National Park Service Inspires Conservation Action Worldwide

Global Wildlife Conservation Replicates Successful Model Around the Globe

Bonobo in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Photo by: Terese Hart)

For immediate release

August 25, 2016

This week marks the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, a testament to what has become an exemplary model for conserving wildlife and wildscapes. Since 2008, Global Wildlife Conservation has worked to successfully replicate the NPS model to protect some of the planet’s most irreplacable wildlife habitat and most important biodiversity hotspots in 40 countries.

“At Global Wildlife Conservation, we’re wishing the National Park Service a very happy anniversary August 25,” said Don Church, GWC president and director of conservation. “The centennial is an inspiration to all of us working in conservation. Our hope is that for years to come future generations will be able to enjoy the reserves we’re helping to establish on other continents—and that they’ll be celebrating those efforts 100 years from now.”

In the last year alone, GWC worked with collaborating organizations to help protect more than 150,000 acres of habitat for 25 endangered species, including in:

• Democratic Republic of Congo (65,000 acres): GWC is supporting the proposed creation of the Balanga Reserve to save vital forest habitat for endangered wildlife, including okapi, bonobo and forest elephant. GWC is working with a local partner and local communities now to create the Lomami National Park, the first national park in the Congo and one of only a few in Africa to be established with major involvement of local communities.
• Mexico (1,000 acres): GWC partnered with collaborating organizations to protect 1,000 acres of imperiled tropical deciduous forest in southern Sonora to protect the recently described Goode’s thornscrub tortoise, the highest diversity of birds in Sonora, five species of wild cats and 79 amphibian and reptile species.
• Australia (10,000 acres): GWC is helping protect nearly 10,000 acres of wet sclerophyll forest, with the vision of returning seven wildlife species to the Barrington Tops area to restore ecological balance. Those species include the eastern quoll, Parma wallaby, northern brown bandicoot and Tasmanian devil, among others. The reintroduction of native predators in particular will help control invasive and harmful nonnative predators that humans have introduced.
• Colombia (65 acres): GWC partnered with a collaborating organization and local partner to expand the El Dorado Reserve and the Carriker Bird Sanctuary in the Santa Marta Mountains of northeast Colombia. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is home to nine critically endangered species, including the Santa Marta parakeet, the Sierra Nevada harlequin frog and the Santa Marta frog.

These projects were possible thanks to funding provided by Fund II Foundation as part of a multi-year grant. Funds from the grant help protect endangered species through habitat conservation and wildlife protection, and promote education and awareness around the idea that environmental conservation is a shared responsibility by all who benefit from the rich biodiversity that our planet provides. Fund II Foundation generously supports efforts to protect the environment, increase knowledge of nature and expand access to natural parks.

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Photo: Bonobo in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Terese Hart)

Global Wildlife Conservation

Global Wildlife Conservation protects endangered species and habitats through science-based field action. GWC envisions a world with diverse and abundant wildlife and is dedicated to ensuring that the species on the verge of extinction are not lost. The global organization brings together scientists, conservationists, policymakers and industry leaders to ensure a truly collaborative approach to species conservation. Learn more at globalwildlife.org

Contact

Lindsay Renick Mayer

Global Wildlife Conservation

lrenickmayer@globalwildlife.org

512-686-6225