Dr. Igor Chestin, CEO of World Wildlife Fund Russia, delivered a presentation about the endangered Amur leopard.  The forty known remaining Amur leopards exist in the precarious position of having a habitat encompassing portions of Russia, China, and North Korea.  Chestin explored the idea of animal as ambassador, and shared conservation goals as tools toward border stability.

Dr. Laurie Marker, Founder and Executive Director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) brought Kuzo, an adult male cheetah, into the Longworth House Office Building for an opportunity to learn about the challenges threatening the survival of the species.

The International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) is working to protect the last remaining mountain gorillas in a transboundary conservation area covering portions of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. The IGCP's efforts are largely focussed on responsible eco-tourism and various ways to engage locals in the protection of these majestic animals. 

Chris Weaver, director of the L.I.F.E. program in Namibia, joined us to explain how  conservation efforts in Namibia have improved not just animals' survival chances, but also had a dramatic positive impact on the local economy.

On September 18, ICCF gathered together an unprecedented cross section of policymakers and conservationists to celebrate achievements in conserving our most precious natural resources. The 2007 U.S. Congressional International Conservation Gala included Heads of State, many Members of Congress, Administration officials and Ambassadors, as well as corporate leaders in conservation and leading conservation NGOs and VIPs from all over the world.

John Hofmeister, President of Shell Oil company, Red Cavaney, President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, and Dr. Donald Paul, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Chevron Corp., spoke to members of Congress and the greater conservation community about the oil and gas industries' commitment to conservation.

Representatives of the Government of Southern Sudan and the Wildlife Conservation Society joined famed explorer Dr. Mike Fay and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, Representative Donald Payne, to discuss the recently rediscovered robust wildlife migration in Southern Sudan.

Mrs. Wendy Paulson spoke to a gathering of Congressional spouses and other guests about the threats facing neotropical migratory birds, and potential legislative remedies.

Tensie Whelan, Executive Director of the Rainforest Alliance briefed Congressional staff on her organization's unique and innovative work utilizing market forces to conserve tropical forests.

President of the Fund Virginia Busch brought a menagerie of animals to Washington, DC to meet members of Congress and their families at a reception. She also spoke about the programs of the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund and the conservation legacy of the Anheuser-Busch Companies.

His Excellency Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr., President of Palau, presented information on the Micronesia Challenge, the movement to “effectively conserve at least 30% of the near-shore marine and 20% of the forest resources across Micronesia by 2020.”

Guido Rahr, President and CEO of the Portland, OR-based Wild Salmon Center, presented information about efforts to protect and rehabilitate the inland water systems used for breeding by wild Pacific salmon (an important keystone species).

Kristine Tompkins, former CEO of Patagonia Company, spoke about her work creating national parks in Chile and Argentina.

Dr. Fay discussed his March 2007 National Geographic Magazine cover story about the last great herd of elephants in Zakouma National Park in Chad.