Conservation News
News, views and stories from the front lines of conservation
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News spotlight: A unique poaching crisis takes root in South Africa
When you think of “wildlife trafficking,” you probably don’t think of succulents. Yet these unique plant species have been at the center of a growing poaching problem.
March 10, 2025
The giving trees: In Kenya, forests keep communities from the brink
In Kenya's Chyulu Hills, Conservation International is helping communities turn nature into a lifeline for education, health and well-being.
September 9, 2024
Long silenced, an African park roars back to life
Years of civil war left Mozambique’s national parks in ruins. But in one park, a decade of conservation has brought the savanna roaring back to life. Now, Conservation International and Peace Parks Foundation are replicating this success on a massive scale.
August 20, 2024
In the fight to save a unique desert, tradition meets innovation
In the semi-arid shrubland of Namaqualand, dry conditions have long been a cycle of life. But climate change is now slowly transforming this once-thriving biodiversity hotspot, making life challenging for wildlife and the shepherds who have farmed here for centuries.
July 9, 2024
Can an ancient tradition save an African grassland?
Africa’s pastoralists have long raised their livestock to mimic the rhythms of nature. Reviving their way of life is key to restoring grasslands.
June 25, 2024
3 ways Indigenous knowledge protects nature
On International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Conservation News is highlighting three stories about Indigenous peoples on the frontlines of protecting the nature they rely on.
August 9, 2023
When COVID halted wildlife tourism in Kenya, one area weathered the storm
Every year, Kenya’s Maasai Mara region attracts droves of tourists, eager for a glimpse of one of the largest movement of animals on Earth. Until 2020, when everything changed. Yet, what began as a crisis presented new opportunities.
July 6, 2023
Meet the South African startup putting cattle to work for conservation
Livestock herding and wildlife conservation are often perceived as conflicting pursuits, with the belief that one must come at the expense of the other. However, in South Africa, a fresh approach centered on Indigenous knowledge is challenging this perception.
June 12, 2023
News spotlight: Traditional mud buildings could keep a capital cool
In case you missed it: Mudslinging is on the rise in the Senegalese city of Dakar.
July 11, 2022
Meet a scientist: the freshwater defender
Growing up in Kenya on the edge of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa, Leonard Akwany always felt most at home in nature. Long days fishing and birding with friends forged a special connection to the lake, eventually leading to a career focused on protecting it.
February 10, 2022
3 myths about carbon offsets, busted
Forest carbon offsets can help reduce climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions — but they remain contentious in the world of climate policy. Here are 3 myths about them, debunked.
November 3, 2021
Notes from the field: Protecting Panama’s waters, conserving Malagasy lemurs and more
Here are four recent conservation success stories you should know about.
July 15, 2021
New science: a path for protecting chimps and more
Protecting nature starts with science. Here’s a roundup of recent scientific research published by Conservation International experts.
June 3, 2021
When COVID flattened tourism, carbon credits kept these African hills ‘green’
The pandemic cratered ecotourism in Africa last year, depriving local communities of life-sustaining revenues. However, the people of Chyulu Hills in southeast Kenya were able to tell a different story — and make a number of investments toward their futures. Here's how.
April 13, 2021
New NASA maps will help Liberia chart course for a sustainable future
In partnership with Conservation International and NASA, the government of Liberia recently mapped the country’s diverse ecosystems — from lush forests to coastal mangroves — and analyzed how they have changed over time.
March 17, 2021
Kenya’s wildlife tourism, a casualty of COVID, gets a lifeline
The loss of tourism revenue in the Maasai Mara could spell trouble for the very species that tourists come to see. Now, wildlife conservancies are getting a lifeline.
November 19, 2020
How are gender, environment linked? Start here
Here is a list of books, podcasts and more recommended by Conservation International staff that explores the link between gender and the environment.
November 5, 2020
Credit where it’s due: Forest-carbon programs a vital tool to fix climate
Conservation International's finance expert extolls the importance of forest carbon credits to tackle the climate crisis.
February 22, 2020
Protections for African wildlife face growing threat: a lack of money
Two experts on protected areas react to recent findings that a majority of protected areas in Africa are underfunded.
October 24, 2018
3 reasons elephants make the best mothers
On this Mother’s Day, here are three reasons why elephants make some of the best mothers.
May 10, 2018
‘My Africa’ field notes: Capturing baby elephants in virtual reality
Human Nature offers a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and inspirations of filming “My Africa.”
April 26, 2018
‘My Africa’ field notes: Portraits of hope for Africa’s elephants
Here are some of our favorite photos taken at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, with stories about the elephants and the caregivers who look after them.
April 4, 2018
4 things you didn’t know elephants do for you
On top of being amazing creatures, elephants actually make life better for all of us, sometimes in surprising ways.
March 28, 2018
‘My Africa’ field notes: Good fences can make uneasy neighbors
Conservation International works to conserve wildlife while delivering justice to communities in South Africa.
March 23, 2018
What does gender have to do with conservation?
Human Nature talked to Conservation International field staff about their perspectives on why gender matters in conservation.
March 9, 2018
What on Earth is a ‘conservation agreement’?
Here, we break down “conservation agreements,” an approach that helps conserve biodiversity while improving the quality of life for local communities.
February 20, 2018
Cacao plantations: Home sweet home for Madagascar’s lemurs?
CI funded new research that found Madagascar’s lemurs are making homes within cocoa plantations.
December 21, 2017
Two ears, one mouth
In South Africa’s Eastern Cape conservationists are connecting with local communities through culture, science and shared values.
August 9, 2017
‘Time to fix things now’
In the farming town of Matatiele, a partnership is protecting Africa’s most biodiverse grassland and bringing prosperity through livestock auctions.
August 7, 2017
A tug of war in the night
From a poacher of bush meat to a small-business owner, Magic Mabunda illustrates the transformation underway in the communities outside Kruger National Park.
August 4, 2017
An accidental ranger finds his calling
When a scientist finds himself in the middle of anti-poaching operations, he asks himself whether there is a better way to conserve nature.
July 31, 2017
What on Earth is a ‘carbon offset’?
What are carbon offsets? A way to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Learn more.
July 27, 2017
What on Earth is ‘land tenure’?
The concept of land tenure has major implications for conservation.
October 6, 2016
What on Earth is ‘sustainable’ coffee?
What makes coffee “sustainable,” and why it even matters.
September 29, 2016
Amid lifelong search for lions, 20 cherished minutes
After years of visiting some of nature’s most stunning places, a filmmaker finally comes face to face with his favorite animal.
May 20, 2016
5 ways indigenous knowledge can solve global problems
The traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples could help address environmental problems that plague the entire planet.
May 9, 2016