Wildlife Conservation Groups I Recommend
(and those I don't)

My criteria

Interesting Groups:

• Defenders of Wildlife

Good Groups:

• Conservation International
• Wildlife Conservation Society
• American Cetacean Society
• Earthwatch
• International Crane Foundation
• Wildlife Preservation Trust International

Groups I Don't Give To:

• Earth Island Institute
• Greenpeace
• National Wildlife Federation
• World Wildlife Fund

Conservation International was founded by a group of Nature Conservancy staff who felt that NC's international program was ineffective. CI pioneered "debt-for-nature" swaps in developing countries. They are characterized by top-notch staff and heavy involvement of local people in the design and operation of their programs. They are very involved in the development of national parks in rainforests around the world. High in scientific competency and conservation sophistication.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (headquartered at the Bronx Zoo). This group publishes Wildlife Conservation magazine, probably the best publication for the general public about international conservation issues. The effort focuses on wildlife research efforts in the developing world. Leaders include George Schaller and his field studies on pandas and Tibetan wildlife, and Alan Rabinowitz and his studies on jaguars in Belize and various big cats in southeast Asia.

American Cetacean Society This national group has been the leader in education and conservation regarding cetaceans (whales and dolphins) for 30 years. They form a very successful link between scientists, government officials, and lay conservationists. ACS' local Monterey Chapter is the best source of information about whales and dolphins in this part of California.

Earthwatch organizes volunteers to assist scientists in the field on a wide variety of ecology, anthropology, geology, and other projects around the world. Help science, learn, and get a tax deduction to boot (in the U.S.)! The science is real, and the very high rate of repeat customers suggests to me that they are doing a good job.

The International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin has a remarkable record of conservation success worldwide regarding these magnificent endangered birds. Their devotion to cranes has been so obvious that it penetrates political boundaries and ideologies and allows ICF biologists to get countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and China to all work together for the common goal of saving these migratory birds.

Wildlife Preservation Trust International This is the American branch of the late Gerald Durrell's Group with its Zoo on the Isle of Jersey, England. The WPTI has been a leader in captive breeding of endangered species while other zoos kept taking their animals from the wild. (I also highly recommend as extremely engaging and amusing Durrell's most recent book, The Aye-Aye and I about his last trip to Madagascar.

The National Wildlife Federation, publisher of National Wildlife, International Wildlife, and Ranger Rick, and distributor of those ubiquitous wildlife stamps, (an organization that employed me for two years) is nearly all overhead, very pro-hunting and trapping, and fairly ineffective. They have LOTS of their own money (check out their very slick and expensive WWW page) and don't particularly need yours.

Greenpeace - I favor what they do in protesting nuclear testing in Tahiti, but they are way off-base in their expensive and egotistical grand-standing anti-whaling activities. You money is much better spent elsewhere.

World Wildlife Fund (international HQ) and its U.S. chapter use the panda in their frequent solicitations. WWF does some good work, but its overhead is way too high, and their executives live too high off the endangered hogs for my tastes.

Earth Island Institute This group, founded by former Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth head, David Brower, is unfortunately on the wrong side of too many wildlife issues because of a deep misunderstanding and distrust of science.