Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a charitable environmental organization. Its mission is to "conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends." The Conservancy pursues non confrontational, solutions to conservation's challenges working with a diverse group of partners including indigenous communities, businesses, governments, multilateral institutions, and other non-profits.
History
After developing from an organization called Ecological Society of America, which was founded in 1915. [1] The Ecologists Union changed their name to The Nature Conservancy in 1951. [2] Dr. Stanley A Cain was their first president, and Nature Conservancy has had 19 total presidents in their 67 year history. [3] In 1962, Nature Conservancy managed their first prescribed burn. [4] By 1990, they expanded outside the Western Hemisphere for the first time, with an office in Koror, Republic of Palau, a small country containing around 340 islands in the Western Pacific Ocean. They eventually expanded into Africa in 2006.[5].
Approach
Nature Conservancy has different programs for private companies and other individuals. For instance, Nature Conservancy's Conservation Buyer Program, they buy land from critical conservation areas, and then sell it to individuals that agree to their terms of the protective conservation easement, which will protect the land. [6] Nature Conservancy has helped many private companies as well. Businesses ask for Nature Conservancy's science and expertise, so they will be able to make better decisions and ultimately protect nature. [7]
Featured Project sites
Nature Conservancy protects lands and waters in 72 different countries. [8] From North America to Australia, Nature Conservancy has helped many regions; Europe, Africa, Asia, and more. Helping 17 countries in the Caribbean area, Nature Conservancy has helped protect the coral reefs and beaches in the area for over 40 years. [9] Nature Conservancy is working with the Indian Government to restore lakes and rivers, reducing air pollution, and locating ideal locations for renewable energy sites for the Indian Government. [10]
Plant a Billion Trees Campaign
Nature Conservancy's program Plant a Billion Trees is helping restore forests in north western Mississippi. With the mission of planting one billion trees by 2025, their program will help reduce erosion, and improve wildlife in the Mississippi Delta. [11]
Criticism
Business
Nature Conservancy has ties with very large corporations across the globe, and has received criticism for doing business too close to these corporations. They have a "Business Council", which is described as a "consultative forum" to improve nature in the business aspect. This council has many big companies; UPS, Boeing, PepsiCo, and many more. [12] They received criticism for receiving more than $10 million in cash and land from oil giant BP around the time of the "Gulf Oil Spill". [13]
Resale Policies
After receiving heavy scrutiny for their resale policies. They said they would end the practice of "buying or selling land along with board members, trustees and employees, to avoid any conflict of interest." [14]
References
- ↑ [1], History & Milestones, Nature Conservancy, Accessed 2018-05-01
- ↑ [2], History & Milestones, Nature Conservancy, Accessed 2018-05-01
- ↑ [3], Former Presidents, Nature Conservancy, Accessed 2018-05-01
- ↑ [4], History & Milestones, Nature Conservancy, Accessed 2018-05-01
- ↑ [5], History & Milestones, Nature Conservancy, Accessed 2018-05-01
- ↑ [6] Conservation Lands Buyer, Nature Conservancy, Accessed 2018-05-02
- ↑ [7] Working with Companies, Nature Conservancy, Accessed 2018-05-02
- ↑ [8] Where We Work, Nature Conservancy, Accessed 2018-05-02
- ↑ [9] Caribbean, Nature Conservancy, Accessed 2018-05-02
- ↑ [10] India, Nature Conservancy, Accessed 2018-05-02
- ↑ [11] One Billion Trees, Nature Conservancy, Accessed 2018-05-03
- ↑ [12] Business Council, Nature Conservancy, Accessed 2018-05-03
- ↑ [13] The country’s largest environmental group is profiting from oil drilling, Salon, 2014-08-04
- ↑ [14] In Wake of Criticism, Nature Conservancy Changes Policies, New York Times, 2003-06-14
Article History
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