INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO PROTECT BAJA CALIFORNIA'S
RICH MARINE BIODIVERSITY

San Diego, CA (August 16, 2001) -- The International Community Foundation (ICF) announced a grant award of $28,420 to the international conservation team of WiLDCOAST to assist with efforts to protect marine biodiversity and marine mammals in the Baja California Peninsula.

"We are excited to be part of the bi-national efforts to preserve one of the world's great natural treasures. We hope that this is the first of many grants to help protect such an important coastal and marine biodiversity site." said Richard Kiy, President & CEO of the International Community Foundation.

The grant to WiLDCOAST will support efforts to implement sustainable conservation and marine mammal conservation programs for Bahía de los Angeles along the Sea of Cortés and Magdalena Bay, along the Pacific coast of Baja California. Magdalena Bay is one of three gray whale calving lagoons in the peninsula and a critical bottlenose dolphin and sea turtle feeding site.

The islands of Bahía de Los Angeles in the Sea of Cortés are considered 'the Galapagos of Mexico' and are one of the world's most important marine sites, with more than 20 species of marine mammals and five species of sea turtles. The grant will allow WiLDCOAST to expand its on-going work with Pronatura-Baja California and the Ejido Tierra y Libertad, a local community organization, to develop a 500,000-acre National Marine Park. The park will promote sustainable fishing, sport fishing and eco-tourism. Included in the program is an effort to survey the marine mammal population in the region in collaboration with the Ensenada-based organization, Marine Mammal Research and Conservation.

"With the support of the International Community Foundation, we will be able to advance efforts to preserve its biodiversity in ways that benefit local communities and the sport fishing and ecotourism industries in the Sea of Cortés, " said Dr. Serge Dedina, Director of WiLDCOAST and author of Saving the Gray Whale. Dr. Dedina previously assisted the successful effort to develop the 500,000-acre Loreto Bay National Park in southern Baja California. The work of WiLDCOAST in Baja California is also featured in the August 2001 issue of Scientific American.

"The International Community Foundation recognizes that the efforts have to involve local communities in sustainable conservation programs that promote local economic development. Therefore we are pleased to support the WiLDCOAST's team, who shares that view and is already partnering with local community organizations in southern Baja California," noted Richard Kiy.

About ICF:
Established in 1990, the International Community Foundation now has assets over $1 million and 33 funds, and is committed to fostering lasting philanthropy to benefit international communities throughout Latin America and the Asia Pacific region in the areas of education, community development, health, the environment and cultural endeavors. Its recent grant awards supported projects in Mexico, China, Ecuador and Canada. For more information please go to www.icfdn.org

About WiLD COAST:
Based in Imperial Beach, California, WiLDCOAST is a partnership based international conservation team preserving the endangered marine species and coastal wildlands of the Californias.Working in partnership with government agencies, fishing communities and Baja California-based non-profit conservation organizations, WiLDCOAST seeks conservation solutions that promote economic development for rural communities. Its partners include Ambiente, Cultura y Desarrollo, California Academy of Sciences, California Coast Keeper, Ejido Tierra y Libertad, Loreto Bay National Park, Moss Landing Marine Lab, National Outdoor Leadership School, Port of San Diego, Pronatura, Punta Abreojos Coast Keeper, San Diego Bay Keeper, Soundkeeper, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service and the International Water Keeper Alliance. For more information on WiLD COAST visit: www.wildcoast.net .

For more information please contact Fay Crevoshay, Director of Communications, ICF at (619) 235-2300, fay@icfdn.org or Dr. Serge Dedina at WiLDCOAST (619) 423-8530.