Who We Are

Nature is our common ground.

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Stylized graphic of a the earth overlaid on a seascape of small blue fish swimming on a coral reef.

Protecting and preserving nature is the best investment we can make for today—and tomorrow.

A Thriving Planet Preserving lands as vast as continents, safeguarding our waters, bringing life back from the brink of loss, harnessing the power of science, honoring the wisdom of cultures and supporting the courage of communities. © TNC

Two people on horseback ride through tall grasses across a wide field.
On the Range Texas cowboys traverse Powderhorn Ranch while searching for a lost cow. TNC turned this tract of coastal prairie over to Texas in 2016 to create a wildlife management area. © Carlton Ward Jr.

Nature Unites Us All

For 74 years, The Nature Conservancy has harnessed the power of nature to help solve our planet’s most challenging problems. And while the stakes are high, so is our resolve: to create a world where everyone thrives alongside nature for generations to come.

We do this by working hand in hand with communities in all 50 U.S. states and in 81 countries and territories around the world. By committing to a science-based, non-partisan approach that’s stood the test of time. And by bringing people together, from all walks of life, to find common ground in nature.

Watch: Our Vision for a Thriving Planet

Our Thriving Planet, Our Beating Hearts (3:17) When we give nature a chance, it comes back stronger—and to love this planet is to love our own beating hearts.

At Risk: Our Food, Our Security, Our Incomes

  • 50%

    Half of all people on Earth live in places where clean drinking water supply is threatened—risking their health, food and security.

  • $38 T

    Storms, floods, drought and fire could cost the global economy $38 trillion annually by 2050. The 2025 fires in Los Angeles alone cost as much as $250 billion.

  • 1 M

    We can’t farm without insects. We can’t fish without reefs. But they’re both part of the more than 1 million species facing extinction within the next few decades.

  • 83%

    We’ve lost 83% of freshwater plants and animals in the past 50 years by polluting, overusing and disconnecting fresh water.

Why We Need Nature

Farm life Without nature—water, soil and pollinators—there’s no kale harvest. © Alex Snyder/TNC

Nature Powers Our Livelihoods

Nature creates $44 trillion in value for businesses like farming, fishing, shipping and tourism—that’s more than half of the entire global economy. And in the U.S., outdoor activities we love like wildlife viewing, boating and hiking support 4.3 million American jobs.

Through sustainable logging practices in Borneo and reef restoration that supports tourism in Belize, local communities are finding ways to protect the nature their economies rely on. 

Storm buffers Mangrove forests protect coastal communities from flooding—and nurture the sea life that local fishing economies depend on. © Sarah Waiswa

Nature Protects Us From Natural Disasters

Marshes, mangroves, wetlands and reefs can absorb flooding and protect coastlines from violent waves and supercharged storms. For every $1 spent to restore wetlands and reefs, communities get $7 back in benefits from less flooding.

Healthy wetlands along New Jersey’s coast prevented $625 million in property damage from Hurricane Sandy’s devastation, while restored mangrove forests are protecting communities in Florida and around the world.

The secrets of reefs A TNC researcher studies an elkhorn coral restoration site off Florida. Some coral types contain compounds that can help treat cancers like leukemia. © Carlton Ward Jr.

Nature Protects Our Health

From the depths of the rainforest to the wonders of coral reefs, nature’s diversity supplies more than 40% of the medicines we rely on.

Former U.S. Senator, Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon and TNC Board Chair Bill Frist learned this firsthand when a medication derived from a Norwegian fungus finally made lung transplants possible.

Farming With Nature On Zach Hauser’s family farm, water is precious. © Morgan Heim

Nature Puts Food On Our Tables

Fishers need clean water and habitats to catch our food—and farmers and ranchers need healthy soil and water to grow it. What’s more, 75% of all crops rely on insects like bees and butterflies to reproduce.

Whether it’s planting hearty, drought-tolerant crops in Arizona or helping healthy pasture regrow on a Kansas ranch, family farmers are finding ways to grow food while conserving the nature they all need.

Looking out from dense bushes across a muddy body of water surrounded by trees and bushes.
Kentucky Wetland A mixture of wetlands, farm ponds, grassland, pasture and forests at the confluence of the Tradewater River and Ohio River in Kentucky. © Mark Godfrey/The Nature Conservancy

Nature Filters the Water We Drink

For anyone who loves to hunt, fish or just spend time outside, wetlands and forests are the place to be. Even better—they also keep our water clean. For example, a wetland can filter out as much as 90% of sediments and harmful pollutants.

