CONSERVATION

GRANTEE:INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION/SCRIPPS INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHYAMOUNT/TERM:$490,851/TWO YEARS

Through its partnership with Scripps Institute of Oceanography, the International Community Foundation is building the case for marine protected areas. Researchers are using acoustic tags on large fish to track their residency patterns, home ranges, habitat utilization, and spawning sites within the Cabo Pulmo Marine Reserve to appraise the economic value of the reserve to the sport fishing industry.

ABOUT THE TRUSTThe Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional nonprofits and other mission-aligned organizations in the U.S. and around the world in health, selected place-based initiatives, and education and human services.

We strive to make a meaningful impact in these areas, employing not only our significant financial assets, but also a rigorous and results-oriented approach and a keen understanding of the relevant issues, needs and opportunities.

ABOUT THECONSERVATIONPROGRAMOur Conservation Program works to resolve conservation threats in ways that ensure the well-being of local communities while sustaining natural resources and protecting biodiversity. We do so by collaborating with outstanding global and local organizations that share our mission. The Trust’s place-based approach aims to align biodiversity conservation and environmental protection goals with sustainable human development. This

includes promoting development solutions that benefit communities, wildlife and the environment; establishing and supporting the management of protected areas; and working to save endangered species. Wherever possible, the Trust leverages investment and leadership of those in the public and private sectors, and seeks long-term financing mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of efforts and impacts.

STRATEGIESThe Trust currently is focused on the Galapagos Archipelago in Ecuador, Baja California Sur in Mexico, Madagascar and Myanmar. Each is remarkable for its biodiversity and each is threatened by a variety of environmental, social, political and developmental conditions. In devel-oping and refining tailored grantmaking strategies for these four regions, our program team considers a broad spectrum of factors, including sustainable natural resource management, terrestrial and

marine ecosystem viability, species con-servation needs and opportunities, health and disease dynamics, environmental and climate change forecasts, economic and political forces, the capacity and leadership of local conservation practitioners, and the presence of potential partner organizations and other funding sources. The Trust has also begun supporting regional and global efforts in marine conservation as a comple-ment to our place-based strategy.

GALAPAGOS, ECUADOR

BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR,MEXICO

MADAGASCAR

MYANMAR

WHY THESE AREAS?Our program concentrates on unique environments around the world whose extraordinary biodiversity and high levels of endemism are threatened by mounting human pressures. These sensitive habitats, and the animals and plants within, face a range of challenges wrought by industrial and residential expansion, tourism and various political and regulatory conditions. These areas are unlike anywhere else in

the world, and their unique characteristics continue to provide insights into our understanding of science and the needs of people and animals. It is critical to protect these land and seascapes in order to conserve the precious resources they hold, the information they contain and the services they provide to human communities near and far.

GRANTEE:BLUE VENTURESAMOUNT/TERM:$399,240/THREE YEARS

Locally Managed Marine Areas make up 11% of Madagascar’s continental shelf and helps protect fisheries and the marine environment. Blue Ventures works with communities on Madagascar’s west coast to improve the locally managed octopus fisheries through temporary closures, effective management and connecting communities directly to the buyers to ensure long-term financial sustainability of their fisheries.

GRANTEE:CHARLES DARWIN FOUNDATION OF THE GALAPAGOSAMOUNT/TERM:MULTIPLE GRANTS TOTALING $3.4 MILLION

Charles Darwin Foundation is the scientific research arm of the Galápagos Archipelago, providing strong technical information to the decision making bodies of the Government of Ecuador to make sound decisions for a sustainable future for Galápagos.

GALÁPAGOS, ECUADORLocated 600 miles west of the Ecuadorian mainland, the Galápagos’ iconic wildlife – much of it found nowhere else on Earth – has helped define our understanding of science. A natural laboratory for the study of evolution and a globally prized ecological treasure, the Galápagos’ sensitive habitats, animals, and plants face increasing threats driven by the rapidly growing residential and touristic human footprint.

“Few places in the world match the beauty, diversity and fragility of Galapagos’ natural environments. Our work over the last few years has raised awareness of the growing impact of building and development, and we aim to continue this momentum by demonstrating our sustainability principles into the future.”

– Michael Romero, Director –American Projectsat the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community

GRANTEE:THE PRINCE’S FOUNDATION FOR BUILDING COMMUNITYAMOUNT/TERM:MULTIPLE GRANTS TOTALING$1 MILLION

With the human population growing and the increase in the tourism industry, the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community is working close-ly with government and local communities to mitigate hu-man’s impact on nature. They are doing this by helping the local government adopt sound urban planning codes and ed-ucating the local communities about sustainable architecture and the importance of sourcing sustainable building materials.

