Conservation International

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Conservation International aims "to conserve the Earth's living heritage, our global biodiversity, and to demonstrate that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature." They are a U.S.-based, nonprofit international organization. [1]

Aziz Choudry writing in Zmag in 2003 notes that "Colin Powell says that its work is "amazing". In 2001, it received what the media dubbed the biggest ever grant to an environmental organization - US $261 million spread over 10 years. Its website proclaims: "A passionate few can make the difference in the world."" He adds that:

"In 1997 CI signed a comprehensive bioprospecting agreement with California-based company Hyseq, which specializes in genomic sequencing. CI agreed to pre-screen drug candidates derived from flora and fauna samples, and provide regular reports on its research findings to Hyseq. As well as an initial contribution, Hyseq would pay CI on a country basis, and an annual fee. Hyseq is free to pursue intellectual property claims over any results.
"In Panama, CI worked with Novartis, Monsanto, and others, in "ecologically guided bioprospecting" - seeking pharmaceutical and agricultural products from plants, fungi and insects. In Surinam it cooperated with Bristol Myers Squibb, with its ethnobotanists collecting plant samples. CI worked to win the trust of Indigenous communities and healers and negotiate a very dubious "benefit-sharing" agreement. ...
"A June 2003 report by Chiapas-based Center for Political Analysis and Social Investigation (CAPISE) dubbed CI a Trojan Horse of the US government and transnational corporations. It revealed that CI's program of flyovers - part of their USAID-supported "environmental monitoring" program - flew over areas occupied by Zapatista communities in planes which bore USAID markings. In Chiapas, CI uses state-of-the art geographical information systems (GIS) technology, including high resolution satellite imaging. ...
"CI supports the World Bank -backed MesoAmerican Biological Corridor project. Many indigenous communities, social movements and NGOs have condemned this as an attempt to greenwash the massive Plan Puebla Panama infrastructure scheme, and as a front for corporate biopiracy in the region.
"CI is also a partner in the Congo Basin Forest Partnership, with the World Bank and the American Forest and Paper Association (US timber and paper industry lobby group), launched by Colin Powell at last year's World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg." [2]


Funding

According to their 2005 Financial Summary they received the following:

  • Individuals $7,502,000
  • Corporations $6,710,000
  • Foundations $12,038,000
  • U.S. government $7,714,000
  • Non-U.S. government $719,000
  • NGO/Multilaterals $9,030,000
  • Investment income $2,296,000
  • Other income $423,000
  • TOTAL REVENUE $46,432,000

Staff

Directors

Source: http://www.conservation.org/xp/CIWEB/about/board.xml

Vice Chairs

Board Members

California, N.A.

Emeritus

Publications

Contact

2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22202
Telephone: (703) 341-2400
Toll-free (within the US): 1(800) 429-5660
Web: [3]

Resources and articles

Resources and articles

Related Sourcewatch articles

References


References


Criticism