ifaw statement on Biden Administration’s Earth Day announcements

(Washington, D.C. – April 22, 2022) – Danielle Kessler, U.S. Director at IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), issued the following statement on President Biden’s Earth Day policy initiatives:  

“Nature is vital to the survival and wellbeing of every single person on Earth. It provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and many other things we often take for granted. We applaud today’s announcement by the Biden Administration, which underscores the critical role nature plays in improving public health, mitigating climate change, and supporting a thriving national and global economy.

As these initiatives take shape within agencies, it will be critical for any natural capital accounting systems and policies to incorporate the complexities of natural systems through new approaches. Natural habitats and the diversity of life that exists within them do not conform to outmoded thinking or traditional accounting practice. Planting a few trees in a new location, for instance, cannot replace the destruction of an established forest ecosystem. Systems should support conservation of natural places and not simply provide a means to offset destruction.

We are encouraged that these new initiatives will continue to move the US on a path towards creating a world in which animals and people thrive together.”

For more information on IFAW’s work to protect biodiversity, visit ifaw.org.

About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare)

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is a global non-profit helping animals and people thrive together. We are experts and everyday people, working across seas, oceans, and in more than 40 countries around the world. We rescue, rehabilitate, and release animals, and we restore and protect their natural habitats. The problems we’re up against are urgent and complicated. To solve them, we match fresh thinking with bold action. We partner with local communities, governments, non-governmental organizations, and businesses. Together, we pioneer new and innovative ways to help all species flourish. See how at ifaw.org.