Istituto Oikos was founded in 1996 by a group of biologists and naturalists with a common goal: use their expertise to protect the environment and promote a sustainable and inclusive development.
2017
Our organisation keeps evolving: Oikos decides to revise its strategy in order to speak about itself and its achievements by putting people first. This process encompasses its visual identity too: navigate and take a look to our new graphic layout with many stories to share.
2016
Twenty years since the first projects with elephants in Tanzania, Istituto Oikos is still at the forefront in wildlife management. Oikos’ team of experts is working on the brown bear conservation in Turkey, the sunbear protection in Myanmar, the Nubian ibex safeguard in Lebanon and the wolf conservation in the Alps.
2015
Oikos’ activities in the Myeik Archipelago (Myanmar) and in Lampi Marine National Park are awarded the title of “best practice” in the “Sustainable management of natural resources” sector, within the Feeding Knowledge Programme at Expo Milano 2015.
2014
and support to sustainable food production models, which respect land and people, are now main topics in Oikos’ projects: biodiversity, nutrition and food security are closely linked.
2013
Combining environmental, social and economic goals is a growing necessity. With one purpose: supporting the local economy of the areas where we operate. Innovative experiences in agricultural, handcraft and tourism sectors thus start blossoming.
2012
Oikos starts operating in a new country: a new challenge that arises from the collaboration with Quirimbas National Park to guarantee the conservation of one of the most important marine and coastal areas of the Sub-Saharan Africa, source of income for a large fishermen community.
2011
On November, 20th, 2011, among the peaks of Formazza Valley, Guido Tosi leaves us. University professor, expert in management and conservation of wildlife and environment, colleague, partner in adventures and dreams, Guido Tosi has made the history of Istituto Oikos, as its founder and leader. We will never forget him and his lessons, which will guide our constant search for new solutions. Because a work driven by respect, participation and scientific rigour can help us building a world where the needs of men and the environment are well balanced.
2008
Energy and energy efficiency are key elements in the conservation of natural resources. New projects take off with the aim of promoting energy access, reducing the impact of charcoal production in rural areas of Tanzania, encouraging energy saving and promoting renewable energy sources in Europe.
2007
BANCA, the main environmental NGO in Myanmar, approaches Istituto Oikos to support the management of Lampi Marine National Park through research and monitoring activities. This initiative later leads the organisation to open a local branch and expand Oikos’ commitment in the country.
2006
On the basis of the experience acquired during a project launched in Niger, Istituto Oikos included among its activities the commitment to the nutritional, organoleptic and hygienic quality of food, through training and communication campaigns.
2005
It is the answer to the question: why should populations in need be engaged in the preservation of resources? The beneficial effects of a healthy environment are often hardly visible in the short term, and to develop economic opportunities that tie environmental protection to development, such as responsible tourism, is an important kind of incentive to conservation.
2004
Water and water management are essential to the survival of all forms of life. Promoting access to this precious element, increasing its quality and reducing water wastage for the well-being of rural communities and of the domestic and wild animals became one of the priorities of Istituto Oikos, which launched the first important project in Tanzania.
2003
has always been a strategic goal of Istituto Oikos, aiming at satisfying the need to communicate the importance of a responsible use of natural resources, as well as at increasing public awareness of the connection between the environment and human lives, both in the North and South of the world.
2001
The activities in the environmental field in Italy were constantly pursued. Istituto Oikos began to assess issues of environmental incidence and impact on behalf of public and private bodies.
2000
For the purpose of fighting poverty, Istituto Oikos started to support the development and consolidation of small income-generating activities based on the sustainable use of natural resources.
1999
It was opened as the local headquarters of Istituto Oikos in Tanzania and was later registered and recognised as a local NGO, confirming the stable presence of the organisation in East Africa.
1998
The preservation of natural systems is crucial for the well-being and economic development of a large part of Sub-Saharan Africa, where the price of environmental degradation is paid directly by local populations. Working in synergy with the beneficiaries of the projects, listening to and trying to understand their needs, there arose the need to extend the activities of the organisation from the protection of flora and fauna to soil conservation and, therefore, to the reduction of the impact of human activities on natural resources, especially on soil.
1997
ITALY. Istituto Oikos focused mainly on fauna and flora in the Alps. It created territorial information systems and management plans for national parks and protected areas, giving rise to solid partnerships with local authorities and universities.
TANZANIA. The first international project of Istituto Oikos was the analysis of the migratory movements of large mammals and of their interactions with anthropic activities in the Tarangire National Park, in the north of the country, with the aim of contributing to the definition of a sustainable development strategy for the area.
1996
Istituto Oikos was created by a group of biologists and naturalists. The technical and scientific skills of its founders allowed the organisation to soon become an expert in the environmental field, proposing projects for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable management of natural and faunal resources. As from then, these activities became an important and stable nerve centre of the work of Oikos.