The Center is a tax-exempt non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Maryland. Our mission is to protect endangered species and their habitat, and preserve biodiversity worldwide, through the use of economic incentives.

Direct payments are one type of economic incentive. Under these projects, individuals or communities are compensated for conservation services, such as monitoring or protecting wildlife or habitat. Direct payments enable communities and individuals to conserve, and give them an incentive to do so.

Through our work at the Center, we seek to increase the benefits of direct payments projects for endangered species and for communities around the globe. Our website provides a comprehensive list of existing projects as well as those currently being developed.  By providing a centralized location for these projects, we hope to raise the visibility of their benefits, as well as assist in connecting donors with projects to ensure lasting protection for the species involved. Our goal is to work with existing projects to expand their scope, and help develop and implement new projects on a continuous basis.  The results of such projects will be available for the information of both donors and researchers.

Even in the eventual absence of payments, integrating local communities and individuals in the management of resources will raise local awareness of conservation issues and pave the way to the long-run achievement of biodiversity goals.



Directors

Sarah De Belen

Sarah has worked on environmental issues in both economics and in the non-profit legal sector. She has worked at Resources for the Future and the Center for International Environmental Law in Washington, D.C. Her areas of expertise are in economic-based incentives and international environmental law. She holds a J.D. and LL.M. from New York University, a Master's degree in Environmental Economics from the University of Maryland in College Park, and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Lisa L. Mastny

Lisa currently works at Worldwatch Institute as a Senior Editor. She focuses her work on consumption, reliable purchasing, travel and tourism, environmental crime, and global ice melting. Lisa has also worked at the EPA's Office of International Activities. She holds joint Master's degrees from Yale University in Environmental Management and International Relations and a Bachelor's in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University.

Gina Jung

Gina works as a lawyer in New York City. She has a strong interest in pro bono law and non-profit issues. Her background is in corporate law. Gina holds a J.D. from New York University and a Bachelor's in legal studies and business administration from Berkeley University.


Staff

Rachel Clift
Public Relations/Communications

Stephen Conklin
Website Advisor

Sarah Davis
Kristen Ellis
Kristina Friedman
Antje Lang Gallant
Alexandra Jamali
Michelle Diane King
Ivan Raevski
Tiffany Sharples
Kathy Thomack
Elizabeth Thorstensen



Volunteer and career opportunities are available. Please contact us as careers@gca-center.org.

For general information, contact us at info@gca-center.org or at 646.344.2903 to speak with us.

Thank you for your interest in endangered species and biodiversity!