In honor of Theodore Roosevelt’s unparalleled legacy of North American conservation, a fund is being established in his name to support North American wildlife conservation initiatives through Conservation Centers for Species Survival (C2S2). Since its establishment at the Smithsonian in 2005 in partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), C2S2 has worked with dozens of species, including North American, endangered species: red wolves, songbirds, and whooping cranes, with bison as a next target species.
In furtherance of TR’s central role in the conservation of North American animals and land, C2S2 will focus a significant portion of its efforts on North American mammal and bird species that have come under tremendous pressure over the last 120 years. As is well known, TR had close relationships with the Smithsonian and the precursor of the Fish and Wildlife Service, and these collaborations continue here.
In furtherance of TR’s central role in the conservation of North American animals and land, C2S2 will focus a significant portion of its efforts on North American mammal and bird species that have come under tremendous pressure over the last 120 years. As is well known, TR had close relationships with the Smithsonian and the precursor of the Fish and Wildlife Service, and these collaborations continue here.
C2S2 rebuilds genetically original, severely endangered species metapopulations in US ecosystems that are similar enough to the animals’ and birds’ natural habitats that they can reproduce effectively and safely and eventually be reintroduced back into natural, fully wild ecosystems. In these vast, naturalistic settings, far greater numbers than can be accommodated by other approaches, including urban zoos. C2S2 achieves these results by connecting the substantial space available in endangered species conservation breeding centers and on private lands to create genetically diverse meta-populations -- reservoirs that prevent extinction while supporting research, translocations, and reintroductions. In all cases, C2S2’s ultimate goal is creating populations that directly support species in nature.
C2S2’s approach was featured as the cover story of BioScience, a leading journal published by Oxford University Press. The article, entitled “Breeding Centers, Private Ranches, and Genomics for Creating Sustainable Wildlife Populations,” outlines C2S2’s approach for replenishing and restoring endangered wild animal species.
Join us in being part of something bigger. We have an opportunity at this critical time to ensure the furtherance of our native species populations well into the future as Theodore Roosevelt would have wanted. Contributions at all levels will make a difference in growing this critical work.
