WHY THE DEPARTMENT WORKS INTERNATIONALLY:

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) conducts international activities as part of its mission as the primary conservation agency of the United States. For almost 100 years DOI has conducted international activites which:

1. facilitate DOI's domestic responsibilities, including: managing protected areas adjacent to international borders; sharing scientific findings, technology and other information beneficial to domestic programs; protecting migratory wildlife; and fighting cross border fires.

2. meet DOI's Congressionally mandated international activities such as elephant, rhino, and tiger protection, and migratory bird preservation.

3. meet U.S. Treaty obligations such as:

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES),
• Convention to Combat Desertification,
• Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western Hemisphere,
• Convention Concerning Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention),
• The 1909 U.S.-Canada Boundry Waters Treaty,
• The 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty,
• Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar),
• 1996 U.S.-Canada Migratory Bird Convention,
• Migratory Bird and Game Mammal Treaty with Mexico,
• Convention on the prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention of 1972),
• Migratory Bird Treaty with Japan,
• Migratory Bird Treaty with the Soviet Union.

4. support U.S. foreign policy objectives at the request of the White House or State Department. Such activities include providing technical assistance and scientific advice on wildlife, water and other natural resources (e.g., water issues in the Middle East Peace Talks), park management, and addressing environmental hazards (e.g., monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes).

SCOPE OF DOI INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

Although these activies are wide ranging, they represent only one tenth of one percent (0.1%) of the Department's annual budget appropriated by Congress. In addition, approximately $13 million of DOI's annual international expenses are reimbursed from outside agencies such as the State Department, by multilateral development banks, or by foreign governments upon approval of the State Department.

Of DOI's 65,740 employees about 125, or 0.2 percent, work almost exclusively on international programs. Almost all of these employees are located within the DOI technical Bureaus. (The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey have the largest numbers.)

For more information on the Bureaus' international programs, please see the following web sites:

• Bureau of Land Management, Office of Fire and Aviation, International Program
  
• Bureau of Reclamation: International Affairs
  
• Minerals Management Service, International Activities and Marine Minerals Division
  
• National Park Service, International Affairs
  
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, International Affairs
  
• U.S. Geological Survey, International Programs

OTHER WEB SITES OF INTERNATIONAL INTEREST:

International Technical Assistance Program (ITAP)
DOI's program of international technical assistance to developing countries on subjects of Departmental expertise, on a reimbursable basis.

Secretary Norton's Speech at the 2002 US-Mexico Bi-National Commission Meeting.
Secretary Gale Norton's remarks at the annual US-Mexico Bi-National Commission's meeting on Natural Resources.

U.S.-Mexico Border Field Coordinating Committee
This is the DOI committee which coordinates the activities of the DOI technical Bureaus along the U.S.-Mexico border.

BLM Sponsored International Symposium, Rural Community Interaction Workshop
On April 8-20, 2002, selected rural communities in Gobabed, Namibia addressed alternative ways to combat desertification and the importance of connecting community action with science and common issues.

Secretary Norton, Israeli Ambassador Ayalon Sign Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation
On Septemeber 9, 2004 Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton and Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon signed a long-term, comprehensive agreement to expand scientific and technical cooperation across a range of natural-resource management areas. Click on the link above to read the full press release. Select the links below to read Secretary Norton's remarks or to view the signed Memorandum of Understanding.

• Secretary Norton's Remarks


• Memorandum of Understanding (English)


• Memorandum of Understanding (Hebrew)

DOI ACTIVITIES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

Throught Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) or reimbursable agreements, the DOI and its Bureaus currently have agreements with 75 foreign countries to conduct cooperative activities. DOI has the most activities with the following countries: Mexico, Canada, Russia, South Africa, Ecuador, Tanzania, Brazil, and Indonesia.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN INTERNATIONAL OFFICES

Most of the staff working on international issues have professional education and experience relevant to the particular area of expertise of the Bureaus, (e.g. geologists, cartographers, hydrologists, engineers, biologists, etc.). In those cases when position vacancies are open to non-government or non-DOI applicants, they can be found at the U.S. Office of Personal Management web site.

J-1 VISA WAIVER RECOMMENDATIONS

Except in support of current DOI employees, the Department does not act as an Interested Government Agency for J-1 visa waiver applications. DOI employees should contact their Bureau International Office for additional information.