From the headwaters of the Mississippi River to the mountains of Cape Town, communities are securing healthy water at the source for everyone downstream.

Deep Breaths In Louisville, Kentucky, partners are planting more than 6,000 trees to improve air quality. © Mike Wilkinson

Nature Cleans the Air We Breathe

Trees filter pollution from the air and can help reduce risk of chronic illness, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes. 

For example, research in Louisville, Kentucky has demonstrated that planting trees produced measurable health benefits for nearby residents, demonstrating the power of trees to directly improve our lives. 

Our Priorities in Action

To learn more, click a pin on the map or a tile in the list of featured initiatives. Please note: While this map is mobile-friendly, it is best experienced on desktop or tablet.

Featured Initiatives

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Conservation & Forest Management - Congo Basin
× Aerial photo of trees at Loango National Park in Gabon.

Conservation & Forest Management - Congo Basin

Tackle Climate Change

The Congo Basin—“the lungs of Africa”—is one of the largest carbon sinks on the planet. Here, TNC supports innovative forest protection and best practices for working forests, including selective logging that maintains harvests while also cutting carbon emissions by up to 50%. Forest managers apply these methods to keep more carbon in the forest and generate income from reduced emissions.

Climate Adaptation in Kenya
× Growing trees in the mangrove restoration site.

Climate Adaptation in Kenya

Tackle Climate Change

Kenya's coastal mangrove forests store carbon and buffer communities from storms. TNC works to restore these ecosystems while enhancing local livelihoods. In northern Kenya, we support grazing plans that increase grassland resilience and sustain livestock and wildlife across increasingly variable wet and dry seasons. We also support replicating water funds to safeguard water supplies for people.

Advancing India’s Natural Climate Solutions
× A farmer is burning stubble after crop harvest.

Advancing India’s Natural Climate Solutions

Tackle Climate Change

Millions of small farms across India’s northwestern states of Punjab and Haryana weave together the country’s breadbasket. Here, TNC is working with farmers to switch more farms to no-burn agriculture. TNC and local partners across the region aim to prevent 6 million tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, while saving 500 billion liters of the country’s stressed water resources.

Sustainable Forestry in Indonesian Borneo
× Trees in fog in Indonesia rainforest.

Sustainable Forestry in Indonesian Borneo

Tackle Climate Change

As the world’s third-largest island, Borneo is home to nearly 29 million hectares of tropical forests and contains immense biodiversity. Together with our main Indonesian partner, Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, TNC is working to acquire long-term management rights to inactive timber areas to protect forests and wildlife, sequester carbon and support new economic opportunities.

Accelerating Clean Energy in the U.S.
× Sunflowers grow beside a photovoltaic solar panel.

Accelerating Clean Energy in the U.S.

Tackle Climate Change

In the U.S., TNC is helping communities transition away from fossil fuels and accelerate clean energy. In Kentucky, for example, we are working with BrightNight and Rivian Automotive, Inc. to transform one of the nation's largest former coal mines into a new hub for solar energy. This can heal the land, create local jobs, reduce pollution and protect wildlife habitat.

Renewable Energy Transition in Europe
× Jasenice Wind Power Plant and its surroundings.

Renewable Energy Transition in Europe

Tackle Climate Change

By planning renewable energy smartly, Europe can become the world's first climate-neutral continent. Here, TNC is supporting the designation of Renewable Acceleration Areas, zones where renewable energy projects can be developed faster, easier and in ways that protect nature. These areas are requirements for EU member and candidate states to achieve Europe’s 2030 renewable energy targets.

Advancing Climate Solutions in the Amazon
× A tree in a cleared field in Brazil.

Advancing Climate Solutions in the Amazon

Tackle Climate Change

The Amazon is near a tipping point. Unsustainable agriculture, development, resource extraction, drought and wildfire risk irreversible damage. TNC and partners are working with governments, farmers and ranchers, Indigenous Peoples and local communities to co-create a sustainable, equitable future for the Amazon, combining traditional knowledge, regenerative agriculture and innovative science.

Insuring Nature for the Mesoamerican Reef
× Underwater photo of waves flowing over a coral reef.

