Commitment Overview and Goals

The Foundation made a $261 million commitment in December 2001 and awarded an additional $17 million in 2005 to Conservation International to significantly scale up its efforts in slowing the rate of species extinctions across the world and to develop marine conservation science. The Foundation’s commitment to Conservation International will further enhance biodiversity science and protection of ecosystems in key geographies. With this grant support, Conservation International has made substantial contributions to biodiversity science and, in partnership with other organizations, is working to protect key hotspots and wilderness regions of the planet. In addition, Conservation International transformed itself from a centralized, Washington, DC–based operation into a more efficient, decentralized organization, operating directly and through partners in more than 40 countries. Their work is focused on a set of scientifically defined conservation outcomes at the species, site, and corridor levels.

Centers for Biodiversity Conservation

Decentralized Centers for Biodiversity Conservation in the Andes, Brazil/Guiana, Melanesia, and Madagascar have allowed Conservation International to forge strategic partnerships and build better foundations in the field for biodiversity conservation.

Global Conservation Fund

The Global Conservation Fund finances the creation, expansion, and long-term management of protected areas in regions of high biodiversity.

Center for Applied Biodiversity Science

The Center for Applied Biodiversity Science (CABS) functions as the scientific research core of Conservation International. CABS compiles and analyzes baseline data on biodiversity, develops responses to possible threats, and works closely with field programs and partner organizations to establish targets and priorities for conservation actions.

Marine Managed Area Science

The Marine Managed Area (MMA) Science program within CABS conducts science on MMA effectiveness and marine ecosystem processes. The program shares the science to increase stakeholder awareness and improve management decisions. Additionally, the program builds local capacity within Conservation International and its partners to produce outcomes in Belize, Brazil, the eastern tropical Pacific and Fiji.

Tropical Ecology, Assessment and Monitoring Initiative

Under its Tropical Ecology, Assessment and Monitoring (TEAM) initiative Conservation International seeks to develop a network of scientific field stations and a surveillance system to capture the first standardized set of data on tropical biodiversity. In 2005, four field sites were collecting data and the TEAM initiative began a rigorous strategic review and site-selection process that will guide its further development.