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Defenders of Wildlife
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Defenders of Wildlife is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental and conservation organization founded in 1947. The organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has regional offices in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, North Carolina, and Washington. According to the organization’s website, "Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities."[1]
Defenders of Wildlife focuses on formulating conservation policies for national wildlife refuges, national forests, and wildlife habitats. The group advocates in favor of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and increased federal funding for its implementation. The group also promotes policies designed to address human-made climate change and renewable energy development.[2]
Mission
The website for Defenders of Wildlife lists the following statement of the organization’s mission and values:
| “ | Founded in 1947, Defenders of Wildlife is a major national conservation organization focused solely on wildlife and habitat conservation and the safeguarding of biodiversity. We believe in the inherent value of wildlife and the natural world, and this singular focus defines our important niche in the environmental and conservation community and serves as the anchor for our organizational values. Defenders’ approach is direct and straightforward - We protect and restore imperiled species throughout North America by transforming policies and institutions and promoting innovative solutions – and this approach makes a lasting difference for wildlife and its habitat.[3] | ” |
| —Defenders of Wildlife[1] | ||
Work
Defenders of Wildlife advocates in favor of “laws and policies that protect animals and their habitats” at the federal, state, and local levels. The organization’s work focuses on the following issues:[2]
- Habitat conservation: The organization supports federal conservation policies to maintain national wildlife refuges, national forests, and other federal lands as "some of the last best places for wildlife to thrive." The organization works with “state agencies and private landowners to help develop and implement conservation plans” for wildlife and their habitats.[4]
- People and wildlife: The organization works with legislators, conservationists, local communities, and individuals to minimize conflicts between people and wildlife. For example, the organization has worked with ranchers on implementing non-lethal methods to prevent attacks on livestock.[5]
- Endangered species: The organization supports the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and increased federal funding for its implementation. The organization has called the ESA “the strongest and most important federal law protecting imperiled wildlife and plants” and has opposed any legislative changes that would “weaken the law.”[6]
- Litigation: The organization sues federal government agencies when it believes that these agencies are failing to comply with federal environmental laws, such as the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act.[7]
- Climate change: Calling human-made climate change “a massive problem that needs to be tackled on multiple fronts,” the organization advocates policies and funding to deal with the potential negative impacts of human-made climate change. The organization also prepares “strategies and guidelines to help wildlife and natural resource managers prepare for the impacts of climate change.”[8]
- Renewable energy: The organization supports renewable energy in the form of solar, wind, and geothermal energy. The organization also supports “a comprehensive environmental review” of proposed renewable energy projects in order to minimize their impacts on wildlife. Additionally, the organization supports renewable energy development in areas with less wildlife, including former industrial sites, abandoned agricultural lands, and already degraded land.[9]
Leadership
Contact us about any updates to the leadership information below.
As of October 2016, Jamie Rappaport Clark was the president of Defenders of Wildlife.[10]
The following individuals were listed as members of the organization’s board of directors as of October 2016:[11]
- Winsome Dunn McIntosh, Chair
- Susan Wallace, Vice Chair
- Caroline Gabel, Secretary
- Mark Caylor, Treasurer
- Edward Asner
- Dinah Bear
- Cassie Carroll
- Jeff Corwin
- Norman D. Dicks
- Holly Doremus
- Eric R. Glitzenstein
- Liberty Godshall
- James M. Hecker
- Mari Snyder Johnson
- Ruth Musgrave
- Mamie Parker
- Judy Posnikoff
- Ron Pulliam
- Susan Rieff
- Richard Robb
- Daniel J. Rohlf
- Joel Sartore
- Laura Turner Seydel
- Loretta M. Stadler
- Lee M. Talbot
- Lisa Wan
- Robert Wiygul
Finances
Below is a breakdown of Defenders of Wildlife's revenue and expenses for the 2013, 2014, and 2015 fiscal years.
| Annual revenue and expenses for Defenders of Wildlife, 2013-2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax year | Total revenue | Total expenses |
| 2015[12] | $32,664,000 | $33,332,000 |
| 2014[13] | $32,259,000 | $31,637,000 |
| 2013[14] | $33,879,000 | $30,563,000 |
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Defenders of Wildlife, "Mission and Vision," accessed January 4, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Defenders of Wildlife, "Explore the Issues," accessed October 21, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Defenders of Wildlife, "Habitat Conservation 101," accessed January 4, 2016
- ↑ Defenders of Wildlife, "Living with Wildlife 101," accessed October 21, 2016
- ↑ Defenders of Wildlife, "Endangered Species Act 101," accessed October 21, 2016
- ↑ Defenders of Wildlife, "Conservation law," accessed October 21, 2016
- ↑ Defenders of Wildlife, "Climate Change 101," accessed October 21, 2016
- ↑ Defenders of Wildlife, "Renewable Energy 101," accessed October 21, 2016
- ↑ Defenders of Wildlife, "Defenders Staff," accessed October 21, 2016
- ↑ Defenders of Wildlife, "Board of Directors and Advisory Committees," accessed October 21, 2016
- ↑ Defenders of Wildlife, "Defenders of Wildlife 2015 Annual Report" accessed October 21, 2016
- ↑ Defenders of Wildlife, "Defenders of Wildlife 2014 Annual Report" accessed October 21, 2016
- ↑ Defenders of Wildlife, "Defenders of Wildlife 2013 Annual Report" accessed October 21, 2016