Insuring Nature for the Mesoamerican Reef

Tackle Climate Change

The Mesoamerican reef—the world’s 2nd largest—serves as a natural buffer against storms along the Yucatan Peninsula. To protect and restore this vital coastal ecosystem, TNC collaborates with communities, governments and insurance companies to co-design and develop innovative financial mechanisms—such as insurance that funds restoration after storms and debt restructuring to finance conservation.

Climate-Smart Ocean Management in the Caribbean
× A man holds fish on a sandy beach in Jamaica.

Climate-Smart Ocean Management in the Caribbean

Tackle Climate Change

The Caribbean is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions. TNC with partners in the Dominican Republic, Grenada and Jamaica, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies work to develop and implement national plans for a sustainable future focusing on nature-based solutions for a comprehensive disaster and climate risk management.

Clean Energy in India
× A woman wipes off solar panels in a village in India.

Clean Energy in India

Tackle Climate Change

In India, TNC is developing and expanding science-based energy siting tools and practices to ensure the country’s energy transition proceeds in harmony with nature and communities. These efforts are designed to help reduce land-use conflicts, speed up renewable energy deployment and preserve natural areas and agricultural lands.

Advancing China’s Natural Climate Solutions
× Water from Old Creek River flows past giant boulders.

Advancing China’s Natural Climate Solutions

Tackle Climate Change

China is embracing natural climate solutions as an important pathway to reach the country’s climate goal of being carbon neutral by 2060. TNC is piloting several forest restoration sites in Yunnan, Sichuan and Inner Mongolia, working with the government to develop tools that support emission reduction policies and providing technical support to encourage and further develop China’s carbon market.

Supporting Communities and Nature in Maya Forest
× A farmer works his "milpa" agricultural field.

Supporting Communities and Nature in Maya Forest

Tackle Climate Change

The Maya Forest stretches across the Yucatan Peninsula across Belize, Guatemala and Mexico. In this Latin American iconic place, TNC collaborates with communities to conserve and restore this vital ecosystem, integrating traditional Indigenous and scientific knowledge, strengthening governance frameworks, and expanding sustainable economic opportunities.

World-Leading Protection in Gabon
× A young gorilla on an adult gorilla's back.

World-Leading Protection in Gabon

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

Gabon's vast, intact forests, freshwaters, and ocean harbor astounding biodiversity, including half of all forest elephants, critically endangered gorillas, electric fish, humpback whales, and more. Here, TNC is deploying conservation and sustainable financing tools to help the country meet its goal of being the first in the world to protect 30% of all its land, freshwater, and ocean territories.

Sustaining Wildlife Corridors in Northern Tanzania
× Elephants crossing a river in central Africa.

Sustaining Wildlife Corridors in Northern Tanzania

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

In Tanzania’s Tarangire ecosystem, 80% of the lands wildlife need fall outside of parks and are shared by people. Here, pastoralists and livestock move seasonally across the same areas that wildlife use to access fresh water and forage. TNC and partners are working with these communities to keep their grasslands open and healthy so they sustain people, livestock, and wildlife into the future.

United for Rivers in the Western Balkans
× View of Neretva River from a bridge.

United for Rivers in the Western Balkans

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

The Western Balkans are home to some of Europe’s last free-flowing rivers. In an effort to preserve the region's natural treasures, TNC and six local NGOs have started United For Rivers, an initiative to ensure lasting protection for 13 priority rivers across five countries in collaboration with local and national government leaders and the communities that the rivers connect.

Supporting Mongolia’s 30x30 Vision
× Sprawling river and wildlife in Mongolia.

Supporting Mongolia’s 30x30 Vision

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

Mongolia is working to protect 30% of its country. Through the Eternal Mongolia initiative and Enduring Earth partnership, TNC is helping the country unlock USD $198 million over 15 years to safeguard 14.4 million hectares (ha) of grasslands, rivers and other vital ecosystems; strengthen management of 47 million ha of protected areas; and extend climate-resilient community-led practices.

Conserving the Amazon for People and Nature
× A bow of a boat along a glassy river.

Conserving the Amazon for People and Nature

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

The Amazon, the world’s most biodiverse region, holds the largest terrestrial carbon stock, the largest river basin, and acts as a critical climate regulator. It is also home to over 300 Indigenous Peoples. TNC is focused on securing large-scale financing for the Amazon’s protection and regenerative economies—including initiatives to eliminate deforestation in soy and beef supply chains.

