Conservation News
News, views and stories from the front lines of conservation
Dec 13, 2024
All recent news
Meet the scientist helping women find their voice
“Invest in one woman, and that ripples out to her family, her community and beyond. It changes people’s lives.”
December 12, 2024
Why rare species thrive on Indigenous lands
From the savannas of Africa to remote Pacific islands, Indigenous Peoples and local communities are helping to conserve some of the most remarkable species on Earth.
August 9, 2024
Meet an organic food startup with Indigenous roots
Pantry staples don’t get a lot of love. But for Sarela Herrada, they’re at the heart of a mission to support farming communities and make healthier, ethically-sourced foods more widely available.
July 16, 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
To coexist with giants, meet people's needs first: expert
Human and elephant conflict is on the rise, largely because of elephants' diminishing habitat. Experts say that protecting the species requires understanding and supporting rural communities that share spaces with them.
June 27, 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
For fashion industry, a new model for working with Indigenous Peoples
The fashion industry’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples has historically been fraught — but a new initiative aims to reset it.
May 21, 2024
In Bolivia, a ‘conservation mosaic’ gets another (big) piece
In the remote lowland forests of northwestern Bolivia, a small community has taken a big step to protect one of the Amazon’s most biodiverse regions.
February 5, 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
3 things our experts loved in July
Conservation International is powered by 1,500 people in more than 30 countries — their interests, like their hometowns, are all over the map. In this monthly feature, our experts share some of their favorite things.
July 31, 2023
Countries agreed to protect 30% of the planet. Now what?
More than six months ago, nearly every country signed on to the most ambitious plan ever to protect nature — a sweeping framework that aims to conserve 30 percent of the planet's land and waters by 2030. It’s an unprecedented agreement. So, what’s next?
July 26, 2023
3 things our experts loved in June
Conservation International is powered by 1,500 people in more than 30 countries — their interests, like their hometowns, are all over the map. In this monthly feature, our experts share some of their favorite things.
June 29, 2023
Study: Protecting the ocean benefits people and nature
Across the globe, marine protected areas help struggling fish populations and ecosystems recover and flourish. But what impact do they have on the people living nearby? A new study finds big benefits for both biodiversity and coastal communities.
June 22, 2023
News spotlight: Just how big is the ocean plastic problem?
Every year, up to 10 million tons of plastic end up in the world’s oceans — an amount so large it’s hard to visualize. Two journalists from Al Jazeera found that if flattened, ocean plastic today would cover an area roughly the size of Jamaica.
June 21, 2023
News spotlight: How Indigenous communities brought a sacred caiman back from the brink
For years, two communities in southeast Colombia have worked to protect the black caiman — the largest predator in the Amazon River basin, which was hunted to near extinction in the area for its highly-prized skin.
May 26, 2023
When protecting nature helps build peace
As climate change accelerates, there's a growing sense of urgency to address how changes to our ecosystems can lead to conflict. For years, Conservation International has worked to bring environmental peacebuilding and conflict sensitivity to its work.
May 25, 2023
In Amazon, small towns are a force of nature
Years ahead of schedule, Bolivia has met an ambitious goal to protect 30 percent of its land — and that's thanks in large part to Amazonian towns and villages that are accelerating the pace and scale of conservation in the country.
April 12, 2023
News Spotlight: Indigenous land stewardship key to preserving Amazon carbon sinks
In case you missed it: The Amazon is the ecological jewel of the world, home to nearly 400 billion trees and 10,000 species at risk of extinction. It’s also the world’s largest terrestrial carbon sink. Yet a new report shows those climate benefits are not uniformly distributed.
January 23, 2023
Meet 3 Indigenous women fighting for the future of the Amazon
Meet three of Conservation International's Amazonia Indigenous Women's fellows working to protect the world's largest rainforest.
August 9, 2022
News spotlight: Gullah Geechee people look to nature to save their coastlines — and culture
In case you missed it: Communities across the southern coast of the U.S. are now losing their land — and the culture it represents — to sea-level rise. Nature can help.
August 1, 2022
New map pinpoints where people depend on nature the most
A new study is the first to quantify people’s dependence on nature, and underscores the extent of the threat that climate change and the destruction of nature pose to human life.
October 4, 2021
Meet a scientist: To adapt to climate change, this expert looks to nature
Conservation News spoke with Conservation international's Giacomo Fedele about the ways in which communities are adapting to rising temperatures on their own terms and how he manages to stay optimistic despite an uncertain climate future.
September 29, 2021
Experts: To achieve global conservation goals, secure Indigenous rights
The global goal to protect nearly a third of Earth’s land and sea could help or hurt Indigenous peoples depending on how it is achieved.
August 9, 2021
Meet a scientist: the fisheries aficionado
Ana Gloria Guzmán-Mora is the executive director of Conservation International’s Costa Rica program, where she works with local communities and governments to help them meet their goals for protecting the planet.
July 22, 2021
Notes from the field: For communities, conservation brings business opportunities
Here are three recent conservation success stories you should know about.
