Washington D.C. (Sept. 19, 2006) -- Actor and Conservation International (CI) board member Harrison Ford was honored at the inaugural gala for the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) – dedicated to raising awareness in Congress about international conservation issues. An active member of CI's board of directors for more than 15 years, Ford continues to be an integral part in shaping Conservation International's mission to conserve biodiversity around the world. Ford was recognized Tuesday night with the "ICCF Good Steward Award" for his lifetime of passion toward environmental issues.
"We can unite the world to take individual responsibility by establishing a global conservation ethic that every person – rich, poor, indigenous – can embrace," Ford said in his acceptance remarks. "We need every person on the planet, all 6.5 billion inhabitants, to understand that they must do their part and take individual responsibility for conserving, protecting and restoring nature."
Ford has also been deeply involved with other conservation groups with work such as:
- Narrating PSAs for Conservation International, Earthshare, and Environmental Media Association
- Receiving a Lindbergh award for his work patrolling the Hudson River watershed by helicopter as Riverkeepers' first "airborne watchdog"
- Donating half of his Jackson, Wyoming estate to the Jackson Hole Land Trust as a conservation easement
The ICCF also honored Yves Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia, and Office of Management and Budget Director Rob Portman. As the original author of the Tropical Forests Conservation Act (TFCA), Portman helped create the framework for many developing nations to engage in "debt for nature" swaps with the U.S. Government, which offer them the opportunity to relieve some official debt owed the U.S. while at the same time generating funds to conserve their country's natural heritage.
The International Conservation Caucus (ICC) was founded in the U.S. House of Representatives in September 2003 when Representatives E. Clay Shaw, Jr. (R-FL), John S. Tanner (D-TN), Ed Royce (R-CA), and Tom Udall (D-NM) joined together to establish the ICC as a forum for Members of Congress who share the conviction that "the United States of America has the opportunity, the obligation and the interests to advance the conservation of natural resources globally for this and future generations." The bipartisan House ICC now consists of 123 Members of Congress (61 Republicans, 62 Democrats).
Inspired by the work and appeal of the House Caucus, Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) formed the Senate ICC in October 2005, assuming leadership as its Co-Chairmen.
The ICC Foundation was inspired by these Members of Congress and the International Conservation Partnership (ICP), a collaborative effort of four leading U.S.-based conservation non-governmental organizations including Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, and World Wildlife Fund.