Conserving the Wild Heart of Zambia
× Closeup of a female lion in Kafue National Park.

Conserving the Wild Heart of Zambia

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

In central Zambia, TNC and partners are leading work to transform greater Kafue into a wildlife-abundant, climate-resilient, financially sustainable landscape. A place anchored by Kafue National Park, buffered by thriving community-conserved lands that meaningfully benefit local people, and linked to the greater KAZA and West Lunga conservation areas via community-managed wildlife corridors.

Removing Barriers to Reconnect Rivers in the U.S.
× Person fly-fishing in Little River Canyon, Alabama.

Removing Barriers to Reconnect Rivers in the U.S.

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

Rivers protect our health, prosperity and resiliency. Yet just 2% of U.S. rivers remain free-flowing. TNC is removing poorly designed and outdated barriers to restore habitat, reduce flood risks, honor Indigenous rights and support the millions of people for whom riverways provide drinking water, food, recreation and income. For example, in Alabama, we are reconnecting over 600 miles of river.

Advancing 30x30 in the Caribbean
× Underwater view of a hawksbill sea turtle.

Advancing 30x30 in the Caribbean

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

In 2022, TNC helped coordinate a blue bonds debt conversion that's financing Barbados' conservation goals. Now TNC is supporting a multi-year marine spatial planning process that will assess the island’s ocean needs. The process will help Barbados optimize marine protected areas, sustainable fishing options, policy changes and other strategies to conserve up to 30% of its ocean.

Indigenous-Led Conservation for Great Bear Sea
× Humpback whale's tail emerging from water.

Indigenous-Led Conservation for Great Bear Sea

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

In 2024, TNC supported 17 First Nations and federal and provincial governments to launch the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence on coastal British Columbia. It supports Canada’s first (and world’s largest) Indigenous-led, -designed and co-managed Marine Protected Area network and links ocean conservation to protection of the region’s old-growth rainforests and economic development.

Protecting the Okavango Basin
× Fisherman checking his  nets in a lagoon.

Protecting the Okavango Basin

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

95% of the waters that bring the famed Okavango Delta oasis to life—and support its astounding array of wildlife—come from Angola. Here, TNC is working with communities, government, and NGO partners to conserve the river’s life-giving headwaters while improving human well-being and livelihood opportunities among severely underserved communities.

Australia's Path to 30x30
× A river flowing past trees in Fish River Station.

Australia's Path to 30x30

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

To support Australia's goal of protecting 30% of its lands and waters by 2030, TNC is working with state/territorial governments, Indigenous communities and private funders to protect large, biodiverse ecosystems at a landscape scale. This includes supporting the creation and management of Indigenous Protected Areas.

Advancing Colombia’s 30x30 Goal
× Rolling savannas in the National Natural Park.

Advancing Colombia’s 30x30 Goal

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

TNC supported the Colombian government in establishing Manacacías National Park, safeguarding 68,000 ha of unique tropical savanna connecting the Orinoquía, Andes and Amazon regions, an area rich in terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity. Since 2018, TNC has collaborated with neighboring landowners to create private reserves and promote sustainable production practices.

Small Island Big Ocean Management
× Fisherman empties his net on the island of Kosrae.

Small Island Big Ocean Management

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

TNC’s work across the Caribbean, Micronesia and Polynesia is powered by nature and guided by local leadership. We help island governments and communities better protect and manage ocean habitats, adopt more sustainable fishing practices, and become more resilient to climate change. We developed a mobile app that helps Puerto Rican fishers sustain their livelihoods and conserve fish populations.

Resilient Oceans and Communities in Belize
× Women sorting seaweed in Belize.

Resilient Oceans and Communities in Belize

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

In 2021, TNC worked with Belize's government and financial institutions to restructure $553 million of the country’s debt, unlocking an estimated $180 million to support the country’s marine and community conservation efforts over 20 years. The Belize Blue Bonds project includes the launch of a collaborative Marine Spatial Planning process to assess needs and inform long-term conservation plans.

