Istituto Oikos is a non-profit organization committed in Europe and all over the South of the world, working for a responsible management of natural resources, for the dissemination of more sustainable life models and fighting against poverty. Oikos was founded in 1996 in Milan by a group of biologists and naturalists. Since then Oikos designed and implemented more than 350 projects in Italy and in fifteen countries distributed between Asia, Africa and South America. Istituto Oikos is an organization working on the basis of the following assumption: protecting the environment means supporting the communities that inhabit it. Oikos works to protect key areas for biodiversity, preserving and enhancing natural environments. I collaboration with institutions, Universities and local communities, Oikos deals with programs of sustainable agriculture and management of water; Oikos promotes renewable energy sources and develops small income-generating activities linked to the sustainable use of resources.