Solar powered conservation
By Bhalin Singh, special to mongabay.comAugust 25, 2009
| The Wildlife Conservation Network is holding its annual Wildlife Conservation Expo on Saturday, October 13, 2012 from 10am to 6pm at the Mission Bay Conference Center in San Francisco, CA. The lineup includes 20 prominent conservationists. |
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 Stephen Gold in Ethiopia in 2008 |
However, the mission has not been easy. Challenges have included logistics, availability of equipment and funding. Still, Gold is hopeful that with support, the initiative will expand to other parts of the world.
In an August interview with mongabay.com, Gold discussed the Wildlife Conservation Network's Solar Project.
Note: If you are interested in learning more about the Wildlife Conservation Network's Solar Project, Stephen Gold will be available to meet at the Wildlife Conservation Network's Expo in San Francisco on Saturday, October 3th.
AN INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN GOLD
Mongabay: What is your background and how did you get interested in solar power?
 Stephen Gold on a working vacation in Ethiopia in 2008 |
I first became interested in solar energy at a very young age, looking at satellites and solar cells powering small fans, but it was not until the early 1970s, that I really saw solar energy as a viable and sustainable alternative to fossil fuel.
Mongabay: How did your connection to wildlife conservation begin?
Stephen Gold: I have traveled to a number of countries and I have always been attracted to animals and ecosystems. When you look into another being's eyes, it changes you.
Mongabay: What was the inspiration behind providing solar power for conservationists in the field?
 Two Maasi working with Save the Elephants in Kenya |
Mongabay: From inception of this idea to completion of your first solar project, what was required of you and others to make this real?
Stephen Gold: That was a long road. It started with calling local contacts, writing letters, emails, getting many rejections, and finally finding BP Solar, who gave the project a foundation. They donated all of the solar modules. Companies like Solar Depot in Petaluma, Outback Power Systems, MK Batteries, Morningstar Corp. and a local lumber company, Beronio Lumber followed, making the project a reality.
All of these companies donated materials, labor and tremendous good will, which enabled me to acquire the necessary components to put together the initial nine systems. Although I could not have done this alone, I personally put in many, many hours.
Mongabay: Now that WCN has a foothold in several countries, what's the next step? More similar projects or larger scaled ones?
 Gitonga array at Amboseli, Kenya |
Mongabay: What are the biggest challenges WCN Solar faces in the near term? Long term?
Stephen Gold: Like everyone else, funding. I have personally donated hundreds of hours and substantial amounts of money to make this project a reality. I will continue to have the same needs in the long term. More people need to understand that if we do not want our children to think of a cheetah as a mythological animal like a unicorn, we need to help people who are devoting their lives to saving them.
Mongabay: Is there a way to get the local communities to benefit where perhaps schools, clinics, etc can be established and work together with WCN's conservationists? Studies have nearly always shown when the local populace benefits, tremendous success for wildlife conservation ensues.
 Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Project with Stephen Gold in the center |
- Save the Elephants, based in Kenya, awards scholarships to local schoolchildren for secondary education and provides material support both to local primary schools and health clinics.
- Painted Dog Conservation in Zimbabwe creates economic opportunities for local artisans to transform snare wire into art, which is sold internationally, and also works in sixteen local communities to facilitate the development of nutritional gardens for alternative sources of protein to bushmeat, improved nutrition and income generation.
Living with Lions project in Kenya - Proyecto Tití, protecting the cotton-top tamarin monkey in Colombia, created a program in which local women weave discarded plastic bags (a ubiquitous form of waste that litters the countryside) into profitable fashion handbags, sold throughout Colombia and internationally. In addition to earning a good income, these enterprising women are also learning valuable skills in managing a small business.
- Snow Leopard Conservancy helps Himalayan villagers (whose livelihood is threatened by snow leopard attacks on their livestock) cover vital expenses, such as health care and school fees for their children, by offering homestays, solar showers, trail-side cafes and warm knitted clothing to passing trekkers.
Stephen Gold: We are not sure at this time.
Mongabay: What ways can people get involved and help WCN Solar Projects?
 Save the Elephants site in Kenya |
Mongabay: Ideally, where would you like WCN Solar to be in five years?
Stephen Gold: I see the project continuing, spreading to other parts of the world, and becoming an influential example of sustainable living. It is now almost 5 years old, already empowering the work of ten conservation projects, and just starting to become what I have envisioned.
If you are interested in learning more about the Wildlife Conservation Network's Solar Project, Stephen Gold will be available to meet at the Wildlife Conservation Network's Expo in San Francisco on Saturday, October 3th
