Only One in Four Protected Areas is Well Managed Gland, Switzerland, 6 November 2014 – A fundamental step-change involving an increase in funding and political commitment is urgently needed to ensure that protected areas deliver their full conservation, social and economic potential, according to an article published today in Nature by experts from Wildlife Conservation Society, the University of Queensland, and the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). The paper, The performance ...

When they're well managed, protected areas, like Yellowstone National Park, are valuable tools for conservation, says Dr. James Watson, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Climate Change Program. But, in a new paper in Nature, Watson and some colleagues argue that's not the case with many reserves around the world.

“Swatch of No Ground Marine Protected Area” is Bangladesh’s first MPA New marine protected area announced as run-up to World Parks Congress in Sydney, Australia (Nov. 12-19) New York (November 3, 2014)—The Government of Bangladesh has created the country’s first marine protected area that will now safeguard whales, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and other oceanic species, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. The creation of the “Swatch of No Ground Marine Protected Area” occu...

On social media, bison fans are posting their #BeardsForBison Senate passed bipartisan resolution to officially commemorate National Bison Day Find a Bison Day event near you at www.votebison.org Washington, D.C. – October 31, 2014 – The Vote Bison Coalition is joining bison-friendly businesses, groups and individuals around the country today to celebrate the third annual National Bison Day on Saturday, November 1. More than 19 events are occurring in at least 15 states to celebrate N...

Flushing, N.Y. – Oct. 30, 2014 – The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo is home to five orphaned coyote pups. All were rescued and rehabilitated in Massachusetts. All born in the spring, four pups are female; one is male. Without their mothers to protect and provide food for them, they would not survive in the wild on their own. “The Queens Zoo educates visitors about animals from North and South America,” said Dr. Scott Silver, Director and Curator of the WCS Queens Zoo. “Coyotes range ...

With the help of WCS's Wildlife Crimes Unit, the Indonesian authorities arrested two traders allegedly involved in the shipment of one whole tiger skin, two stuffed tiger paws, one stuffed tiger head, and a tiger claw. The arrests took place near Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, one of the most important sites globally for Sumatran tiger.

WCS study finds strong management can protect fisheries – and local fishing-based economies – otherwise affected by climate disturbances NEW YORK (October 24, 2014) – A new study has found that implementing stricter fisheries management overcame the expected detrimental effects of climate change disturbances in coral reef fisheries badly impacted by the 1997/98 El Niño, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. The 17-year study led by WCS fisheries scientists found that rapid implementati...

Successes in the Bronx River offer best practices that can be replicated in other communitiesBronx, NY – Oct. 23, 2014 – For more than ten years a coalition of community and government partners have been working together to restore the Bronx River – a project that has resulted in cleaner rivers, vibrant ecosystem, numerous education initiatives, and improved access to one of New York City’s richest natural resources. Today, the Wildlife Conservation Society, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm...

Congress Recently Renewed Stamp that Raised More Than $2.5 Million for Conservation Since 2011 at No Taxpayer Expense Purchase the Stamp Online at shop.usps.com WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 20, 2014) – The Save Vanishing Species postage stamp, also known as the Tiger Stamp, is back on sale at U.S. Post Offices and online after being reauthorized by Congress earlier this year. The stamp costs 60 cents, 11 cents more than a regular first-class stamp. The extra 11 cents from the sale of every stamp g...

Study finds that electrofishing can be used to target non-native species and may be a viable alternative to non-specific fish toxicant treatments of small streams BOZEMAN (October 6, 2014) – A new paper from the Wildlife Conservation Society, Montana State University, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the U.S. Geological Survey looks at the feasibility of electrofishing to selectively remove invasive trout species from Montana streams as an alternative to using fish toxicants...