The unique mission of the Conservation Treaty Support Fund (CTSF) is to support major inter-governmental treaties which conserve wild natural resources for their own sake and the benefit of people. The Fund believes these undertakings have the best potential for global conservation, because they stem from the will of the nations of the world, are premised on the goal of sustaining living natural resources, and have created a framework for effective conservation supported by many governments and international agencies.

While governments of the nations which are Party to these treaties provide the financial resources for their administration, the financing required to support effective implementation and enforcement is beyond the scope of these government contributions. Developing countries need technical assistance in compliance and enforcement, and in simply attending meetings which may decide the fate of their own resources. Studies are needed to determine which species, populations, and habitats may be at risk and how best to manage and conserve them. The projects are carefully vetted by the treaty Secretariats and subsequently approved by their Governing Bodies. CTSF raises support for such treaty projects from individuals, corporations, foundations and government agencies.

In thirteen years, CTSF has raised or received over $850,000 and disbursed or earmarked nearly 750,000 for treaty projects, educational materials, and USFWS grants. Our initial support came from a few small grants and from the CITES Secretariat. The first major grant, received in late 1987, was $60,000 from the W. Alton Jones Foundation to support CITES Secretariat technical assistance missions and the development of guidelines for national legislation to implement CITES. Through works by artists Robert Bateman and Carl Brenders, Mill Pond Press, another major supporter, provided nearly $100,000 for CITES projects, including the Identification Manual; the first study of significant trade in wild plants; a study of Mexican Cacti; studies of legislation and wildlife trade laws; and CITES implementation and enforcement training seminars.

A myriad of other organizations have also supported projects. The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council and several foundations have helped with operating support. CTSF founded the CITES Ambassadors Club in late 1988, sponsored by the CITES Secretariat, HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, and several other individual donors. Contributions by Club members have helped CTSF produce educational materials, make smaller grants, and meet operating costs. Ambassadors Club members include Willard Scott, wildlife artists Robert Bateman and Mary Helsaple, and former United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Directors Elizabeth Dowdeswell and Mostafa Tolba.

The Fund has provided urgently-needed grants for the Wetlands Convention newsletter, Caribbean conservation, and research on the threat to birds in Tanzania, spotted cats in China, pangolins in Namibia, and spiders in India. In recent years, we have raised funds to support participation by developing countries in a 1994 CITES Asian Regional Meeting in Israel centered on CITES enforcement; for a 1995 International Wildlife Enforcement Training seminar jointly sponsored by the CITES Secretariat and the US Fish and Wildlife Service at the Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia; for a 1998 implementation/enforcement training seminar in Cairo, Egypt; and for a current project on developing and publishing of guidelines for Community Involvement in Wetlands Management. We also assisted UNEP's fund raising for conclusion of an inter-governmental African Wildlife Enforcement Agreement.

Information and education are needed to sustain the commitment to conservation of current and future generations. CTSF develops and distributes educational and informative materials, including: the CITES Endangered Species Book--mainly for children and in its 3rd edition; the CITES Brochure; endangered species posters, prints, cards, and birdbooks; and the CITES and Wetland Convention videos. We have donated materials to children's hospitals and the Student CITES Project.

CTSF has brought together a Board of leaders in the field and newly involved supporters. The founder, President, and operating officer is a retired Foreign Service Officer (FSO). CTSF's Secretary, retired from the USFWS where he was in charge of Office of International Affairs, is taking on responsibility for CTSF's involvement in the Wetlands Convention, which has increased markedly; CTSF is a member of the Steering Committee of the US National Ramsar Committee.

CTSF is not a "membership" organization and does not engage in direct mail fund raising campaigns. Its costs are minimal, as the president and operating officer, serves without remuneration and provides the office space. Sales of educational materials help to balance the costs of production and distribution. Board members also help when they have time.

Because of CTSF's central position in the conservation community, solely aiming for the effective implementation of these treaties, the Secretariats, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of State have asked the Fund to coordinate or help with joint activities: e.g., the 1994 visit to Washington by Migratory Species Convention Standing Committee officers and Secretariat staff; the 1993 celebration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of CITES in Washington; administration of the 1994 CITES Conference in Florida; and support for attendance at CITES meetings by delegates from developing countries. CTSF raised funding for the anniversary and the meetings from many other conservation organizations and contributed directly to these events as well.

 

CTSF's current work includes:

1) fund raising for a large number of projects including:

a) studies of and development of controls of "medicinal" trade in plants and animals;
b) status surveys and development of conservation management plans for a wide variety of species;
c) a Forensic and Enforcement Workshop bringing together specialists to focus on combatting the illegal bear and tiger trade;

2) distributing a beautiful Caribbean wildlife "Buyer Beware" educational poster (the original painting on which the poster was based now hangs in the Office of the USFWS Director, in memory of Mollie Beattie);

3) promoting powerful tiger posters and prints by Robert Bateman taken from a painting commissioned by CTSF for the 25th Anniversary of CITES; 4) publishing and distributing a poster on the Vital Link Between People and Wetlands;

5) raising general purposes funds to permit the Fund to continue its work.

 

CTSF is located at 3705 Cardiff Road, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815 and can be reached via e-mail at ctsf@conservationtreaty.org, by telephone at (800) 654-3150, and by fax (301) 652-6390.