Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders

Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) is an initiative that brings together twenty new, emerging leaders in the wildlife conservation field for capacity building and intense training in campaign development and skills, including implementation of a two-year group international wildlife issue campaign. Wildlife conservation is benefited by the nurturing of future leaders, information sharing and idea exchange amongst conservation entities, and the tangible conservation products generated as part of the group campaign exercise.

EWCL is a collaborative effort between Defenders of Wildlife and multiple wildlife conservation organizations, government agencies and private businesses. This effort is supported by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Defenders of Wildlife, and White Oak Conservation Center/Howard Gilman Foundation.

Complete description of EWCL, including it’s mission, goals, steering committee, nomination process.

Application Information


We will be accepting applications for the 2009/2010 class in the fall of 2008.

Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders Board of Directors


Class of 2005-2006

The Class of 2005-2006 chose bears of Southeast Asia as the umbrella topic, then divided into four subgroups in order to launch four independent but complimentary projects to benefit this class of highly imperiled species.

2005-06 Participant List

Class of 2007-2008

The Class of 2007-2008 met April 9-13, 2007 to determine their class projects.

Project List

  • Unsustainable trade of pangolins in Southeast Asia
  • Okapi conservation education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Global amphibian decline
  • Jaguar recovery in northern Mexico
2007-08 Participant List

Pilot Class: 2005/2006 Summary

The first class of Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) graduated successfully in December, 2006. By doing so, they completed a two-year course designed to provide training in leadership skills and conservation campaigning, offer mentoring and networking opportunities, and enable participants to design, implement, and evaluate conservation projects that assist in the conservation of an internationally imperiled species.

Training Session Highlights

The 2007 EWCL training session included formal instruction taught by a steering committee comprised of seasoned wildlife conservation professionals as well as trainers in the field of leadership development and personal growth. Session topics included: Leadership Skills; Participatory Decision-making; the Legislative Process; Successful Campaigning; Communications and Collaboration; and, Fundraising and Development.

For more information about the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders initiative, please contact:

Nina Fascione
Vice President, Field Conservation Programs
Defenders of Wildlife
1130 17th St., NW, Washington, DC 20036-4604

Jeffrey Flocken, J.D.
D.C. Office Director
International Fund for Animal Welfare
1350 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1220
Washington, DC 20036