This event featured Andrew Muir, Executive Director of the Wilderness Foundation. Muir discussed his new mission, which focuses on "misplaced youth" tragically orphaned by AIDS. The WILD and Wilderness Foundations seek to provide support, solutions and futures for these young Africans in wilderness homes, upbringing and careers. The event also included an overview of the Wilderness Foundation's historic field programs, which enable over 80,000 under-resourced youth to experience the wild and develop an environmental ethic. Link to more information on Umzi Wethu from the WILD Foundation.
 

This briefing featured Wildlife Conservation Society's Dr. Mike Fay who briefed attendees on the dramatic changes humans have caused to the earth's environment. In August 2004, Dr. Fay began his "MegaFlyover" to document the human impact on the entire continent of Africa. Also in attendance was Dr. Eric W. Sanderson, who completed the first map outlining the impact on the earth's environment. Click here for a National Geographic Magazine Feature on the "Human Footprint." Click here for an NPR Feature on the "Human Footprint."

This event highlighted the country of Madagascar for their historic commitment to triple the size of their national park system. The USAID-sponsored film, entitled Madagascar: A New Vision, premiered at the event. The film focuses on conservation as it links to the lifestyles of the struggling Malagasy people. General Charles Sylvain Rabotoarison, Madagascar's Minister of Environment, Water and Forests, was present. In addition, Members who visited Madagascar shared some of their experiences from touring the island's unique flora and fauna. Click here to learn more about Madagascar from Conservation International.

This briefing featured African Wildlife Foundation's Dr. Annette Lanjouw, International Technical Advisor for the International Gorilla Conservation Program. She gave an overview of the plight of mountain gorilla. Click here for more information on the mountain gorilla from the African Wildlife Foundation.

This briefing discussed the International Biodiversity Budget - a joint publication of five U.S.-based international conservation organizations (Conservation International, the Nature Conservancy, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the World Resources Institute, and the World Wildlife Fund). Representatives from the five authoring organizations were in attendance to detail the publication's content. Wildlife Conservation Society's Dr. Michael Fay keynoted the briefing.