Conservation International
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| Founder(s) | Spencer Beebe, Peter Seligmann |
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| Founded | 1987 |
| Key people | Peter A. Seligmann, Chairman of the board and chief executive officer; Rob Walton, chairman of the executive committee; Russell A. Mittermeier, president; Niels Crone, chief operating officer |
| Focus | Save species, Conserve landscapes and seascapes, Empower local communities, Promote sustainability[citation needed] |
| Revenue | 2009: $ 116,078,000; 2008: $ 232,933,000 [1] |
| Employees | 900 |
| Website | http://www.conservation.org |
Conservation International (CI) is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, which seeks to ensure the health of humanity by protecting Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity.[2] CI’s work focuses on six key initiatives that affect human well-being: climate, food security, freshwater security, health, cultural services and species contribution. The group is also known for its partnerships with local non-governmental organizations and indigenous peoples.
CI was founded in 1987 by Spencer Beebe and Peter Seligmann and now has a staff of more than 900 employees. Its work occurs in more than 45 countries, primarily in developing countries in Africa and Madagascar, Asia-Pacific, and the Central and South American rainforests.
The organization has been criticised for links to companies with a poor environmental record such as BP, Cargill, Chevron, Monsanto and Shell and for allegations of offering greenwashing services.[3][4] Conservation International has also been chastised for poor judgment in expenditure of donors' money.
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[edit] Mission statement
Building upon a strong foundation of science, partnership, and field demonstration, Conservation International empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature for the well-being of humanity.
[edit] Board of Directors
Directors
- Peter A. Seligmann, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer - Conservation International
- Rob Walton, Chairman of the Board, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Bentonville, Arkansas
Vice-chairs
- Mark L. Feldman, President and Chief Executive Officer, L&L Manufacturing Company, Los Angeles, California
- Harrison Ford, Actor, Los Angeles, California
- Nicholas J. Pritzker, Chairman Global Development Network Hyatt Hotels, Chicago, Illinois
[edit] Controversy
Conservation International was targeted by a group of reporters from Don't Panic TV who posed as a major American arms company and asked if the charity could 'raise [their] green profile.' Options outlined by the representative of Conservation International (CI) included assisting with the arms company's green PR efforts, membership of a business forum in return for a fee, and sponsorship packages where the arms company could potentially invest money in return for being associated with conservation activities. Conservation International agreed to help the arms company find an 'endangered species mascot.' Film footage shows the Conservation International employee suggesting a vulture North African birds of prey as a possible endangered species mascot for the arms company because of the 'link to aviation'.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.conservation.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/CI_AnnualReport09.pdf
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/oct/27/harrison-ford-conservation-nagoya
- ^ http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/877241/conservation_international_agreed_to_greenwash_arms_company.html
- ^ http://www.thenation.com/article/wrong-kind-green
- ^ http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/877241/conservation_international_agreed_to_greenwash_arms_company.html
[edit] External links
- Conservation International - Official site
- Global Symposium 2006 Madagascar
- Defying Ocean's End, A Conservation International led Agenda for Action in ocean conservation
- Charity Navigator Evaluation by America's premier independent charity evaluator
- Youtube video Al Gore explaining the need for more action on climate change
- Deep Sea Conservation Coalition - A union of 60+ international organizations working towards biodiversity conservation on the high seas.
- Reserva Ecologica Pachijal - A Conservation effort in the Cloudforest of Mindo-Ecuador
