Wildlife Australia Fund
Encyclopedia
Wildlife Australia Fund, Inc. is a United States
based international
charitable organization
established for the conservation
, research
and restoration
of the environment
. It was established and founded by an American and is supported by Australian expatriates in New York
. It is established to assist in the acquisition of land in Australia
for the conservation of threatened species
and ecosystems, conducting research into conservation and biodiversity in Australia and undertaking public education regarding Australian wildlife conservation. It encourages active participation worldwide to help restore the balance to the delicate ecosystem of Australia. Funding comes from tax-deductible donations from the public.
, Western Australia
. Following that visit, Mr Streicker met Atticus Fleming, Chief Executive of Australian Wildlife Conservancy
(AWC) who introduced him to the natural diversity of Australia's unique and endangered species
and ecosystems.
Upon returning to the United States, Mr Streicker established Wildlife Australia Fund, Inc., which is a 501(c)(3) public charity. It is supported by a group of Australian expatriates living in New York City
who wanted to highlight to the world the global significance of Australia’s unique wildlife and the extinction threat that they face , as well as a vehicle in which globally based Australians and their international friends could financially contribute and give back to the Australian community. The expatriate supporters will be hosting fundraising events throughout the United States in order to support various projects of Wildlife Australia Fund.
One of Wildlife Australia Fund's first major projects is to actively support a contract to purchase Pungalina Station
, a vast property covering 195,000 hectares (482,000 acres) in the outback
of the Northern Territory
. Pungalina is seen by Wildlife Australia Fund as one of the last great wilderness areas of northern Australia and its acquisition important for the conservation of a suite of unique and endangered Australian flora and fauna, including 500 plant species, 20 frog species, 75 reptile species, 170 bird species and 35 mammal species.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
based international
Internationalism (politics)
Internationalism is a political movement which advocates a greater economic and political cooperation among nations for the theoretical benefit of all...
charitable organization
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
established for the conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
, research
Environmental science
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems...
and restoration
Restoration ecology
-Definition:Restoration ecology is the scientific study and practice of renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats in the environment by active human intervention and action, within a short time frame...
of the environment
Environment (biophysical)
The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
. It was established and founded by an American and is supported by Australian expatriates in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It is established to assist in the acquisition of land in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
for the conservation of threatened species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
and ecosystems, conducting research into conservation and biodiversity in Australia and undertaking public education regarding Australian wildlife conservation. It encourages active participation worldwide to help restore the balance to the delicate ecosystem of Australia. Funding comes from tax-deductible donations from the public.
History
The organization was founded by American, John Streicker, Chairman of Sentinel Corporation. Mr Streicker, a New Yorker, visited Australia after 11 September where he ended up buying a flower farm outside of PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Following that visit, Mr Streicker met Atticus Fleming, Chief Executive of Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
The Australian Wildlife Conservancy is an Australian independent, non-profit organisation, working to conserve threatened wildlife and ecosystems in Australia, principally through the acquisition of extensive areas of land on which to establish conservation reserves . These sanctuaries are...
(AWC) who introduced him to the natural diversity of Australia's unique and endangered species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
and ecosystems.
Upon returning to the United States, Mr Streicker established Wildlife Australia Fund, Inc., which is a 501(c)(3) public charity. It is supported by a group of Australian expatriates living in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
who wanted to highlight to the world the global significance of Australia’s unique wildlife and the extinction threat that they face , as well as a vehicle in which globally based Australians and their international friends could financially contribute and give back to the Australian community. The expatriate supporters will be hosting fundraising events throughout the United States in order to support various projects of Wildlife Australia Fund.
Objectives
- To protect and enhance the natural environmentNatural environmentThe natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
; - To educate the public and raise awareness of Australia's unique wildlife and ecosystems;
- To educate the public and raise awareness of the threats to Australia's unique wildlife and ecosystems;
- To research and act in the protection of threatened or endangered species;
- To acquire land for the conservation of threatened species and ecosystems
Projects
Pungalina-Seven Emu Sanctuary
Pungalina-Seven Emu Sanctuary is a 3060 km2 nature reserve in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy which purchased Pungalina Station in 2009, with some assistance from the Wildlife Australia Fund. It adjoins the Gulf of Carpentaria near the...
, a vast property covering 195,000 hectares (482,000 acres) in the outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
of the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. Pungalina is seen by Wildlife Australia Fund as one of the last great wilderness areas of northern Australia and its acquisition important for the conservation of a suite of unique and endangered Australian flora and fauna, including 500 plant species, 20 frog species, 75 reptile species, 170 bird species and 35 mammal species.