The Wildlife Heritage Area programme prides itself on rigour and transparency, and so we turn to species or wildlife experts to assess applications. These assessors either apply through the website, or are selected by the Wildlife Heritage Area team or communities. Before taking part, each assessor signs the Wildlife Heritage Area Guiding Principles, and undergoes training. 

Assessors are inducted into the programme based on their experience and expertise, and could come from any of the following: 

• Wildlife or conservation NGOs
• The Wildlife Heritage Area core team 
• World Animal Protection (project partner)
• World Cetacean Alliance (project partner)
• Academic institutions 
• Responsible wildlife tourism organisations 

Where possible, Wildlife Heritage Areas are assessed by species or habitats experts. 

Each assessor confirms neutrality before embarking on a Wildlife Heritage Area assessment. This means that someone on a Wildlife Heritage Area Steering Committee cannot assess that Area. 

Assessors do not need specific qualifications but must demonstrate that they spend the majority of their working time protecting or researching a particular species or wildlife conservation in general. Where possible, Wildlife Heritage Areas are always assessed by a species or habitat-specific expert.