To promote and advocate wilderness throughout southern Africa and elsewhere.

The Wilderness Action Group (WAG) was formed after the 3rd World Wilderness Congress, held in Scotland in 1983. It is a voluntary non-governmental organization (NGO), legally constituted in 1989 under Section 21 of the South African Companies Act, a company not-for-gain.

The first directors were delegates from South Africa who had attended the Congress, and who believed there was a need to form a new NGO primarily dedicated to promote the interests of wilderness conservation in South and southern Africa.

The current membership has been expanded to include members as well as directors, and comprises a wide cross section of concerned people from southern African who subscribe to WAG’s vision, mission and aims. Few other NGOs on the subcontinent have such diverse representation. Members are drawn from many different professional backgrounds and experience, including conservation planners and managers, environmental lawyers, environmental consultants, academics, psychologists, accountants, students and various other disciplines.

All prospective members are either invited or approach WAG to be considered for membership. Membership is by a nomination being accepted by the Group's directors and members.

The responsibilities of WAG’s members are:

• To uphold WAG’s Vision, Mission and Aims;
• To attend all Annual General Meetings and, if unable to attend, to tender apologies
• To be actively involved in the activities of the Group and serve on at least one portfolio if not more. Current portfolios include:
  • Advocacy
  • Education & training
  • Events, functions, seminars and symposia
  • Finances & fund raising - Legal and policy matters
  • Marketing, promotions & public relations
  • Membership
  • Newsletter, reports & publications
  • Partnerships
  • Technical advice
  • Wilderness planning & management advice.
• To communicate regularly with the Directors and other Ordinary Members on their activities and results, and; Produce a short report at the AGM on their activities in support of the Group and wilderness conservation. These reports will be recorded with the minutes of the AGM.

There are no membership fees at this stage as directors and members are expected to contribute their time and reasonable costs arising from participation in WAG’s projects

WAG has directors and members who have a passion for wilderness conservation and experience in various professions ranging from protected area planning and management, environmental law, psychology and corporate business. The Group has a number of leaders in the fields of conservation and environmental law.

WAG is an important repository of expertise and experience in the various aspects of wilderness conservation and management on the subcontinent. Important achievements to date, as a result of the dedication of the directors and members to the wilderness cause, include:

• Developing wilderness management training courses at postgraduate level
• Developing two new courses at diploma and lower levels (in progress)
• Running wilderness management training courses at the World Wilderness Congresses in South Africa and Alaska
• Contributing to the development of new legislation relating to protected areas and the conservation of biodiversity
• Lobbying successfully to prevent mining in or impacting on designated wilderness areas
• Working with other NGOs and interest groups to secure the survival of wilderness areas into the 21st century.

The work and achievements of the Group would not have been possible without developing good relationships and partnerships with a number of national and international organisations. The first alliance was with the Mountain Club of South Africa. In addition WAG has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a number of organisations such as the Centre of Environment, Agriculture and Development (CEAD) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, with the Wilderness Foundation of South Africa, with the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) and with the Zambezi Society.