International Conservation Corps members work to complete demanding projects in countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean and have contributed over $3 million in volunteer services to date.

International Conservation Corps team members are veterans of U.S. and Canadian government agencies such as U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and each member has decades of practical experience managing national parks, wildlife, forests, and water.

In PictureNational Natural Parks staff and International Conservation Corps members at a workshop in Bogotá-Colombia on the institutional plan of the agency.

The International Conservation Corps deploys seasoned professionals who have decades of real-life experience in protected areas and natural resource management.

The International Conservation Corps program is a highly effective, low-cost means of providing technical assistance, helping partner nations to fulfill their objectives and to develop institutional and human capacity. The program is the least costly way to project the vast U.S. experience in the management of national parks and natural resources in useful ways overseas, and it is more effective than other forms of technical assistance from the U.S., from other countries, and from often highly paid consultants.

In PictureEllis Richard, former superintendent at NPS and International Conservation Corps member, working in the Paracas National Park visitors center in Peru.

A systemic capacity to channel experience and talent.

U.S. and Canadian conservation agencies have long realized the potential of expanding their mission beyond their own borders to provide assistance and expertise in key regions but have lacked the funding to properly sustain international programs. The International Conservation Corps has the systemic capacity to channel the experience and talent of these respective agencies and retired experts to meet the specific needs of partner nations and provide the necessary resources and in-country political support through the ICCF Group.

In PictureMaitte Van Art and Russell Moore, International Conservation Corps members, at Gorgona National Park in Colombia developing sketches for the visitors center at the protected area.

Global Challenges

Although most developing nations have set aside large areas for preservation, and much has been accomplished to scientifically catalogue critical natural resources, many of these nations lack the human and institutional capacity needed to manage these natural resources, leading to the destruction of biodiversity, water, and forests which are vital sources of environmental security, aesthetic value, cultural heritage, food security, and sustainable economic development.

This lack of capacity leads to unsustainable use and destruction of natural resources through inappropriate development, unmanaged tourism, poaching, erosion, pollutions, and other problems.

To support the worldwide growth in human population and consumption, it is imperative to help overcome this global management deficit to ensure that economic and other benefits perpetually convey from ecosystems to forestry, fish, and wildlife sectors, the tourism industry, and agribusiness.