Earth is home to more than 9 million species of plants and animals, many of which are threatened with extinction due to human activity. Biodiversity stewardship, the core theme in all GVF’s initiatives, is the respect for this remarkable diversity and our obligation to actively protect it through conservation, restoration, and education, as well as by bringing to the table stakeholders whose voices and experiences are of critical importance to research, action, and policy.

GVF’s initiatives are woven into this fabric of biodiversity stewardship. Unchecked populations of feral cats and dogs threaten native species and pose health risks. And as good stewards, humans have an obligation to care for animals we bred to be companions. Education access and global opportunities for our youth are crucial for fostering the next generation of biodiversity stewards. The United Nations notes that the Earth is home to the largest generation of youth in our history (i.e., 1.8 billion youth between the ages of 10 to 24). Creating good stewards is rooted in knowledge and new life experiences. GVF also seeks to bring conservation scientists living and working in biodiversity hotspots to the global stage to share their research and be active participants in policies and action that have direct effects on their communities.