GRANTEE:WILDAIDAMOUNT/TERM:MULTIPLE GRANTS TOTALING $3.3 MILLION

Invasive species pose the great-est threat to biodiversity in the Galápagos Islands. WildAid has been working closely with the Ecuadorian Government, Galápagos National Park and BioSecurity Agency to establish an effective biosecurity system for the airports and ports.

The Trust’s Galápagos strategy includes (but is not limited to):

• Technical assistance for the national park service to improve the management of the Galápagos National Park and Marine Reserve;

• Support for environmentally responsible tourism management policies, and help for businesses transitioning to eco-friend-ly tourism models;

• Assistance to municipalities in the design and implementation of land use and waste management policies that minimize pres-sure on the environment;

• Work to consolidate and fortify barriers against the introduction and spread of harmful invasive species that compete with native plants and animals;

• Support for sound zoning, regulation, and law enforcement within the Galápagos Marine Reserve to effectively manage fisheries, expand no-take zones, and protect threatened species from harmful fishing practices;

• Capacity-building, outreach, education, and communications to promote civic engagement and environmental responsi-bility among residents; and

• Scientific research that informs natural resource management and the effective communication of relevant data to local communities and decision makers.

“Seeing the amazing recovery of island ecosystems and population increases of threatened island species firsthand following removal of invasive species is what motives me to restore islands.It is incredibly rewarding to collaborate on challenging projects with similarly driven people, as well as to work with people who are seeing the incredible benefits that come from removing invasive species from islands for the first time.”

– Karl Campbell, Project Director, Island Conservation

GRANTEE:ISLAND CONSERVATIONAMOUNT/TERM:MULTIPLE GRANTS TOTALING $1.8 MILLION

Complimentary to the efforts of WildAid described on the adjacent page, Island Conservation works to remove invasive species in the islands and develop local capacity to control invasive species where eradication is not possible.

GRANTEE:PRONATURA NOROESTEAMOUNT/TERM:$500,000/24 MONTHS

Despite its importance to the marine ecosystem of Northwest Mexico, Bahía Magdalena has no formal protected area status. Pro-natura Noroeste, is working to change that by securing pristine coastal land through conserva-tion concessions while providing the science to support a Bahia Magdalena Biosphere Reserve.

BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICOThe unique interaction between ocean currents and the desert environment make the coastline of Baja California Sur some of the most productive waters in the world. The Trust focuses on two sites in this region, Cabo Pulmo and Magdalena Bay. Renowned as one of the most successful marine protected areas in the world, Cabo Pulmo stands as an exemplar of effective community-led conservation and natural resource management.

Home to the area’s northernmost hard coral reef and teeming marine biodiversity that has benefited from long-time local fisheries closures, Cabo Pulmo is under increasing threat from proposed inappropriate coastal development. Meanwhile, Magdalena Bay’s globally important fisheries are in decline due to widespread overfishing and harmful fishing techniques that result in bycatch of threatened species.

“Magdalena Bay is, for biological and economic reasons, one of the most important wetlands in western Mexico. Its future depends on our social and political capacity to guide development that is compatible with the conservation of its extraordinary natural capital.”

–Gustavo Danemann, Executive Director of Pronatura Noroeste

Our Baja strategy includes:

• Legal, scientific, communications, and community organizing support for the promotion of environmentally sound coastal development;

• Technical expertise to support the expansion and sound stewardship of protected areas that preserve sensitive coastal habitats;

• Assistance to fishers to support adoption of environmentally sound fishing practices, and expand market pipelines for sustainably sourced fish;

• Capacity-building support for community-based conservation organizations, and strengthening of a regional conservation network;

• Empowering community members through training in alternative sustainable livelihoods and integration into local planning processes; and

• Growth of a local environmental consciousness through environmental education programs and community outreach.

“I founded SmartFish to incentivize more responsible artisanal fishing here on the Baja California peninsula because coastal communities here, as along much of the world’s oceans, cannot thrive or really even survive without sustainable fisheries.”

– Hoyt Peckham, founding director, SmartFish

GRANTEE:SMARTFISHAMOUNT/TERM:TWO GRANTS TOTALING $890,000

Through the SmartFish project, The Ocean Foundation is connecting Baja’s fishermen to high value seafood markets. By changing the incentive structure, SmartFish has trained five fishing cooperatives on sustainable fishing techniques that earn them more money for catching fewer fish.

GRANTEE:WORLD WILDLIFE FUNDAMOUNT/TERM:$400,000/36 MONTHS

Mangrove forests play a crucial role in carbon sequestration; World Wildlife Fund is working to restore mangrove forests of the Tsiribihina-Manambolo Delta Region while also helping the local community effectively manage the mangrove forest and develop lucrative livelihoods by improving the crab fishery.

