A rope technician works to remove invasive pine trees. TNC works with local organizations to support these water saving efforts.
High elevation tree removal A rope technician works to remove invasive pine trees. TNC works with local organizations to support these water saving efforts. © Roshni Lodhia

About Us

Who We Are

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive.

Founded at its grassroots in the United States in 1951, The Nature Conservancy has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than a million members and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and more than 400 scientists, we impact conservation in 79 countries and territories across six continents.

Our Challenge Only by working together can we give people hope, keep our wildlife wild and keep our home whole. And ensure the future of a world that sustains us all.

Our Priorities

We are focusing on these key areas in order to achieve our ambitious mission.

Grasslands in the wind.
Windswept grass Grasslands in the wind. © TNC

By the Numbers

  • Icon of a globe

    79

    We impact conservation in 79 countries and territories.

  • Two fish

    100

    We operate more than 100 marine conservation projects.

  • Icon of a microscope.

    400

    We have more than 400 scientists on staff.

  • Icon of a garden.

    125M

    We have protected more than 125 million acres of land.

Collage of four Nature Conservancy leaders.

Success

Our Leaders

Meet the experts, scientists, leadership and staff that embody The Nature Conservancy's spirit of innovation and drive to deliver tangible lasting results for both people & nature.

Meet Our People
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Fragments from wild stands will later be planted on blocks in coral nurseries.

We All Have a Stake in a Better Future

7 decades of conservation experience have taught us we can accomplish more for nature when we bring together people and organizations across borders, sectors and political aisles.

How We Work Influencing Global Policy
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Accountability Logos

An Organization You Can Trust

As a leading global charity, we put every dollar donated to work efficiently and effectively to make the greatest impact possible for conservation.

Our Accountability Rating
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What Makes Us Who We Are

Recent Wins

  • The overlook atop Aride Island Special Reserve is at the center of where millions of birds nest during nesting season, Seychelles.

    A Marine Protected Area the Size of Great Britain

    We led a ground-breaking deal that protects nearly 160,000 square miles of ocean off of Seychelles while helping the small island nation pay off its debt and make important climate change adaptations. Explore More

  • Engaging youth and urban communities in environmental stewardship now will inspire a new generation of leaders to tackle the challenge of making cities and communities sustainable places to live.

    Working at the Nexus of Nature and Medicine

    We worked with health researchers and community organizers in Louisville, KY to launch a first-of-its-kind medical study on how planting more trees in cities positively affects residents' health. Explore More

  • in search of a meal.

    Protecting an Ancient Temperate Rainforest

    We brokered a milestone agreement securing the long-term protection and sustainable management of 9 million acres of the ancient Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, Canada. Explore More

  • Boat drone orthomosaic image of the mapping of Catalina Island, DR (right near Catalinita, all in the Southeast Marine Sanctuary in DR we help protect). Boat drone imagery is one of the 4 layers of data assessment being used for the Caribbean coral mapping project (satellite imagery and aerial hyperspectral sensor imagery are used for mapping and boat drone imagery, and people diving below water are used to corroborate this mapping. the boat and aerial drone data gathering – is completed by TNC. We use it for things unrelated to the CAO work but it will also be combined with the CAO data that is gathered to create the region-wide map of coral reefs across the Caribbean. The goal is that after the Caribbean region is completed, this initiative can be used as a model to help marine regions across the globe map their coral reef ecosystems to better protect and restore them. In terms of the ‘bigness’ of the work, Steve Schill (TNC) says we are really the only organization he knows of that is combining these technologies (boat and aerial drone, hyperspectral imaging from CAO plane, Planet satellite) to create coastal habitat maps

    Using Tech to Map Coral Even Better

    We used high-tech planes and satellites to create the highest-ever resolution maps of the Caribbean's coral reefs in order to ensure the protection of these important ecosystems. Explore More

  • Herder in Mongolia grasslands.

    Helping Mongolia Conserve its Grasslands

    We’ve used our science to help the Mongolian Government protect 26 million acres of pristine grassland over the past 10 years. We continue to work with the government on a plan for 120 million acres. Explore More

Sunset at Piedras Rojas in the Atacama Desert in Chile.
Piedras Rojas Sunset at Piedras Rojas in the Atacama Desert in Chile. © Victor Grilo Lima/TNC Photo Contest 2019