The International Crane Foundation (ICF for short) was established by some crane enthusiasts on 1973, and the founders hope that it will become the world's leading crane research and protection center. The purpose of the International Crane Foundation is to protect all kinds of cranes and the wetlands and grasslands on which they live, and to let people participate in solving the crisis of the ecosystem by providing experience, knowledge and encouragement.

Although the focus is very single, the foundation points out that the rise and fall of cranes is an excellent indicator of the overall health of wetlands and grasslands where cranes live. In this sense, the crane is a "flag species".

At the headquarters of the International Crane Foundation in Wisconsin, USA, the Foundation kept a set of captured cranes for scientific research, as well as breeding cranes and releasing them into the wild. In addition, the foundation also supports the research of public education activities and the protection of wetlands and grasslands around the world.