​Arlington, Va.  (December 20, 2017) – Conservation International and Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC) today announced a series of collaborative efforts to address one of the most pressing and critical challenges of our time – the unprecedented loss of biodiversity and ecosystems upon which livelihoods and sustainable development depend.

Dr. Russell Mittermeier, the former President and most recently Executive Vice-Chair of Conservation International, will guide the collaboration as the new Chief Conservation Officer for Global Wildlife Conservation.

“The problems we face today of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation are not ones that any organization can solve alone,” said Jennifer Morris, President of Conservation International. “By pooling efforts in science, technology, and communications, we will amplify our impact in some of the most biodiverse regions across the globe.”

“The complex global conservation challenges that both organizations are working to resolve require partnerships with extensive networks and expertise,” said Dr. Mittermeier. “At GWC, we’re looking forward to leveraging this collaborative energy to make an even bigger impact for wildlife and wildlands.”

The new, collaborative relationship between Conservation International and Global Wildlife Conservation will focus on the following areas:

  1. ​​Surveys, assessments, research and conservation projects in key protected areas including Amazonia, Guiana Shield, West Papua and Madagascar.
  2. Initiatives to conserve wildlife, assess the threatened status of species and fight illegal wildlife trafficking.
  3. The design, development and application of technology for biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, including the use of artificial intelligence.​
  4. Collaborative communications campaigns concerning wildlands and protected areas, wildlife conservation and trafficking. 
About Conservation International
Conservation International uses science, policy and partnerships to protect the nature people rely on for food, fresh water and livelihoods. Founded in 1987, Conservation International works in more than 30 countries on six continents to ensure a healthy, prosperous planet that supports us all. Learn more about CI and its groundbreaking “Nature Is Speaking” campaign, and follow Conservation International’s work on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About Global Wildlife Conservation
GWC conserves the diversity of life on Earth by safeguarding wildlands, protecting wildlife and supporting guardians. We maximize our impact through scientific research, biodiversity exploration, habitat conservation, protected area management, wildlife crime prevention, endangered species recovery, and conservation leadership cultivation. Learn more at https://globalwildlife.org.