The Foundation
Care is a choice. Ensuring its continuity is our responsibility.
The Guardians of the Earth Foundation ETS was established to give animal and habitat protection a lasting future. A practical commitment guided by respect, knowledge and transparency.
On this page
Our mission · Our roots · Statute · Code of Ethics · A shared responsibility
Our mission
Life has value, even when it is unlike our own.
The Statute recognises animals as sentient beings with intrinsic value. This principle shapes how we understand protection: not ownership of a life, but responsibility for respecting its nature.
We promote an ethical and responsible relationship between human beings, animals and the natural environment. Animal welfare, biodiversity, a culture of care and responsibility are the guiding principles of the mission set out in Article 4.1 of the Statute.
The Ethical Sanctuary is the Foundation’s first project, not its only possible horizon. Any new initiatives must be consistent with this mission and supported by suitable conditions, expertise and resources.
From experience with tortoises to an institutional commitment.
The project has its roots in experience devoted to land tortoises. Established on 31 March 2026, the Foundation gives this vision an institutional form: a non-profit organisation with civic, solidarity-based and public-benefit purposes, as described in the Statute.
Caring for a life may outlast the ability of the person who first took it in. Giving this responsibility an institutional form means working so that experience, resources and commitment can continue over time. This connects our history with the future we want to build.
Establishment
31 March 2026
The day our mission took institutional form.
RUNTS registration
Register entry 174420
Decree No 15908 of 17 July 2026. The decree number and register entry identify different records.
Administrative identity
Italian tax code 05616620265
Institutional contact details and public documents are available on the Contact and Transparency pages.
Read the RUNTS decree as a PDFPDF in Italian · Foundation contact details
The Statute
The foundation of our commitment.
The Statute defines the Foundation’s identity, purposes and responsibilities. It is more than an administrative document: it makes explicit the value we recognise in animals and the principles that must guide our choices.
The public extract brings together provisions on our mission, protection, the allocation of resources, sound decision-making and our ethical framework. It is expressly a selection rather than the complete document, excluding the personal details contained in the deed.
The Code of Ethics
From values to everyday responsibilities.
Article 15 of the Statute gives the Code of Ethics the role of expressing and specifying commitments towards animals, people, communities, donors and the environment. It is a reference distinct from the Statute, not a summary of it.
The revised Code of Ethics and Charter of Founding Principles, prepared for forthcoming adoption, are available for consultation.
Protecting life, with respect.
Trust requires clarity.
For us, transparency means providing access to available documents and distinguishing achievements, plans and commitments. The Statute dedicates resources to the Foundation’s purposes and calls for responsible, proper and sustainable management.
Those who support the project should be able to understand the Foundation, its choices and how their contribution is used. This is why we make institutional documents and useful points of contact accessible.
No project grows alone.
Professional skills, financial support, accurate content and acts of care can all contribute to the same vision. We want to recognise that contribution without turning gratitude into a ranking.
We dedicate an important space to those who accompany us: people who donate, those who share knowledge and those who protect animals responsibly, even far from our project.
A commitment we can sustain together
You can help care for it too.
You can support the project with a freely chosen contribution, offer your skills or help others discover this vision. There is no obligation: the right way to take part is the one that feels right for you.
Protect, understand, involve.
Practical protection, education and public dialogue are complementary parts of our vision. The Sanctuary is our first project; the editorial websites make learning accessible without entering a private place. Civic dialogue requires identifiable facts and clearly expressed positions.
The educational mission
Two distinct editorial projects, connected by the same institutional responsibility.
The foundations of trust
Confirmed information, available documents and goals still to be reached.
The project grows from a wider vision.
Animals, landscapes and communities: our commitment looks to the relationship we choose to build with other forms of life. The Sanctuary is the first practical step on this journey.
The Charter of Principles and Code of Ethics
The Foundation’s vision and the responsibilities that guide our work, brought together in two complementary documents. The available editions have been prepared for adoption and can be read in full as PDFs.