanawa and his people in the far Western Amazon.

As a lifetime advocate of the arts and humanities as a key tool for effective nature conservation, Martin fostered (among many initiatives) the founding of the International League of Conservation Photographers with Cristina Mittermeier (2005), the International League of Conservation Writers (with Bob Baron of Fulcrum Publishing); initiated and co-produced the innovative Rap Guide to Wilderness (2014), with Canadian artist, Baba Brinkman; and co-produced with Patricio Robles Gil the performance art piece, Wild Rituals, Painted Bodies at the 9th World Wilderness Congress (2009, Mexico)

Between 1992 and 2002, Martin closely collaborated with Dr Laurie Marker to establish and expand the Cheetah Conservation Fund, based in Namibia. He served as its President for 10 years and remains on the Board of Trustees. CCF is recognized as the premier global initiative to protect the endangered wild cheetah, and has become one of the most successful and far-reaching species-oriented field projects in the world.

Martin has been President of the WILD Foundation since 1983, leading program and financial development for a conservation NGO that was established by South African conservationist Dr. Ian Player in 1974. He works primarily on fundraising, program strategy and management for WILD, frequently traveling between the headquarters in Colorado with WILD projects and affiliated organizations around the world. Martin works extensively in Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, Russia, and the Americas to foster the understanding, policy, and action needed to protect and sustain wild nature while meeting the needs of human communities. His work brings him into all sectors of society from the government and corporate world to academics, the arts, local communities, and native/indigenous cultures.

Martin has been the International Director of the World Wilderness Congress (WWC) since 1983, as well as the executive editor for all its publications. The WWC has been described as the Olympics of the wilderness conservation world. Approximately every four years in a different country, the WWC convenes a diverse convergence of leaders in international conservation, government, science, the arts and humanities, communications, and business with the public to: achieve practical conservation results; strengthen constructive dialogue and positive action on important environmental issues; promote a greater understanding of wilderness; and enhance the protection of wildlands and seas. Established in South Africa in 1977, this is the world's longest-running, international, public conservation project and environmental forum. The “WILD10” process, of which Martin was Co-Chair, took place in Europe and convened in Salamanca, Spain, in October 2013.

Prior to working for WILD and while gaining his university degree, Martin was co-owner of Natural Foods Store, the first organic and natural foods store in northern West Virginia, Martin also co-owned an antique and artisanal crafts import business. Beginning in 1974, he spent 10 years with The Findhorn Foundation in Scotland. There he developed his skills for non-profit management alongside furthering his wilderness ethic, land management experience, and his understanding of how the human world interfaces with the natural world. During his years at Findhorn, Martin served at varying times as (sic) Executive Director; Director of gardens, farms, and landscaping; Director of environmental programs; Founder/Director of Trees for Life, a social movement for growing and planting trees; as Warden (custodian) of Traigh Bhan on the island of Iona, in the Inner Hebrides; on the Core (central policy) Group, in the Education Department; and on the Management Committee.

Vance G. Martin (born July 20, 1949; Washington, D.C.) is an expert in international nature conservation and wilderness protection, and a writer. Martin specializes in bridging the interests of people and nature through culture, communications, science, and policy. He has worked in more than 65 nations, lived in many countries, and served on the boards of numerous conservation and business organizations. Since 1983, he has served as President of The WILD Foundation, an international conservation organization explicitly dedicated to protecting wilderness, connecting wild nature to people, and to communicating the values of wilderness and its benefits for human communities.

Vance G. Martin (full name Vance Gregory Martin) was born July 20, 1949 in Washington, D.C., to Alyce Dickerson Martin, (deceased, 2013), and Thomas O. Martin, (deceased, 1994, a 25 year veteran of the FBI). He grew up mostly throughout the Maryland/Virginia/West Virginia area of the United States. He spent f his free time in the forests and fields of the Piedmont Region, and later (during university) in the Appalachian Mountains. In 1971, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and minor studies in forestry and wildlife management.