Nature and Culture International Names New Chairman of the Board
03/01/2016
David Welborn and Ann Hunter Welborn.
Nature and Culture International welcomes David Welborn as Chairman of the Board as it enters its 20th year of saving tropical forests and the many plant and animal species that call them home. A former president of San Diego Coastkeeper and avid outdoorsman, David and his wife Ann Hunter Welborn have served on NCI’s Board of Directors for the past 12 years. They have been particularly instrumental in funding NCI’s conservation work in Alamos, Mexico, where NCI owns and operates a 15,000 acre reserve that protects jaguars and other key species, and serves as a beacon of environmental education for the community.
In David’s words, “I have witnessed NCI’s increasing impact as we accelerate toward our goal of protecting 20 million acres by 2020. I am eager to grow NCI’s community of supporters here in San Diego and throughout the United States.”
NCI was founded in 1996 by long-time Del Mar resident Ivan Gayler, who has led NCI’s efforts to protect millions of acres of endangered forests in Latin America. In Ivan’s words, “While my title has changed, my commitment to saving endangered ecosystems and the people who call them home is unwavering. I will continue to stay active on the Board of Directors and with the organization, particularly in the role of attracting additional resources to the cause.”
Nature and Culture International is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to protect the tropical forests of Latin America, which play a vital role in sustaining the planet’s biodiversity, climate and water cycle. NCI’s work takes them deep into the Amazon rainforest and high up in the Andes Mountains, where they work alongside indigenous communities and governments. Now, NCI is embarking on an ambitious expansion from Ecuador, Peru and Mexico to new initiatives in Colombia, Bolivia and Brazil. Our ultimate goal is to protect 20 million acres by 2020, and they are well on their way with more than 13 million acres protected to date.
