The Ecothresholds Project
Project Sponsors and Organizers

The H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment gratefully acknowledges the support of all those who are sponsoring and participating in the ecothresholds initiative. We thank the Surnda Foundation and The Teresa & H. John Heinz III Fund of the Heinz Family Foundation for their support of the steering committee workshop and the Fall 2006 meeting as a part of the ecothresholds initiative, “Understanding the Consequences of Thresholds in Global Change and Their Implications for Decision-making.” Our gratitude also goes to The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation for their support of the Global Change Program through a leadership grant to the Threshold project, also complimented with support from The Teresa & H. John Heinz III Fund of the Heinz Family Foundation. We also thank The Nature Conservancy, and Dr. Anthony Janetos, director of the Joint Global Change Research Institute, for their collaboration in this effort.

Established in December 1995 in honor of Senator H. John Heinz III, The Heinz Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan institution dedicated to improving the scientific and economic foundation for environmental policy through multisectoral collaboration. Focusing on issues that are likely to confront policymakers within two to five years, the Center creates and fosters collaboration among industry, environmental organizations, academia, and government in each of its program areas and projects.  In this, the Center is carrying out the legacy of Senator Heinz.

The membership of the Center's Board of Trustees, its steering committees, and all its committees and working groups reflect its guiding philosophy: that all relevant parties must be involved if the complex issues surrounding environmental policymaking are to be resolved.

On the web: www.heinzctr.org

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to protect the most ecologically important lands and waters around the world for nature and people. The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.

Why We're Successful

• We work closely with partners, corporations, indigenous people and traditional communities all over the world, and people like you.

• We have a science-based plan that achieves tangible results all over the world.

• We use a non-confrontational, collaborative approach.

• We continually strive to exercise integrity beyond reproach and to operate openly and transparently as we pursue our mission.

On the web: www.nature.org

Devising strategies to minimize the threat of global climate change requires the integration of broad topics in science, economics, technology, and policy. In March 2001, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the University of Maryland announced the creation of the Joint Global Change Research Institute, designed to bring together a critical mass of interdisciplinary experts to address global change challenges. The strong global ties and network of the Joint Institute connect its efforts in climate change to national and international policy communities. It is also developing educational opportunities to train university students in these areas.

The Joint Institute operates programs in the following areas of research:

1. Integrated Assessment Modeling
2. Technology Strategies to Address Climate Change
3. Natural Resource Modeling and Assessment
4. Vulnerability and Adaptation Studies
5. Local and Global Environmental Mitigation Measures--Policy Development and Testing.

In addition, the Joint Institute focuses on developing dialogues around global change issues, across disciplines and national boundaries, and among diverse socio-economic stakeholders.