As your constituent and a supporter of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), I am writing to urge you to cosponsor H.R. 1298/S.618, the U.S. Foundation for International Conservation Act, a bill that would leverage U.S. funding with philanthropic contributions to provide sustainable financing for protected areas. As the Congress considers this bill your support is critically important to secure committee action.

Protected and conserved areas across the globe protect critical biodiversity and iconic species, contribute to local economies, and support U.S. development and foreign policy objectives by providing clean water, supporting food security, and promoting governance and economic opportunities. However, many of these areas are chronically underfunded and vulnerable to boom and bust funding cycles that threaten effective management and stewardship of these important landscapes and seascapes.

For example, stunning national parks of primary intact rainforest harbor intact assemblages of some of the world’s best-known wildlife, including forest elephants and western lowland gorillas. Such protected areas provide employment, health and education services to a significant number of households in the local communities and support initiatives that value the lifeways of Indigenous Peoples. These parks have the potential to generate significant local revenue as they develop into world class ecotourism destinations. Consistent and sustainable funding could support management costs, leadership skills training, and development of tourism strategies.

The U.S. Foundation for International Conservation Act would incentivize philanthropy to match U.S. government funds to provide long-term, predictable funding for core protected area management activities and ensure that these strongholds of biodiversity continue to provide economic, environmental, social, and cultural benefits locally and globally. The US Foundation for International Conservation would prioritize projects that have host-country government and local community support, and create economic opportunities for local communities. Investments will focus on countries with high biodiversity or significant species or ecosystems and a demonstrated commitment to conservation.

Many of these protected and conserved areas and their biodiversity will be lost if long-term sustainable financing is not secured. The U.S. government has a crucial role to play in advancing innovative public-private conservation investments. I urge you to support the U.S. Foundation for International Conservation Act as it moves through Congress. Thank you for standing up for wildlife and wild places.