Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Awards 1,000th Conservation Grant

The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) has announced its 2013 conservation grant recipients, awarding its 1,000th grant with this latest round of funding.

“We are honored to support programs that address critical conservation needs,” said Dr. Beth Stevens, senior vice president of Corporate Citizenship, Environment & Conservation at Disney.  “These dedicated recipients are working with communities to ensure a brighter future for wildlife and the natural world we share.“

150 projects were selected for their efforts to study wildlife, protect habitats and develop community conservation and education programs in critical ecosystems. Since its founding in 1995, the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund has provided $24 million in grants to conservation programs in more than half the countries in the world.

“We are grateful for the support of the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund,” said Joe Duff, co-founder and CEO of Operation Migration, one of this year’s grant recipients.  “It gives us great pride to be recognized by such an outstanding leader in the protection of our natural resources. Through financial support, participation and mentorship, Disney continues to set the standard for corporate leadership in conserving wildlife and the habitats it needs to survive.”

2013 grant recipients include:

Andean Cat Alliance via Wildlife Conservation Network works with communities in Argentina to initiate income-generating programs that are linked to the conservation of the Andean cat and other local carnivores.

Ngogo Chimpanzee Project, Inc. studies a large community of chimpanzees at Ngogo Kibale National Park, Uganda, some of which appeared in the Disneynature film, CHIMPANZEE. The organization has built schools to enable broader educational and community conservation efforts to protect chimpanzees and other forest wildlife.

Operation Migration has reintroduced Whooping cranes back to the wild using an ultralight aircraft to teach birds to migrate from Wisconsin to Florida. DWCF has been supporting this project since its inception in 2000.

University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science studies sharks through satellite transmitters to understand their migration patterns, and nursery and feeding grounds. The University has also helped to establish and manage protected areas for sharks and other animals in the Atlantic Ocean.

Wildlife Conservation Society assesses the reintroduction efforts of the Chinese alligator population, which were released in Chongming Island in 2007. WCS also engages youth in Shanghai and nearby communities in field monitoring and conservation efforts to help protect this species.

DWCF is supported by guest contribution opportunities at merchandise and other select locations including Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, Disney Vacation Club Resorts and Disney Cruise Line.  Other funding comes from merchandise initiatives like reusable bags and special guest programs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot.

For more information, visit thewaltdisneycompany.com.