January 21, 2021
New science: restoring forests, coastal protection and more
Protecting nature starts with science. Here’s a roundup of recent scientific research published by Conservation International experts.
January 14, 2021
Meet a scientist: the community connector
Patricia Dunne is the director of applied social science at Conservation International, where she works to amplify the voices of some of conservation’s most critical allies: local communities.
December 3, 2020
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
New science: Saving freshwater species, lessons from China and more
Protecting nature starts with science. Here’s a roundup of recent scientific research published by Conservation International experts.
November 12, 2020
Notes from the field: Sun-powered water, COVID and fishing, and more
Here are three recent conservation success stories you should know about.
October 22, 2020
Indigenous leaders: To tackle climate change, ‘we must first address racial inequality’
For insight into how Indigenous peoples are fighting for their lands during lockdown — while simultaneously addressing deep-rooted racial inequality — Conservation News tapped two Indigenous leaders at Conservation International.
August 6, 2020
For billions without clean water, ‘wash your hands’ is complicated
Conservation News spoke with Conservation International’s Colleen Sorto about how when it comes to water and human health, where your water comes from can be just as important as how you use it.
June 17, 2020
Notes from the field: Indigenous peoples protecting nature through tradition
Right now, around the world, the work of protecting nature and the climate is happening in the field — and achieving small triumphs that don’t make the news. Here are three recent conservation success stories you should know about.
April 29, 2020
For Indigenous peoples, pandemic poses unique risks
In a recent article, the director of Conservation International's Indigenous and Traditional Peoples Program explained why the COVID-19 pandemic affirms the need to respect the rights of Indigenous peoples.
April 14, 2020
Meet a scientist: To study conservation, she studies people
A social scientist at Conservation International explains the complex link between humans and nature in a Q&A with Conservation News.
November 21, 2019
‘Protecting nature, building peace’: Indigenous activist wins prestigious award
Conservation International’s Senior Indigenous Fellow Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim wins the 2019 Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award.
November 14, 2019
Ashes to action: 3 things we know about the Amazon fires
Here are 3 takeaways about the Amazon fires from Conservation International scientists.
October 22, 2019
Climate Week: Money, nature and what really matters
The three themes that stood out over the course of Climate Week were protecting nature to protect the climate, finding funding for conservation and valuing nature beyond science and policies.
September 26, 2019
Women conservation leaders ‘a tide lifting everyone’
In partnership with Conservation International, ELLE magazine dedicated its July issue to women in conservation.
June 26, 2019
Expert: Conservation, indigenous rights at a crossroads
A recently published paper has added to a body of evidence showing that indigenous peoples can be powerful allies for protecting nature.
August 8, 2018
Saving the mangroves to save the clams — and a way of life
A community in Colombia ensures their mangroves and clams are around well into the future.
June 21, 2018
In Indonesia, villagers find innovative ways to adapt to climate change
A new study shows that using nature to adapt to intense storms and drought can be affective for thriving in a changing climate.
June 19, 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
Voices of the Alto Mayo: Women in charge
María Hernández describes her life in the Alto Mayo and how it has changed since she and her sister, Maximila, signed a conservation agreement.
April 3, 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
How one ocean voyager uses tradition to connect to the future
Voyagers in Samoa use the Va’a as a way to connect with other cultures while learning to live in harmony with nature.
February 23, 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
To save elephants, it takes a village
Kenya’s Reteti Elephant Sanctuary — the first community-owned elephant sanctuary in East Africa — provides a place for injured elephants to heal and a home for elephants orphaned by poaching.
November 1, 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
Indigenous leaders: What we wish Westerners knew
On International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we’re revisiting an interview with indigenous leaders from around the globe.
August 8, 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
In Kenya’s storied hills, traditional ways confront a modern problem: climate change
Neutralize your carbon footprint through a new REDD+ project in the Chyulu Hills of Kenya.
July 26, 2017
‘We are not tourist attractions’: Indigenous leaders assert their voices in conservation
Indigenous peoples are Earth’s original — and perhaps last — stewards. Their leadership could define the next generation of conservation.
May 5, 2017
Key to protecting the ocean? Money and manpower, study finds
There are two keys to protecting our oceans: funding and staff. Without these elements, we’re putting our oceans at risk.
March 22, 2017
To improve crop yields, just add trees
In an Indonesian province plagued by deforestation, a group of women farmers has found a more sustainable way to feed their families.
October 20, 2016
What on Earth is ‘land tenure’?
The concept of land tenure has major implications for conservation.
October 6, 2016
Why Indigenous rights matter
Indigenous peoples’ interest in conservation is profound — but often overlooked.
September 6, 2016
What the Hawaiian language revival means for conservation
The islands’ language is a powerful link to the lands and waters that sustain their people.
May 11, 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
Illegal logger turned forest champion — with help from hummingbirds
For Norbil Becerra, destroying forests was a necessary evil — until the day he saw a hummingbird.
January 5, 2016