FWS-WWB-DIC-WHMSI-2011

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The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application from The Ocean Foundation to work with USFWS to: a) Strengthen and promote the Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative (WHMSI), especially in the marine sector; and b) Promote and strengthen Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) activities in the United States. The Ocean Foundation (TOF) is a unique community foundation with a mission to support, strengthen, and promote those organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world. The Foundation works with a community of donors who care about the coasts and oceans to increase the financial resources available to support marine conservation in order to promote healthy ocean ecosystems and benefit the human communities that depend on them. The Foundation operates using a well-established business model (the community foundation) to serve donors and partners interested in marine conservation. TOF does this by increasing the capacity of conservation organizations, hosting projects and funds, and supporting those working to improve the health of ocean species globally. The Foundation has a variety of powerful resources that we can bring to bear on any ocean conservation project. Our geographic community is the 70% of the earth�s surface covered by ocean. Our human community includes the donors, governments and grantees that are engaged in ocean conservation anywhere in the world. We have grantees, partners and projects on all the world�s continents. Significant locations for us include: Mexico and the Caribbean, the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, Maine, Florida, California, Oregon, Washington, and the Coral Triangle region in the western Pacific. We are increasing our work in Africa, Latin America and China. The Ocean Foundation Board of Directors is comprised of individuals with significant experience in marine conservation philanthropy, complemented by an expert, professional staff, and a growing international advisory board of scientists, policy makers, educational specialists, and other top experts.

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