Defenders' Experts
International Conservation
The International Program at Defenders of Wildlife focuses our scientific, legal and policy expertise on the following goals:
- protecting global biodiversity
- stopping global warming
- reforming the wildlife trade
- stemming the global amphibian decline
- blocking imports of harmful non-native species into the United States
Defenders advocates in numerous international forums including the:
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
- Convention on Biological Diversity
- Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles
The International Program also advocates to Congress and the Administration on U.S. involvement in a wide variety of conservation efforts, ranging from funding for foreign species conservation to combating illegal logging to restricting imports of tuna caught with fishing methods that endanger dolphins.
Amphibians
Amphibians are in the midst of an extinction crisis. Defenders has launched a campaign to review and address threats leading to amphibian population declines.
Amphibians are in the midst of an extinction crisis. Defenders has launched a campaign to review and address threats leading to amphibian population declines.
Mexico Program
The International Program includes Defenders' Mexico Program, which tackles the full array of threats in our biodiversity-rich neighbor. Defenders is recognized as a national leader for conservation in Mexico, with an emphasis on parrots, sea turtles, and mangrove forests.
The International Program includes Defenders' Mexico Program, which tackles the full array of threats in our biodiversity-rich neighbor. Defenders is recognized as a national leader for conservation in Mexico, with an emphasis on parrots, sea turtles, and mangrove forests.
Wildlife and Timber Trade
Defenders' International Program works continually to establish stronger protections under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). We are proposing new listings of amphibians, polar bears, and other species for the CITES Conference of the Parties in 2010 in Qatar.
Defenders' International Program works continually to establish stronger protections under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). We are proposing new listings of amphibians, polar bears, and other species for the CITES Conference of the Parties in 2010 in Qatar.
U.S. Imports of Live Animals
The International Program has a strong presence in seeking policy reforms on harmful non-native species, which are major threats to native species and natural ecosystems. Our focus is on potentially invasive animals. The United States has a long history of invasive animals being intentionally released or escaping into the wild and causing significant environmental, health and economic problems.
The International Program has a strong presence in seeking policy reforms on harmful non-native species, which are major threats to native species and natural ecosystems. Our focus is on potentially invasive animals. The United States has a long history of invasive animals being intentionally released or escaping into the wild and causing significant environmental, health and economic problems.
Free Trade Agreements and the Environment
Defenders opposes free trade agreements (FTAs) that enable unsustainable exploitation of wildlife and threaten other environmental damage. Defenders' trade work has focused on opposing FTAs with Peru, Panama and Colombia proposed by the Administration unless they include strong assurances that the resulting liberalized trade will not decimate wildlife and plants.
Defenders opposes free trade agreements (FTAs) that enable unsustainable exploitation of wildlife and threaten other environmental damage. Defenders' trade work has focused on opposing FTAs with Peru, Panama and Colombia proposed by the Administration unless they include strong assurances that the resulting liberalized trade will not decimate wildlife and plants.
Marine Conservation
Defenders' International office has a long history of advocacy on behalf of threatened marine species. This advocacy has focused on conserving dolphins, sharks, and sea turtles.
Defenders' International office has a long history of advocacy on behalf of threatened marine species. This advocacy has focused on conserving dolphins, sharks, and sea turtles.
Multilateral Environmental Agreements
Governments have negotiated a number of international environmental protection treaties. Defenders works within several of these agreements to ensure that policy decisions adequately protect wildlife and biodiversity.
Governments have negotiated a number of international environmental protection treaties. Defenders works within several of these agreements to ensure that policy decisions adequately protect wildlife and biodiversity.
Global Warming
Defenders' International Program works to stop tropical deforestation, which reduces a major contributor to global warming and helps conserve the wildlife the tropical forests harbor. Defenders advocates in U.S. forums for strengthening and increasing the global funding mechanisms that can mitigate global warming by preserving tropical forests.
Defenders' International Program works to stop tropical deforestation, which reduces a major contributor to global warming and helps conserve the wildlife the tropical forests harbor. Defenders advocates in U.S. forums for strengthening and increasing the global funding mechanisms that can mitigate global warming by preserving tropical forests.