Advancing 30x30
× A "spirit bear" (Ursus americanus kermodei) on Gribbell

Advancing 30x30

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

In 2022, 190 countries adopted the Global Biodiversity Framework to protect 30% of the planet’s oceans, lands and fresh water by 2030, the biggest conservation commitment the world has ever seen. Now, TNC is supporting countries around the world to deliver 30x30 funding, policy and conservation action—with strong progress in Canada, Mongolia, Australia, Colombia, and more.

Advancing Nature Bonds
× Fishers in Seychelles push their boat out to sea.

Advancing Nature Bonds

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

To achieve the world's climate and biodiversity goals, many developing countries need financial support. Enter Nature Bonds. TNC is working with governments, financial institutions and communities to help countries leverage debt refinancing to pay for conservation and climate action. It's a global opportunity—with progress in Seychelles, Belize, Barbados and Gabon.

PFPs and Enduring Earth
× Zotol Han Uul, Mongolia.

PFPs and Enduring Earth

Protect Ocean, Land & Fresh Water

Project Finance for Permanence is a globally tested model for long-term, large-scale conservation and community development investment that brings partners, funding, and comprehensive planning together to support lasting benefits to a region. Through the Enduring Earth partnership, TNC is supporting these landscape-scale initiatives in Mongolia, Canada, and elsewhere.

Water Security in South Africa & Kenya
× Water flowing from a waterfall into a glass.

Water Security in South Africa & Kenya

Provide Food & Water

A cost-effective collective action mechanism that helps unite downstream water users to invest in upstream conservation and restoration, water funds help safeguard biodiversity and secure clean water for communities. TNC supports 17 water funds in Africa, including four in Kenya and three in South Africa, where one in Cape Town is removal invasive species and returning water to the system.

Regenerative Food in the Amazon
× Aerial view in Sumatra, showing deforestation.

Regenerative Food in the Amazon

Provide Food & Water

In the Amazon, TNC is working closely with governments, landowners, and local communities to strengthen the socio-bioeconomy through agroforestry systems. By promoting native crops, agroforestry farms not only contribute to biodiversity but also enhance economic resilience for local communities. It creates economic opportunities that rely on the forest’s natural wealth.

Resilient Watersheds Community Equity
× Mountains reflected in Rio Grande River in New Mexico.

Resilient Watersheds Community Equity

Provide Food & Water

In New Mexico, the Rio Grande Water Fund is protecting water supplies, and boosting local economies by restoring forests and reducing wildfire risk on 600,000 acres. The project also generates sustainable funding by partnering with local water providers. TNC also supports public and private funding to conserve lands that filter and regulate water supply in places like the Mississippi River basin.

Thriving Fisheries in Micronesia
× Man holding a tuna from a boat in Micronesia.

Thriving Fisheries in Micronesia

Provide Food & Water

In 2024, TNC launched the Tuna Transparency Pledge with the Federated States of Micronesia, Belize, Walmart, Albertsons Companies, and Thai Union as the first signatories. The pledge aims for 100% on-the-water monitoring across all industrial tuna fishing vessels in signatories’ supply chains or jurisdictions by 2027, strengthening transparency and aiding management of tuna and other species.

Regenerative Agriculture in NW India
× Gurdeep Singh drives a tractor at his farm in Dhakraba.

Regenerative Agriculture in NW India

Provide Food & Water

India’s northwestern states of Punjab and Haryana are the country’s largest producers of essential foods like wheat and rice. Here, TNC is working with the region’s farmers to eliminate the need to burn fields before replanting. By promoting science-driven regenerative agricultural practices, these regions can reduce their carbon emissions, improve soil structure and reduce costs to the farmer.

Conserving the Humboldt Current
× Loco fishery at Huape Fishing association in Chile.

Conserving the Humboldt Current

Provide Food & Water

The Humboldt Current is one of the planet’s richest marine environments and a top-10 fish producer. But over-exploitation is depleting the region’s ocean biodiversity. In Chile and Peru, TNC works with fishers, the seafood industry and the government to enable sustainable, conservation-friendly management of fisheries to maintain ocean biodiversity while contributing to global food production.

Regenerative Food in Brazil’s Cerrado
× Yellow and blue macaws in flight in Brazilian Cerrado.

Regenerative Food in Brazil’s Cerrado

Provide Food & Water

Brazil’s vast savanna region, the Cerrado, is witnessing one of the world’s largest agribusiness booms, with over half of its natural habitat converted to cropland and pasture. TNC and partners are investing in agricultural initiatives that focus on restoring degraded lands and leverage innovative financing and technology to meet production demands without losing more natural areas.

