About
Our name
Ardea is a genus of herons found in wetlands worldwide, closely tied to the health of these ecosystems. Still and observant, they reflect the quiet balance of environments functioning as they should.
In criminology, harm often emerges in the absence of a ‘capable guardian’, whether a designated protector, such as a park ranger, or an engaged presence within the community. Like the heron, effective guardianship is not always loud or forceful, but defined by presence, awareness, and the willingness to act.
Mission
We are dedicated to understanding and mitigating illegal activities that negatively impact the environment, including illegal wildlife trade. We also examine unsustainable practices that are not yet regulated, providing critical scientific insights to guide the development and implementation of new regulatory frameworks or programmes aimed at minimising harm to the natural environment.
We accomplish this by leveraging transdisciplinary insights that integrate academic theories from both social and natural sciences with practical knowledge from on-the-ground communities, organisations, and government entities. This collaborative approach enables us to address real-world challenges with informed and diverse perspectives.
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Generate high-impact reserach
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Strengthen global coordination & capacity
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Shed light on understudied issues
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Influence policy & conservation practice
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Increase awareness & engagement
Collaborations
GuArdean collaborates with leading conservation and research specialists worldwide to develop and execute evidence-based strategies aimed at tackling illegal and unsustainable environmental practices. Our diverse projects focus on research and outreach initiatives identified by international collaborative networks committed to fighting environmental crimes.
GuArdean is a member of the Conservation Measures Partnership (CMP), a global community uniting NGOs, government agencies, and businesses to enhance conservation efforts.
By integrating Conservation Standards into our project design, management, and monitoring processes, we ensure our initiatives align with conservation outcomes and achieve measurable success. To implement these standards, we collaborate with leading experts to develop strategic action plans designed to address the complex nature of environmental crimes.