International Crane Foundation Inc

SEE PART III, LINE 1.

ICF CENTER FOR CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP - ICF'S HEADQUARTERS INCLUDES A GLOBAL CENTER FOR CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP, PROVIDING TRAINING AND PROGRAMS IN: CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT; WETLAND AND GRASSLAND RESTORATION AND ECOLOGY; CAPTIVE CRANE MANAGEMENT AND CARE; ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION; AND CONSERVATION COMMUNICATIONS. ICF'S INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL PROGRAMS INTEGRATE LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND MENTORING INTO EACH PROJECT, FOCUSING ON DEVELOPING LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT SHARE WATERS AND LANDSCAPES WITH CRANES. ICF'S CENTER FOR CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP IDENTIFIES, TRAINS, MENTORS AND SUPPORTS CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP AMONG A BROAD SPECTRUM OF PEOPLE, FROM PROMISING YOUNG SCIENTISTS AND CONSERVATIONISTS TO THE LAND OWNERS AND DECISION MAKERS WHO INFLUENCE CRANE SURVIVAL IN KEY PLACES, EMPOWERING COLLEAGUES WITH KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE TO LEAD EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS IN COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD.

NORTH AMERICA - NORTH AMERICA IS HOME TO TWO CRANE SPECIES, INCLUDING THE WORLD'S RAREST CRANES - ENDANGERED WHOOPING CRANES AND THE MOST ABUNDANT CRANES - SANDHILL CRANES. WHOOPING CRANES FACE CRITICAL THREATS ON THEIR WINTERING GROUNDS IN AND AROUND ARANSAS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN TEXAS, AND ALONG THEIR LONG MIGRATORY FLYWAY TO THEIR BREEDING GROUNDS IN WOOD BUFFALO, CANADA. FOUNDATION PROGRAMS FOCUS ON CONSERVING THE ARANSAS- WOOD BUFFALO WHOOPING CRANE FLOCK; ESTABLISHING A SEPARATE FLOCK OF WHOOPING CRANES THROUGH REINTRODUCTIONS IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES; CAPTIVE CRANE POPULATION MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH; AND EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO REDUCE THREATS TO WHOOPING CRANES THROUGHOUT THEIR NATURAL AND REINTRODUCED RANGE. THE FOUNDATION'S NORTH AMERICA PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES LONGTERM SANDHILL CRANE RESEARCH AIMED AT DEVELOPING CROSS-CUTTING STRATEGIES FOR CRANE MANAGEMENT ON AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES.

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA - SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA IS HOME TO SIX CRANE SPECIES, INCLUDING FOUR HIGHLY THREATENED RESIDENT SPECIES: ENDANGERED GREY CROWNED CRANES AND VULNERABLE BLACK CROWNED, WATTLED, BLUE CRANES, AND WINTERING DEMOISELLE AND EURASIAN CRANES. THE INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION IS ACTIVE IN MANY COUNTRIES ACROSS AFRICA, FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING AND RESOLVING THREATS TO CRANES. GREY AND BLACK CROWNED CRANES ARE IN SERIOUS DECLINE DUE TO CAPTURE FOR ILLEGAL DOMESTICATION AND TRADE, AND LOSS OF VITAL BREEDING WETLANDS. WATTLED CRANES ARE MOST THREATENED BY LARGE DAMS AND WATER DIVERSIONS AND ASSOCIATED WETLAND DEGRADATION. THE FOUNDATION'S DIVERSE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FOCUS ON RESTORING LARGE FLOODPLAINS FOR CRANES, BIODIVERSITY, AND THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES THEY PROVIDE; FOSTERING COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION OF CRANES AND WETLANDS; SECURING CRANES IN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES; REDUCING THE IMPACT OF ILLEGAL TRADE, POWERLINES, AND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ON CRANES; AND LONG-TERM MONITORING AND CONSERVATION PLANNING. THESE EFFORTS IN AFRICA HAVE CREATED GLOBAL MODELS FOR SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT, COMMUNITY-BASED NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION, AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS.