Conservation International (CI) is a non-profit, private organization dedicated to saving the world's endangered rain forests and the plants and animals that rely on these habitats for survival. CI is basically a scientific organization, a fact which distinguishes it from other conservation groups. Its staff includes leading scientists in the fields of botany, ornithology, herpetology, marine biology, entomology, and zoology.

Founded in 1987 when it split off from the Nature Conservancy, CI now has over 55,000 members. The group, headed by Peter A. Seligmann, has gathered accolades since its inception. In 1991 Outside Magazine gave CI an A- (one of the two highest grades received) in its yearly report card rating 14 leading environmental groups.

The high praise is well founded. CI tends to successfully implement its many projects and goals. Many CI programs focus on building local capacity for conservation in developing countries through financial and technical support of...