Frontier was established in 1989 as a non-profit conservation and development non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem integrity and building sustainable livelihoods for marginalised communities in the world's poorest countries.

Originally focused largely on scientific and conservation research, Frontier's mandate soon evolved into one that combined community development, capacity building, ecosystem protection, economic growth, and the development of civil society. This reflected their fundamental belief that the only way to create a mutually-beneficial relationship between man and the environment is to address both human and environmental needs.

Today, Frontier projects run the gamut of community development, educational, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, humanitarian and research and conservation projects.