Pace University’s Animal Policy Project has joined forces with the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (NYSWRC) to address increasing threats to wildlife in New York. The new collaboration, called the NYSWRC-Pace Alliance (NPA), aims to collect data, educate communities, and develop policies to protect wildlife.
“Wildlife rehabilitators are nature’s first responders,” said Michelle Land, clinical professor and director of the Animal Policy Project at Pace University. “They see the threats to New York’s wild animals every day, often working out of their own homes. We will gather that expertise through a statewide network that serves as a much-needed conduit between science and policy.”
Kelly Martin, president of the NYSWRC, stated, “Wildlife rehabilitation is most effective when backed by strong, science-based policies that address the root causes of wildlife distress. The NYSWRC-Pace Alliance will ensure that rehabilitators’ expertise informs policy decisions and create a future where both wild animals and those who care for them are better supported.”
Suzie Gilbert, program coordinator for the Alliance, said, “Every day, wildlife rehabilitators see firsthand the devastating impacts of human activities on New York’s wild animals. By bringing together rehabilitators and policy professionals, we can educate the public as well as improve policies on issues such as pesticide use, infrastructure design, exploitation of wild animals, and response strategies for emerging wildlife diseases.”
The Alliance has been formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding and will work with a network of rehabilitators, advocates, and policymakers to strengthen wildlife protection and care in New York State. The initiative has received seed funding from Pace University’s Gale Epstein Center for Technology, Policy and the Environment.
Collaboration with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Cornell University’s Wildlife Health Program will also be important for the Alliance’s efforts.
Pace University has campuses in New York City and Westchester County and offers a range of degree programs. The New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council supports licensed wildlife rehabilitators and works to promote wildlife conservation. The Animal Policy Project at Pace University focuses on animal welfare policy through interdisciplinary research.
