WCS Annual Report 2012 - Wildlife Conservation Society

from the European Program for Biodiversity in
European Overseas Territories.
Zoos & Aquarium Funding
On the New York City and New York State
fronts, there were significant budget gaps to
close as in years past, but with slow improvement
in economic conditions the situation
began to appear less dire. While WCS initially
faced a severe 58 percent cut in New York City
Fiscal Year 2013 funding for the Bronx Zoo
and New York Aquarium, we were able to
rescue the majority of operating support, even
securing more than $45 million in new capital
support for the New York Aquarium’s Ocean
Wonders: Sharks! exhibit and Bronx Zoo projects.
For the first time in several years, WCS
and peer cultural institutions urged the Mayor
and City Council to increase funding above
Fiscal Year 2012 adopted budget levels.
In May, WCS once again deployed a grassroots
advocacy campaign including online action alerts,
media outreach, petition signature collection at
all five parks, and a viral video release of pygmy
marmosets using an iPad to tell the city to restore
our funding. These tactics generated more than
44,000 letters and petition signatures in less than
a month and WCS was able to restore most of its
City support, with a 6.5 percent reduction.
In addition to these efforts, WCS continues to
build momentum for One Percent for Culture, a
public campaign to increase future city operating
support for cultural organizations. One
Percent for Culture has recruited 270 coalition
partners in all five boroughs and 43 city council
districts and is beginning to gather support
from 2013 candidates for city offices.
WCS was able to maintain level State support
for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) at
$134 million, including $9 million for the Zoos,
Botanical Gardens & Aquariums Program
(ZBGA) and $4.73 million for the Oceans and
Great Lakes Initiative. We currently receive approximately
$3 million annually in ZBGA grant
support for the care of our Bronx Zoo and
New York Aquarium collections. While this is
good news, the EPF (New York State’s primary
fund for clean water, clean air, open space, and
parks) budget declined in previous administrations
by 47 percent from a historic high of
$255 million. With help from supporters, the
dialogue in Albany is shifting from maintaining
EPF support at current levels to growing the
Fund in the future.
Coalitions, Caucuses & Community
If strong relationship cultivation with policymakers
is a key ingredient to WCS’s legislative
success, so too are community partnerships.
From local conservation and cultural groups to
City and State
Support
WCS is grateful to the City of New
York, which provides operating and
capital funds through the Department
of Cultural Affairs and the Department
of Parks and Recreation. We thank
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg; New
York City Council Speaker Christine
C. Quinn; Brooklyn Borough President
Marty Markowitz; City Council Member
and Council Finance Chair Domenic
M. Recchia, Jr.; and the Bronx and
Brooklyn New York City Council delegations.
The City of New York is vital to
the public/private partnership through
which WCS serves the people of
New York.
WCS would like to thank Governor
Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York
State Legislature for operating funds
for the Zoos, Botanical Gardens and
Aquariums program, administered by
the New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation.
This program provides crucial operating
support to more than 80 living
museums across the state through
the Environmental Protection Fund.
area neighborhoods, WCS works on all fronts
to create, strengthen, and lead alliances that
further our interests locally and globally.
On a national level, WCS helps optimize its
impact and drive the U.S. global conservation
policy and funding agenda through its leadership
of various coalitions, including the International
Conservation Caucus Foundation Advisory
Council, the International Conservation Partnership,
the Alliance for Global Conservation,
and the Multinational Species Conservation
Fund Coalition. On the city and state levels,
WCS leads the One Percent for Culture coalition
and guides and strategizes for the Cultural
Institutions Group, Citizens for New York’s
Environment, the Coalition of Living Museums,
and the Oceans and Great Lakes Coalition.
In New York, WCS has built strong local
partnerships. Our local efforts include serving
on boards of local chambers, hosting events for
veterans and seniors, toy drives, and citizenship
ceremonies. WCS also provides career days,
mentoring opportunities, and free WCS park
visits to underserved youth through the Urban
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government & policy report