Sustainable Tuna Supply with Small Islands
× A net full of yellow fin tuna.

Sustainable Tuna Supply with Small Islands

Provide Food & Water

In 2021, TNC and Republic of the Marshall Islands launched Pacific Island Tuna to ensure transparency at sea and reduce bycatch of vulnerable species, while supplying sustainable tuna products to large U.S. retailers, like Walmart. The effort shows how the canned tuna industry can work more sustainably, and help the Marshall Islands raise revenue and prepare for climate change.

A Regenerative Foodscape in Kenya’s Highlands
× Cattle grazing on the slopes of Mount Kenya, Kenya.

A Regenerative Foodscape in Kenya’s Highlands

Provide Food & Water

In Kenya’s Central Highlands, water flows from Mount Kenya through lush highland forests and semi-arid farmland into rangelands where livestock and wildlife roam. TNC and partners are collaborating on the Central Highlands Ecoregion Foodscape to improve livelihoods and conserve biodiversity through diverse strategies like collective water use and land management and regenerative farming practices.

Thriving Fisheries in Western Indian Ocean
× Mackerel fishermen launch their small boat.

Thriving Fisheries in Western Indian Ocean

Provide Food & Water

The Western Indian Ocean’s marine ecosystems are some of the world’s most biodiverse, with over 2,200 species of fish and over 350 species of corals. TNC is working with partners across Seychelles, Kenya, and Tanzania to tackle habitat loss and degradation, improve fisheries management, and address conflict over the use of marine resources.

Land for Livestock and Wildlife in Tanzania
× Pastoralists  view  a  storm  on  the  horizon.

Land for Livestock and Wildlife in Tanzania

Provide Food & Water

In Tanzania’s dry northern rangelands, wildlife and livestock move seasonally to find the forage and water they need to survive. Here, TNC is partnering with pastoralists to conserve healthy, connected grasslands that support local food and livelihood security as well as thriving wildlife populations, and to prevent unsustainable conversion of land to row-crop agriculture that is doomed to fail.

Resilient Watersheds in Ecuador, Colombia & Brazil
× Open water view of Rio Xingu in Brazilian Amazon.

Resilient Watersheds in Ecuador, Colombia & Brazil

Provide Food & Water

TNC partners with 80 Indigenous communities in the Amazon to safeguard over 370 ha of reserve that sustain river connectivity for over 200 fish species. In Colombia's Caquetá River basin, TNC integrates traditional knowledge with modern techniques to strengthen freshwater fisheries, while in Ecuador, TNC collaborates with the government, helping to establish new freshwater protection areas.

Saving the Gran Chaco Forest
× View of a wetland landscape adjacent to a field.

Saving the Gran Chaco Forest

Provide Food & Water

South America’s second-largest forest, the Gran Chaco, is home to thousands of unique plant and wildlife species. TNC is partnering with food producers, businesses and government to reverse decades of habitat loss from beef and soy production. This includes promoting business models that incentivize both native habitat protection and regenerative farming practices.

Thriving Fisheries in Palau
× Aerial view of Palau rock islands.

Thriving Fisheries in Palau

Provide Food & Water

In the Palau archipelago, investing in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture is helping the country balance food sovereignty with healthy ecosystems and economic growth. TNC, in collaboration with Palau's government, has developed a new tool that maps out the best locations for new aquaculture. TNC is also engaging with the fishing industry to improve management and traceability.

Norfolk Water Fund in England
× Aerial view of Wendling Beck, Norfolk, UK.

Norfolk Water Fund in England

Provide Food & Water

Norfolk, England is rich in natural beauty and biodiversity—from its rare chalk streams to its extensive wetlands, but the agricultural region is also one of the UK’s driest and facing increasing water challenges due to climate change. The Norfolk Water Fund is a partnership between TNC, the water company, and other local actors to deploy nature-based solutions for collective water management.

Gulf of California Iconic Place
× Humpback whale breaching the water.

Gulf of California Iconic Place

Provide Food & Water

The Gulf of California is among the world's most biodiverse seas, hosting over 900 fish species and 30% of all marine mammals. This natural treasure represents both ecological abundance and economic potential. TNC collaborates with local fisheries, authorities, and buyers to create sustainable, economic and equitable solutions that benefit the marine environment and fishing communities alike.