MADAGASCARCommonly known as the eighth continent due to its unparalleled levels of biodiversity and endemism, Madagascar’s environ-ment is under accelerating threat due to widespread poverty, a rapidly growing population, unsustainable use of natural resources and weak governance. In this context, successful conservation efforts must engage local communities in natural resources management, and diversifying economic livelihoods to reduce pressure on natural resources while also supporting human well-being.

Our grantmaking strategy in Madagascar includes:

• Support for the creation of permanent protected areas in important land and seascapes;

• Design and implementation of community-led natural resources management plans within and surrounding protected areas;

• The expansion of productive, environmentally sound livelihoods such as ecotourism, sustainable agriculture, and sound fisheries management;

• Capacity-building support for communities and civil society organizations to improve governance and advocacy for sound envi-ronmental policy;

• Technical assistance and research support for local, regional, and national authorities in the monitoring and management of natural resources; and

• Outreach, education, and communications to promote environmental consciousness and sustainable behaviors.

GRANTEE:FANAMBYAMOUNT/TERM:TWO GRANTS TOTALING $380,000

Many communities in Madagascar face extreme poverty due to their isolation and lack of economic opportunities. Fanamby works with the communities in Anjozorobe Angavo, located in the central highlands, to diversify local agricultural activities and engage the private sector to connect farmers to high-quality, sustainably grown products such as essential oils.

GRANTEE:FAUNA AND FLORAINTERNATIONAL MYANMARAMOUNT/TERM:$749,960/36 MONTHS

FFI is working to secure the most important habitat areas in Myanmar in a strong network of protected areas. They are engaging local stakeholders in a participatory designation pro-cess for four new protected areas representing some of the most important ecosystems in the country. These protected areas will be co-managed with local communities, allowing for sus-tainable use of natural resources.

MYANMARMyanmar is home to some of the planet’s most primal, unspoiled wilderness areas inhabited by rare and newly discovered wildlife. After decades of isolation, the country recently has reengaged the outside world. It is now poised for rapid development as foreign investments pour in and laws and regulations change to accommodate a new path to modernity. The Helmsley Charitable Trust is partnering closely with several of the leading global conservation organizations, as well as with a growing group of local environmental,

educational and social programs to help ensure that these changes are done sustainably, protecting Myanmar’s vast and unique natural assets, while enabling the nation and its people to prosper in the 21st Century and beyond. Myanmar is the Trust’s newest geographic focus area.

Our grantmaking strategy in Myanmarincludes:

• Creation of new protected areas in terrestrial and marine biodiversity hotspots and strengthening management plans in existing protected areas;

• Capacity building for local conservation practitioners including government officials, the nascent sector of local environmental non-profits, and a growing civil society;

• Technical assistance for government officials in support of new regulations that will guide sound land use and natural resources management;

• Communications and public outreach to foster a conservation ethic and engage local communities in conservation efforts; and

• Growth of the pool of future conservation professionals through small research grants and capacity support in the academic sector.

GRANTEE:WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY MYANMARAMOUNT/TERM:$2,249,695/36 MONTHS

One of the greatest threats to conservation in Myanmar is the lack of capacity to manage natural resources. WCS is building that capacity by training civil society and government officials in conservation models for protected areas. Simultaneously they are building the talent pool of conservation professionals by offering research grants to Burmese undergraduate and graduate students.

GRANTEE:THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETYAMOUNT/TERM:$3 MILLION/THREE YEARS

Through its Pristine Seas initiative, the National Geographic Society is working to save a number of the last unspoiled marine environments in our oceans by restoring degraded habitats, raising public awareness of the importance of protecting these endangered areas, and engaging in high-level policy campaigns to inspire world leaders to safeguard marine protected areas worldwide.

“Pristine Seas is key to preserving the last wild places in the ocean so that we know what we have lost, and also to help us determine the future ocean we want.”

–Enric Sala, Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society

“We envision a world where people and nature live in sustainable harmony.”

– John Codey, trustee ofthe Helmsley Charitable Trust

MOVINGFORWARDThe Trust will continue to evaluate and en-hance our ability to make a positive impact within our highly bio-diverse but threatened land and marine environments globally.

www.helmsleytrust.org

The Leona M. and Harry B. HelmsleyCharitable Trust, ©2014

Photo credits:Cover – Robert CookInside cover – Octavio Aburto Back cover – Ralph Lee Hopkinsp.1 – Garth Crippsp.2, p.6 – Ralph Lee Hopkinsp.3, p.4, p.5, p.8, p.10 – Robert Cookp.7 – Carlos Aguilerap.11 – WCS Myanmarp.12 – Enric Sala

Design: C&G PartnersTypeset in Milo Serif and Trade GothicPrinted on Lindenmeyr Munroe from sus-tainable and responsibly managed forests.

CONSERVATIONGALÁPAGOS, ECUADORBAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICOMADAGASCARMYANMAR