Governance

Management of affairs is in the hands of five persons. 

  • Georg Krijgh (chairmen)

  • Vanessa Burgmans (relations)

  • Olivier Janssen (technology)

  • Maud van Beuningen (secretary)

  • Lars van Geuns (operations)

  • Viktor Valk (finance)

Management (nor anybody) does not receive any financial compensation. The foundation has no employees. All work is done by volunteers. The foundation is receiving income from annual contributions from the members and can organize events to raise funds for nature conservation)

The RSIN number of Stichting Kulinda is 855570829. Stichting Kulinda has applied for the ANBI status with the Dutch tax authorities. 

Report of activities in 2021

In February 2022, Jaime Dias, founder of Wings for Conservation, reported to us that: ‘Earlier this month, we returned to Lake Fitri to look for the elephants once more, and gladly we were able to find a herd of 30 elephants.’ Furthermore Jaime wrote that:

‘Following the 2021 aerial survey, we encouraged the European Union to fund another survey and they agreed. A new survey took place in early February 2022, with the help of a ground team from the Ministry of Environment.

The ground team located an elephant herd early on and we were able to find them and count 30 elephants. Despite flying the area extensively, no other elephants were found. In 2014, the herd had been estimated at 70 individuals, and since then no poaching or carcasses have been reported, which makes us believe that the rest of the herd has moved elsewhere.

The European Union already agreed to finance a subsequent ground mission in the region to look for the rest of the herd, and another aerial survey once the elephants are located. The European Union is currently considering allocating several million euros to support a long- term conservation project in Lake Fitri starting in 2023.

I would like to thank the Kulinda foundation again for their grant and for kick starting the efforts to protect Lake Fitri.’

We, the Kulinda Foundation, are happy that we could support Jaime in his mission to protect wildlife. We will continue to help Jaime and ambitious people who work in the field and can achieve results with limited means.

Policy

Kulinda supports wildlife conservation projects. The core funding for such activities comes from the annual contribution of its members, who have agreed to commit for at least five years, further funding comes from one-time donations. The allocation of funds is determined by the members by vote. Funds will either go to projects or will be available to support local initiatives. Kulinda will publish an annual letter and regular updates about the work it has done to its members. 

Financials

As of March 2022, the Kulinda Foundation had EUR 3500 in the bank and has no liabilities or commitments. Once the Foundation has increased funds again either from contributions from members or from any event, then those funds will be donated to projects that support wildlife conservation.