(18) Non-Governmental Organizations

World Bank defines NGOs as

"private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development."

Types of NGOs World Bank recognizes two main categories of NGOs:

1.) Operational NGOs - whose primary purpose is the design and implementation of development-related projects. 2.) Advocacy NGOs - whose primary purpose is to defend or promote a specific cause and who seek to influence the policies and practices of government or development interests. Conservation interests are mainly cover by advocacy NGOs.

NGOs...number in

10s of thousands and cover all parts of the globe.

National Audubon Society

Fights for the protection of wildlife and its habitat, forests, and endangered species.

Environmental Defense Fund

Brings together science, economics, and law to create solutions to environmental problems.

Wilderness Society

Concerned with preserving wilderness and wildlife, and protecting America's prime forests, parks, rivers, deserts and shorelands.

Sierra Club

Dedicated to exploring and protecting the earth's wild lands and promoting the responsible use of the earth's resources.

The Nature Conservancy

Protects lands where endangered species and threatened ecosystems exist.

Top 5 U.S. Conservation-oriented, Non-Governmental Organization's

Wilderness Society National Audubon Society Environmental Defense Fund Sierra Club The Nature Conservancy

NGOs....are

typically value-based organizations which depend, in whole or in part, on grants, charitable donations and voluntary service.

Operational NGOs

whose primary purpose is the design and implementation of development-related projects.

Advocacy NGOs

whose primary purpose is to defend or promote a specific cause and who seek to influence the policies and practices of government or development interests.

NGOs.....are not directly affiliated with any

national government, but often have a significant impact on the social, economic and political activity of the country or region involved.