Aquatic Food Supply Chain
× Underwater photo of a tuna.

Aquatic Food Supply Chain

Provide Food & Water

With 2/3 of global fisheries overfished or unable to sustain pressure, it is critical to improve seafood fishing and farming. Enter efforts like TNC’s Tuna Transparency Pledge—a global initiative to achieve 100% on-the-water monitoring on all industrial tuna vessels by 2027. Signatories already include Belize, Micronesia, Walmart, Albertsons Companies and Thai Union.

Zero Conversion Supply Chain
× Industrial farmland surrounding cerrado habitat, Brazil

Zero Conversion Supply Chain

Provide Food & Water

To meet the world’s increasing food demand, it is essential to decouple commodity production from habitat loss. TNC’s Zero Conversion Commodities strategy aims to transform the soy, cattle, and palm oil markets by enabling producers in critical ecosystems across South America and Indonesia to meet demand without converting land for agriculture.

Human Rights-based Conservation - Africa
× Women prepare bags for planting mangroves.

Human Rights-based Conservation - Africa

Transformative Practices

Human Rights, Gender and Equity: For our planet to thrive, people and communities must be at the forefront of conservation. TNC is integrating human rights, gender and equity into our principles and practices to influence positive change in conservation. An example is our work with communities in Kenya's Lamu Archipelago to protect, manage, and restore priority mangrove habitats.

Leveraging Science : Australia
× Diver measuring coral reef, Palau.

Leveraging Science : Australia

Transformative Practices

Leveraging Science: Organizations, governments, and communities around the world rely on TNC’s world-class science for innovative solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises. One example is our collaboration with Marxan’s open-source spatial planning platform to manage and protect Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef.

Strengthening Policy and Public Funding - Europe
× Aerial view of kayakers on Mreznica River.

Strengthening Policy and Public Funding - Europe

Transformative Practices

Policy and Public Funding: The EU Green Deal provided a road map for Europe to become the first climate-neutral continent and a signal to the world of its environmental leadership. TNC works with Europe's policy and financial institutions that can help achieve our global 2030 goals, like providing science to set the 25,000 km river restoration target in the EU Nature Restoration Law.

Strengthening Policy & Public Funding – Farm Bill
× Two people attend to a tractor in an agricultural field

Strengthening Policy & Public Funding – Farm Bill

Transformative Practices

Water scarcity and a looming land sale threatened Claudia Hauser’s farm in Camp Verde, Ariz. A new relationship with TNC led her to the U.S. Farm Bill, which helped protect her farm from development and funded drought-resilient projects. The Farm Bill is the single largest source of U.S. federal funding for conserving, restoring and managing private land in the U.S.

Impact Finance & Markets – Forest Carbon
× Sunlit mountains of Cumberland Forest, clouds below.

Impact Finance & Markets – Forest Carbon

Transformative Practices

Impact Finance and Markets: In the climate refuge of the Central Appalachians, TNC’s Cumberland Forest Project is one of the largest conservation efforts in the eastern U.S.—a 253,000-acre effort made possible by private impact investment. This innovative project shows the climate benefits of sustainable forest management and provides positive conservation, community, and financial returns.

Indigenous & Community Leadership - Great Bear Sea
× Totem Pole watches over the village of Klemtu.

Indigenous & Community Leadership - Great Bear Sea

Transformative Practices

Indigenous & Community Leadership in Conservation: TNC aims to support Indigenous and local communities in achieving their self-determined visions for stewarding and governing the territories and resources that sustain their well-being. One example is in the Great Bear Sea, where Indigenous-led natural resource management centers on collective rights.

Leveraging Science - Palau
× Aerial view of Palau islands.

Leveraging Science - Palau

Transformative Practices

Leveraging Science: Organizations, governments, and communities around the world leverage TNC’s world-class science for innovative nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises. One example is in Palau, where GIS mapping is identifying the best locations for new aquaculture projects.

Strengthening Policy and Public Funding – U.S.
× Snow geese at sunrise in New Mexico.

Strengthening Policy and Public Funding – U.S.

