NEW YORK - August 1, 2005 - Wildlife Trust, the premier international organization working to understand the links between ecosystem, wildlife and human health, has named Dr. Andrew Taber as Executive Vice President for Programs, effective July 1.

In his new position, Dr. Taber is charged with advancing the work of the Wildlife Trust Alliance, a network of 12 science-based, international conservation organizations that have banded together to provide a framework for collaborative research, evaluation, accreditation, and policy analysis and recommendations. He also will coordinate Wildlife Trust's ongoing programs in Conservation Medicine, the New York Bioscape Initiative and the Edge of the Sea Aquatic conservation program.

In making the announcement, Dr. Mary C. Pearl, President of Wildlife Trust, says, "We are delighted to have Andrew join our team. He is truly an international individual: he was born and raised in Asia, studied in the U.S. and England, and has spent more than 20 years conducting field work and conservation programs in Latin America."

She adds, "He has proven himself to be a professional of intellectual rigor, who can communicate effectively with scientific colleagues and policy makers. Additionally, Andrew is known for his careful mentoring of students, and his sensitive work with local communities, all skills and qualities we welcome at Wildlife Trust."

Taber says, "I am extremely excited about this new position at Wildlife Trust. This is one of the most innovative and forward thinking of conservation organizations working internationally today bringing together its focus on protecting nature, safeguarding ecosystems and health. I also think its focus on empowering local conservation scientists and organizations through the Wildlife Trust Alliance is the surest path to engender enduring, effective change, worldwide. This is one of the most exciting moves of my professional career."

Taber's areas of expertise include biodiversity and population monitoring, behavioral ecology, population viability, endangered species action plans, status surveys, range wide priority setting, biodiversity mapping, human-wildlife use and conflict, and biodiversity conservation in logging concessions and cattle ranches. He is known for his research work on the chacoan peccary, careful mentoring of students and his sensitive work with local communities.

Most recently, Taber served as Director of Wildlife Conservation Society's Amazonian Conservation Network, where he worked to improve conservation practice through promoting the sharing of lessons learned, developing conservation tools, and promoting adaptive management in Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

About the Wildlife Trust Alliance

The Wildlife Trust Alliance, a network of 12 science-based international conservation organizations (and individual members) was founded in 2004. The WT Alliance provides a global voice for local communities and conservation professionals worldwide through collaborative research, evaluation, accreditation, and policy analysis and recommendations.

About Wildlife Trust

Wildlife Trust empowers local conservation scientists worldwide to protect nature and safeguard ecosystem and human health. Wildlife Trust is a conservation science innovator and leverages research expertise through strategic global alliances. Wildlife Trust pioneered the field of Conservation Medicine, a new discipline that addresses the link between ecological disruption of habitats and the effects on wildlife, livestock and human health.

Founded in 1971 by British naturalist and author Gerald Durrell, Wildlife Trust has built its reputation on 35 years of global research, education, training and experience. Research and conservation work in the United States include programs in the metropolitan New York area, Florida and along the coast of the Southeastern U.S.

Internationally, Wildlife Trust trains and supports a network of scientists around the world to save endangered species and their habitats and to protect the health of vital ecosystems. Wildlife Trust created the first egalitarian international network of science-based conservation organizations called the Wildlife Trust Alliance and is a founding partner organization of the Consortium for Conservation Medicine, a unique think-tank of prestigious academic institutions.

Visit www.wildlifetrust.org to read more.

Media Contact:
Anthony Ramos, Wildlife Trust
Director for Marketing & Communications
ramos@wildlifetrust.org
212/380-4469

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