Jack and Laura Dangermond Honored with Conservation Visionary Award

April 27, 2023 at 08:00 AM EDT

Esri Founders Recognized by International Land Conservation Network for Environmental Efforts

In December 2022, the US joined an international coalition committed to preserving 30 percent of the planet’s lands and oceans by 2030, an initiative known as 30 by 30. An inherently geographic issue, one major tool already in use to achieve this goal is mapping technology. Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, has been at the forefront of applying maps and analytics to conservation since its inception. One key mission for founders Jack and Laura Dangermond has been understanding the connection between humans and the planet to help build a more sustainable world. In recognition of their work, the International Land Conservation Network (ILCN) has awarded Jack and Laura Dangermond the Conservation Visionary Award.

“We have always been passionate about protecting the natural world, and this award is an incredible honor for us,” said Jack Dangermond, Esri founder and president. “We hope our work inspires and motivates individuals and other organizations to pursue similar opportunities to conserve remaining natural areas important to the health of our planet, especially as we embark on the ambitious goal of protecting a third of the planet’s lands and oceans.”

Jack and Laura Dangermond founded Esri in Redlands, California, in 1969, and it is now the leading geographic information system (GIS) software company in the world. Esri has supported environmental efforts by offering low-cost access to software, content, and resources through its Nonprofit Organization Program. The company has also donated or pledged more than $1 billion worth of free Esri software to schools and environmental organizations.

In addition to company support, the Dangermonds personally established the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve at Point Conception, California, in 2017. Their $165 million donation to The Nature Conservancy helped protect 24,000 acres of California’s central coastal land. Currently, the organization is building a digital twin of the preserve available online, and empowering researchers to study the preserve from anywhere in the world.

The ILCN connects civic and private organizations around the world to accelerate the protection and strengthen land and natural resource management. The organization’s Conservation Visionary Award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of conservation. Recent awardees have included Minister of the Environment of Chile, Marcelo Mena; Director for Biodiversity in the European Commission's Directorate General for the Environment, Humberto Delgado Rosa; and Conservation Director at the Fundacion Catalunya al Pedrera, Miquel Rafa Fornieles.

The Dangermonds’ award was presented to Jack and Laura at the 2023 Esri Geodesign Summit.

About Esri

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in hundreds of thousands of organizations globally, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofit institutions, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial technology and analytics, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions that leverage a geographic approach to solving some of the world’s most complex problems by placing them in the crucial context of location. Visit us at esri.com.

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