The Weeden Foundation's mission focuses on addressing the impacts of growing human populations and the overuse of natural resources on the planet's biological diversity. Established by Frank Weeden, the Foundation has been instrumental in preserving over 6 million acres of crucial habitat globally since 1984. It aims to protect biodiversity through targeted conservation efforts in sensitive regions around the world, including the western United States, Alaska, Russia, and several countries in South America, Africa, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
The Foundation's grant program prioritizes the protection of biodiversity as its core objective, focusing on specific geographical areas like Alaska's Tongass National Forest, the California Floristic Province, SW Montana's High Divide, and Chilean Patagonia. These grants aim to protect land, wildlife corridors, reduce conflicts between livestock and carnivores, and combat threats to ecosystems from industrial activities. Additionally, the Foundation supports broader initiatives like bird conservation, systemic support for U.S. wildlife corridors, and global biodiversity, which includes preserving temperate rainforests, creating wildlife corridors, land acquisition for endangered species, and engaging indigenous peoples in conservation efforts. The Foundation also addresses the root causes of biodiversity loss through its Sustainable Consumption program, aimed at reducing use of environmental paper and plastics, and its International Population program, focused on reducing population growth in biodiverse countries through family planning, women’s education, and empowerment.