Transformative Practices

For 60 years, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has protected and maintained millions of acres of natural areas, creating jobs and outdoor recreation opportunities in the U.S. The 2020 Great American Outdoors Act permanently funds the LWCF at $900 million a year. TNC was instrumental in the passage of the GAOA and we continue our work advocating for increased federal investment in nature.

Strengthening Policy & Public Funding - 30x30
× Waterfall in Santander, Colombia forest.

Strengthening Policy & Public Funding - 30x30

Transformative Practices

Policy & Public Funding: In 2022, 190 countries adopted the Global Biodiversity Framework to protect 30% of the planet’s oceans, lands and fresh water by 2030, the biggest conservation commitment the world has ever seen. Now, TNC is supporting countries around the world to deliver 30x30 funding, policy and conservation action—with strong progress in Mongolia, Australia, Canada, Colombia, and more.

Impact Finance & Markets – Nature Bonds
× An aerial view of Carlisle Bay, Barbados.

Impact Finance & Markets – Nature Bonds

Transformative Practices

Impact Finance and Markets: To achieve the world's climate and biodiversity goals, many developing countries need financial support. In the Nature Bonds Program, TNC works with governments, financial institutions and communities to help countries leverage debt refinancing to pay for conservation and climate action. It's a global opportunity—with progress in Seychelles, Belize, Barbados and Gabon.

Impact Finance & Markets – PFPs and Enduring Earth
× Female herder standing by fence, Mongolia.

Impact Finance & Markets – PFPs and Enduring Earth

Transformative Practices

Impact Finance & Markets: Project Finance for Permanence is a globally tested model for long-term, large-scale conservation and community development investment that brings partners, funding, and comprehensive planning together to support lasting benefits to a region. Through the Enduring Earth partnership, TNC is supporting these landscape-scale initiatives in Mongolia, Canada, and elsewhere.

Impact Finance & Markets – Aquatic Food Supply
× Frozen yellowfin tuna in net being unloaded from ship.

Impact Finance & Markets – Aquatic Food Supply

Transformative Practices

Impact Finance & Markets: With 90% of global fisheries having reached or exceeded maximum sustainable levels, it is critical to improve their management. TNC’s Tuna Transparency Pledge aims to achieve 100% on-the-water monitoring on all industrial tuna vessels by 2027. Initial signatories include Walmart, Albertsons Companies, Thai Union, Belize, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Impact Finance & Markets – Zero Conversion Supply
× Aerial view showing deforestation.

Impact Finance & Markets – Zero Conversion Supply

Transformative Practices

To meet the world’s increasing food demand, it is essential to decouple commodity production from habitat loss. TNC’s Zero Conversion Commodities strategy aims to transform the soy, cattle, and palm oil markets by enabling producers in critical ecosystems across South America and Indonesia to meet demand without converting land for agriculture.

Driving Results Together

  • At our over 840 U.S. preserves, 2.9 million people hike, hunt, birdwatch and connect with nature every year.

    More than 6,000 bison roam across 12 of our preserves in the United States. These titans of North America keep grasslands healthy and inspire awe in all who visit.   

  • We work in 81 countries and territories, and all 50 U.S. states, to support communities that depend on—and love—the natural world. 

    Our relationships across states and party lines have helped secure bipartisan support for nature-based legislation that supports the future of U.S. farmers.

  • From awe-inspiring forests to iconic grasslands, we’ve protected 125 million acres of lands that support our economies, our hobbies and our way of life since 1951—an area nearly the size of Texas. 

    Working alongside policymakers and local herding communities, we secured a plan to protect 30% of Mongolia—from its wide-open steppe to its wetlands and rivers. 

  • Around the world, we work on nearly 400 freshwater projects across 37 countries that protect communities from flooding and drought, restore habitats and keep our drinking water clean. 

    We’re helping leaders in the Western Balkans protect the wild rivers in their communities as part of a region-wide conservation campaign organized by us and our partners.

  • By conserving 280 million acres of ocean area globally, we’re helping support the many people around the world who depend on fish for their food and livelihoods.

    For example, we’re working with the government of Barbados to protect its waters—and the fishing and tourism that support the island nation’s economy.

Together, We Find a Way

If our many decades of work and experience have taught us one thing, it’s that together, we find a way. And together, we must continue to preserve the nature we depend on each and every day—for our cities and small towns, our communities and neighbors, our friends and families, and our children, grandchildren and all the future generations inheriting this one-of-a-kind planet.