How to Help

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is among my top picks since their work is aimed at protecting biodiversity on a global scale. The WWF works with multilateral and bilateral agencies to promote sustainable development in the world's poorest countries. Its aims are threefold—to protect natural areas and wild populations, to minimize pollution, and to promote efficient, sustainable use of natural resources. The WWF focuses their efforts at multiple levels, starting with wildlife, habitats and local communities and expanding up through governments and global networks. The WWF views the planet as a single, complex web of relationships between species, the environment, and human institutions such as government and global markets.

The Nature Conservancy is my top pick among the many wildlife conservation organizations available today. The Nature Conservancy works with local communities, businesses, and individuals to protect over 100 million acres of land around the world. In doing so, The Nature Conservancy preserves entire wildlife communities and the rich species diversity that inhabits those lands. It's a wholistic approach, one that I feel is vital to the health of our planet. Among The Nature Conservancy's more innovative conservation approaches is the debt-for-nature swaps. Such transactions ensure biodiversity conservation in exchange for debt owed by a developing country. Such debt-for-nature programs have been successful in many countries including Panama, Peru, and Guatamala.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a superb complement to any portfolio of conservation organization memberships. The NRDC is an environmental action organization that consists of 350 lawyers, scientists, and other professionals and commands a membership of about 1.3 million people. The NRDC uses the law, science, and their wide network of members and activists to protect wildlife and habitats around the globe. The issues the NRDC focuses on include curbing global warming, creating clean energy, preserving wildlands, restoring ocean habitats, stopping the spread of toxic chemicals, and working towards greener living in China.

The Sierra Club was founded by naturalist John Muir in 1892. The Sierra Club is a grassroots organization that works to protect ecological communities, encourage smart energy solutions, and to create an enduring legacy for America's wildernesses. Its current initiatives include coal alternatives, limiting greenhouse emissions, clean energy, green transport, and protecting wildlife communities. The Sierra Club also is involved in issues such as environmental justice, clean air, clean water, global population, toxic waste, and responsible trade. The Sierra Club offers a variety of outings for its members ranging from backpacking and camping to biking, canoeing, and rafting. It also supports vibrant local chapters that enable club members to become involved in conservation work in their area.