The mission of Ecologists Without Borders (EcoWB) is

“To provide ecological assistance to at-risk communities around the world so they can avoid or mitigate, and adapt to, detrimental environmental change.”

We believe that a healthy environment is key to reducing poverty and strife, ensuring food security, enhancing livelihoods, and improving the quality of life of the earth’s inhabitants.

EcoWB Goals

• Increase awareness of ecological integrity, or harmony, as essential for economic, social, and environmental sustainability;
• Provide expert ecological services to areas of the world that face environmental problems stemming from natural or human causes;
• Create an international network of volunteer Ecological Service Providers: ecologists able to provide technical assistance, training, and hands-on support when and where it will do the most good;
• Promote the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources to ensure the sustenance, economic viability, and welfare of the community over the long-term;
• Provide educational opportunities that foster environmental stewardship and informed, ecologically sensitive decisions; and
• Engage and collaborate with scientists, resource managers, community leaders, social workers, conservationists, other organizations, governments, NGOs, and local communities to achieve economic, social, and environmental sustainability

This is a story of how a dream became reality.  It starts with the three co-founders – Larry Dominguez, Eric Knudsen, and Cleve Steward – who shared a vision of harnessing the expertise, creativity, and altruistic impulses of their scientific colleagues to solve environmental problems around the world.  The most egregious impacts often occur in countries that lack the resources to address them.  All too often, decisions are made, actions taken, and opportunities foregone without the benefit of ecological expertise and input.  As fisheries scientists with international consulting experience, we were acutely aware of the intractability of many of these problems.

Realizing we couldn’t tackle the world’s problems alone, we brainstormed and expanded on the concept of forming a non-profit organization to facilitate the transfer of ecological knowledge and expertise to developing areas of the world.

Great idea, but how are we to turn this dream into reality? One..ecologist..at..a..time! Many of you would like to lend a hand, but may not know where or whom to help, or may be unprepared to deal with the logistical hassle of working overseas. What would happen if we eliminated the hassle and provided you with the opportunity to contribute your specialized knowledge or skills toward solving ecological problems around the world?

Ecologists Without Borders would like to thank the many corporations, foundations, government agencies, and affiliates who support our mission: promote environmental sustainability and improve societal welfare in at-risk areas of the world.

To join the list of distinguished partners who are committed to sustaining global ecosystems, or to learn more about giving opportunities, please contact us at info@ecowb.org. To make an individual donation, please see our Get Involved section.

CORPORATE

• AMEC Environment and Infrastructure
• CH2MHill
• EcoAssets, Inc
• Green Advocates – West Africa
• Northwest Marine Technologies
• PACLAND

INSTITUTIONAL

• American Fisheries Society
• American Fisheries Society Washington-British Columbia Chapter
• The Evergreen State College
• Université de La Rochelle
• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
• University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Science

ORGANIZATIONS

• Sustainable Fisheries Foundation
• Global Social Business Partners
• Meacham Foundation

EcoWB uses two types of program delivery approaches. First, we are responders (emergency or immediate, short term, long-term, or intermittent as-needed) to organizations, governments, institutions, or businesses having a need for professional environmental specialists in proposed, funded, or ongoing projects. Secondly, EcoWB takes a project-oriented approach to work with interested parties in developing project concepts, parterning to build robust environmental qualifications into their proposals, and funding the travel and support of techincal experts.  EcoWB maintains a pool of “Ecological Service Providers” (ESPs) – competent, motivated individuals who possess profound knowledge of ecological science. Professionals in watershed managment, planning, policy, and environmental and natural resource law also comprise the international ESP pool.  EcoWB stimulates positive change by facilitating the exchange of ecological knowledge and resources, as long as it is culturally and socially appropriate and we are welcomed by the local community. We strive to adapt our approach to the people and cultures we serve. Our goal is to empower people through education and technical assistance so they can address problems that affect them directly.

As an organization, EcoWB’s function is to serve as matchmaker and provide the administrative, technical, financial, and logistical support necessary for ESPs to do their job.

We also encourage inquiries from representatives of local communities and other organizations who have a need for ecological assistance and are interested in partnering with EcoWB.