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--- Our Mission ---
Fostering conservation of wildlife through sustainable development
using the power of photography while integrating art, education and
natural history.
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| WHO
ARE WE? |
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Images
for Conservation Fund (ICF) is a 501(c)(3) non-
profit
organization with a revolutionary plan to preserve wildlife habitat,
create economic growth through new opportunities in ecotourism,
and popularize nature photography throughout North America.
ICF
is leading the new evolution in habitat conservation: the creation
of significant and sustainable economic incentives for private landowners
who enhance and maintain native wildlife habitat.
Because
80% of the Western Hemisphere is privately owned, economic incentives
hold the greatest promise for saving nature.
Through
the development of major nature photrography competitions and landowner
education programs,, ICF promotes nature photography as the industry
that can provide these incentives.
The
Pro-Tour of Nature Photography is our flagship event. The world's
top nature photographers become champions for conservation and inspire
the participation of amateurs worldwide. Private lands can provide
optimal venues for photography and thus create a supply for this
demand, much like golf courses do for recreational golfers.
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| WHAT
ARE WE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH? |
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Private
landowners hold the key to preventing mass extinction of plants
and animals. Yet each decision involving the present or future use
of land will be an economic one, even on government land. Therefore
the decision to conserve and protect wildlife habitat on any piece
of land will be economic as well. To create real value for wildlife
habitat, there must be compelling economic incentives.
Nature
photography has the unique ability to preserve habitat permanently
by making it profitable. In 1996, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
estimated that more than 26,000,000 people photographed wildlife.
Coincidently, 26,000,000 people played golf that same year.
Golfers
spend billions of dollars on their pastime each year and support
thousands of golf courses around the world. Nature photographers
have the potential to generate tremendous income for private landowners
who lease professionally designed photo sites on prime habitat.
ICF
proposes to create major events to galvanize nature photographers
into an economic force for conservation. When landowners profit
from conservation, then we shall see the long-term preservation
of entire natural ecosystems.
ICF
events and projects are designed to accomplish just that: the prosperity
of wildlife and habitat on privately owned land throughout North
America.
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| HOW
WE SUPPORT CONSERVATION |
THE
PRO-TOUR OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
By combining art, economics, education and conservation in competitive
photographic events utilizing privately owned land, ICF will foster
the protection of entire ecosystems throughout North America.
The Pro-Tour is our flagship event, a championship competition
series that will attract the world's greatest nature photographers.
For each event, photographers will be teamed with private landowners
of prime habitat in a specific region of North America. During the
one month event, each photographer will produce a portfolio of 75
photographs. These images will promote the region as a destination
for nature photographers and eco-tourists.
The Pro-Tour offers the best of all worlds: the thrill of a challenging
pro-level competition, the celebrity of its top contenders, and
high-profile media exposure to showcase the photographers' strategies,
efforts, and images. ICF will leverage the event to promote nature
photography as a rewarding activity, honor private landowners who
support habitat conservation, and publicly recognize the sponsors
who make the Pro-Tour possible.
Following each competition, there will be a grand awards ceremony.
This celebration is expected to attract significant local, regional,
and national participation by nature photographers, private landowners,
the media, and the public.
Outstanding images from the Pro-Tour will be published in a full-color
commemorative coffee table book to be sold throughout the region
and donated to local schools.
A display of breathtaking images will tour the region promoting
nature photography and Pro-Tour sponsors, and a special exhibit
will be created to tour the finest museums in North America.
As ICF grows and the Pro-Tour matures, additional creative events
may be developed: The Great Predator Photo Competition, The International
Pro/Am Competition, The Pro/Celebrity Competition, and The International
Youth Competition & Scholarship.
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LEGACY
NATURE PHOTO COMPETITIONS
One of the most important goals of the ICF Pro-Tour is to create
continuous Legacy nature photo competitions in each region where
the Pro-Tour is held. These can be Open Pro/Am, Small Tract/Amateur,
or Youth competitions. Eventually every region of the nation will
hold numerous nature photographic events.
NATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVALS
Photographic Festivals are economic development tools that
market a region's natural diversity and a private lands leasing
initiatives utilizing nature photography.
THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECO-PHOTOGRAPHY TOURISM INDUSTRY
Creating profitable business on privately owned wildlife lands,
employment opportunities, and increasing the value of land in natural
habitat.
NATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY HALLS OF FAME & MUSEUMS
Regional, national, and international nature photography museums
and Halls of Fame that archive the finest images can be combined
with wildlife preserves where nature photography is taught and promoted.
All of these centers and activities will promote nature photography,
eco-photography tourism and conservation.
Download
ICF Bylaws in Word format
Download
Brochure in PDF format (two legal-sized pages)
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