The International Crane Foundation (ICF) works worldwide to conserve cranes and the wetland and grasslands communities on which they depend. ICF is dedicated to providing experience, knowledge, and inspiration to involve people in resolving threats to these ecosystems. To accomplish this mission, the International Crane Foundation (a private, non-profit organization) relies on a wide range of education and conservation activities directed toward the many countries where cranes occur. A collection of captive cranes is maintained at their headquarters near Baraboo, Wisconsin, allowing them to pursue two vital techniques for crane preservation: captive breeding and reintroduction into the wild. Their work also demonstrates endangered species management for the public, and facilitates breeding and education efforts with cranes elsewhere in the United States and abroad. ICF is also concerned with habitat protection and restoration. Cranes are excellent indicators of the health of wetland and grassland ecosystems worldwide. ICF strives to alert scientists, government officials, and the public to the dependence of cranes on their habitats, the causes and remedies for habitat destruction, and the importance of wetlands and grasslands for both wildlife and people. ICF supports research, serving primarily as a catalyst for research, by making available its facilities and bird collection to scientists, by sponsoring workshops and publications, and by fostering a network among conservationists, biologists, and managers around the world.