U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The Canada/Mexico/U.S.

Trilateral Committee

Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. share a wide

array of ecosystems, habitats and species.

They also are linked by strong economic,

social and cultural ties. However, existing

strategies for natural resources

conservation have not adequately

addressed the regions increasing

development, nor emerging problems such

as climate change, toxic substances, and

increased numbers of invasive species. To

more effectively address priorities of

continental significance and boost the

concerted efforts of the three countries of

the North America bioregion, the Canada/

Mexico/U.S. Trilateral Committee for

Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and

Management was established in 1996.

The Trilateral Committee assists

coordination, cooperation, and development

of partnerships among wildlife agencies of

the three countries and other interested

groups. It facilitates programs and

projects for conservation and management

of biological diversity and ecosystems of

mutual interest. The Trilateral Committee

implements the conservation priorities of

each country; develops, implements,

reviews, and coordinates specific

cooperative actions; and facilitates

communication on issues that span

international boundaries. The Trilateral

Committee is headed by the directors of

the Canadian Wildlife Service, U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service, and the Coordinating

Unit for International Affairs of the

Mexican Ministry of Environment and

Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). At

annual meetings, more than 100 experts

address a broad array of biodiversity issues

in eight primary areas: Executive; Law

Enforcement; CITES; Shared Species;

Biodiversity Information; Migratory Birds/

Wetlands; Protected Areas; and Wildlife

Without Borders-Mexico.

As a leading biodiversity conservation

entity in North America, the Trilateral

Committee, provides a unique and efficient

mechanism to address conservation and

management of natural resources on a

continental scale. Accomplishments

include training of more than 100 Mexican

wildlife law enforcement officers;

developing a Trilateral web page;

reintroducing extirpated Black-footed

ferrets and pronghorn antelopes in

Northern Mexico; assisting with the

establishment of the North American Bird

Conservation Initiative; implementing

North America Wetlands Conservation Act

grants; and under the Wildlife Without

Borders-Mexico program implementing

more than 150 projects on capacity

building, ecosystem management, and

information transfer.

Equally important are accomplishments

that cannot be easily measured. The

Trilateral Committee provides a forum to

better understand the differing factors

that influence national policies in each

country. Together, the partner nations

comprising the Trilateral Committee

accept the challenges of developing a

sustainable future for North America.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Division of International Conservation

4401 N. Fairfax Dr. Suite 730

Arlington, Virginia 22203-1622 USA

Phone 703-358-1754

Fax 703-358-2849

http://international.fws.gov/

InternationalConservation@fws.gov

March 2002 All photos FWS unless noted otherwise

Corel

Corel