The Nature Conservancy: Protecting Nature, Preserving Life

Image Gallery More of our natural world is at risk today than ever before. The Nature Conservancy's work is crucial to keep vital habitats and unique species from being lost forever. Photo by The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy works worldwide to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.

This nonprofit organization addresses the most pressing conservation threats at the largest scale. Thanks to the support of more than 1 million members, the Conservancy has a tremendous record of success since its founding in 1951. It has protected more than 119 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide, and operates more than 100 marine conservation projects globally.

The Conservancy works in all 50 states and more than 30 countries — protecting habitats from grasslands to coral reefs, from Australia to Alaska to Zambia.  It addresses threats to conservation involving climate change, fresh water, oceans and conservation lands.

Everything the Conservancy does is rooted in good science — aided by our hundreds of staff scientists. It pursues non-confrontational, pragmatic solutions to conservation challenges.  It partners with indigenous communities, businesses, governments, multilateral institutions and other nonprofits.

For more than a decade, The Nature Conservancy’s work has been guided by a framework they call "Conservation by Design" — a systematic approach that determines where to work, what to conserve, what strategies they should use and how effective they have been.

Conservation by Design marries a collaborative, science-based approach with key analytical methods that the Conservancy uses to assess and plan our actions. In the more than 30 countries in which they work, Conservation by Design enables the preservation of healthy ecosystems that support people and host the diversity of life on Earth.

The Conservancy’s hundreds of staff scientists have pioneered countless conservation solutions — from regrowing coral reefs to planning dams to mapping wildlife corridors.  Experts at building coalitions with indigenous communities, governments, businesses and non-profits, the Conservancy uses its resources wisely, focusing on effectively protecting the world’s most ecologically important places and preventing further loss of our endangered species. Some groups specialize in policy, others in landscape conservation — but only the Conservancy is positioned to do both.

You can help Nature Conservancy scientists and field staff focus more effectively on critical conservation projects when you become a member, or make a monthly donation.  To join or donate, please visit The Nature Conservancy's website.