Our Office
Monday - Friday
8am to 5pm - Pacific Standard Time
Tel: 415-543-2733
Toll-Free: 800-454-9605
David Rio
P.O. Box 885462
San Francisco, CA 94188
Our Office
Monday - Friday
8am to 5pm - Pacific Standard Time
Tel: 415-543-2733
Toll-Free: 800-454-9605
David Rio
P.O. Box 885462
San Francisco, CA 94188
The David Rio Foundation was created to extend our purpose beyond premium tea, supporting programs that protect animals, preserve habitats, and create lasting impact for people and the planet.
CURRENT PROGRAMS
The "Room to Roam" project by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is a visionary conservation initiative aimed at Africa's savannah elephants and the human communities with which they share their habitat and resources.
This ambitious project seeks to secure and connect habitats to create expansive corridors that allow elephants and other wildlife the necessary space to roam freely. It is grounded in over two decades of scientific research and community engagement, focusing on the critical importance of habitat connectivity for animals, people, and the planet.
The project starts in East and Southern Africa and involves a collaborative approach with local communities, governments, and other stakeholders to ensure the survival of viable, stable, and resilient elephant populations for the future.
We take pride in our partnership with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, with proceeds from sales of our Elephant Vanilla™ Chai contributing to the support of this impactful program.
During David Rio’s visit in 2019, conversations with IFAW and the rangers led to the conception of the David Rio Community Ranger Base. Located within the sprawling 28,784-acre Illaingarunyoni Conservancy, situated northwest of Amboseli National Park, this initiative provides a lifeline to unique and seldom-seen wildlife species. This critical wildlife dispersal area and habitat have transformed from its former role as a dry grazing reserve for Maasai herders' livestock into a rich haven, offering essential sustenance for elephants before their journeys to Amboseli for water.
The David Rio Community Ranger Base, thoughtfully designed, offers comfortable living quarters for ten dedicated rangers. These rangers play a pivotal role in ensuring the full-time safeguarding of the conservancy against pressing threats such as poaching. Their responsibilities extend to managing incidents of human-wildlife conflict and closely monitoring both the welfare of wildlife and the integrity of their habitat.
The Black Rhino Conservation Program is a strategic initiative within the broader Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA) management plan aimed at enhancing conservation landscapes over a 10-year period in the Tsavo area as a key component of the "Room to Roam" program - an International Fund for Animal Welfare-led initiative.
Central to this program is the focus on the Black Rhino, classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Black Rhino, once abundant across sub-Saharan Africa, has faced a drastic decline in population due to poaching and habitat loss. The biggest threat to their survival is the illegal wildlife trade, primarily driven by the demand for rhino horns.
During our visit to Amboseli in 2022, we had the opportunity to visit Esiteti Village and meet with the Osotua Esiteti Women’s Group. “Osotua” means togetherness in Maa (the dialect spoken by the Maasai people). With the support of the International Fund for Animal Welfare(IFAW), the group collectively participates in income-generating activities for the Osotua Organization, which enables the women in the organization to use the proceeds for their own benefit. The group is made up of 179 women with a total of 1,229 beneficiaries. The income helps to mitigate the hardships of living in an underdeveloped semi-arid area which include famine, access to healthcare and education. The David Rio Foundation commissioned these bracelets and is proud to support the combined efforts of IFAW and the Osotua Organization.
WHO WE ARE
At the David Rio Foundation, our mission is to drive positive global change! We are committed to supporting wildlife conservation and animal welfare. Working with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), we remain dedicated to creating a sustainable and harmonious coexistence between humanity and the diverse ecosystems that make our planet extraordinary.
Our Mission
The David Rio Foundation is dedicated to supporting the harmonious relationship between humanity and nature. Our mission centers on three pillars: conservation, community, and sustainability. We are committed to protecting and conserving the natural world, supporting and enriching our local and global communities, and promoting sustainable practices that respect the environment. Through education, advocacy, and direct action, we strive to create a better world where nature thrives, communities are strong, and future generations can enjoy a healthier planet.
"We placed structure and longevity behind a promise we’ve always believed in: protecting the animals and land that inspire everything we create. You can’t have our craft or our shared connection without protecting the world those things exist in"
- Scott Lowe
Insights, stories, and perspectives from David Rio on tea, café culture, foodservice, and the rituals that bring people together.
