The Nature Conservancy

Nature Conservancy Magazine

Read feature stories from the most recent issues of the award-winning, quarterly membership magazine.

an illustration shows the american alligator in a wetland.
Alligator The American alligator was once listed as endangered but has since recovered. © TNC

Features from Fall 2023

bats flying through a canopy of trees at night.
Time to Fly Gray bats emerge shortly after dark from Bellamy Cave in Tennessee. The cave hosts an estimated 250,000 bats in the summer and 350,000 in the winter. © Stephen Alvarez
A scientific illustration of a brown spongy moth.
SPONGY MOTH / Lymantria dispar Formerly known as the “gypsy moth,” it was renamed “spongy moth” in 2022. “Gypsy” is a slur for the Romani people, while “spongy” refers to its sponge-like egg masses. © ZOE KELLER
Portrait a Ruppell’s griffon vulture from Kenya.
Soaring A Ruppell’s griffon vulture from Kenya. © Bobby Neptune
An underwater view of a sea turtle amongst coral.
Reef Hero Hawksbill sea turtles are an important part of Caribbean reef ecosystems. Without the turtles grazing, reefs could become overrun by sea sponges. © Shane Gross
a portrait of Dragana Mileusnić.
Dragana Mileusnić Portrait of Dragana Mileusnić, Southeast Europe Programme Director at The Nature Conservancy. Portrait was taken at Zeleni kut restaurant by the Mreznica river in Croatia. © Ciril Jazbec
bats flying through a canopy of trees at night.
Time to Fly Gray bats emerge shortly after dark from Bellamy Cave in Tennessee. The cave hosts an estimated 250,000 bats in the summer and 350,000 in the winter. © Stephen Alvarez

Fall '23

Up From the Underground

In Tennessee, protecting bats starts with restoring caves.

A scientific illustration of a brown spongy moth.
SPONGY MOTH / Lymantria dispar Formerly known as the “gypsy moth,” it was renamed “spongy moth” in 2022. “Gypsy” is a slur for the Romani people, while “spongy” refers to its sponge-like egg masses. © ZOE KELLER

Fall '23

The Movement to Rename Species

The common names of some species have not aged well. These scientists want to change them.

Portrait a Ruppell’s griffon vulture from Kenya.
Soaring A Ruppell’s griffon vulture from Kenya. © Bobby Neptune

Fall '23

Winds of Change

A revolutionary wind farm in Kenya is transforming the way renewable energy, communities and wildlife coexist.

An underwater view of a sea turtle amongst coral.
Reef Hero Hawksbill sea turtles are an important part of Caribbean reef ecosystems. Without the turtles grazing, reefs could become overrun by sea sponges. © Shane Gross

Fall '23

Ocean of Opportunity

Barbados has committed to protect up to 30% of its massive marine space.

a portrait of Dragana Mileusnić.
Dragana Mileusnić Portrait of Dragana Mileusnić, Southeast Europe Programme Director at The Nature Conservancy. Portrait was taken at Zeleni kut restaurant by the Mreznica river in Croatia. © Ciril Jazbec

Fall '23

Powering Europe

Can southeastern Europe protect its rivers while accelerating renewable energy production? Dragana Mileusnić, TNC's Southeast Europe lead, sees a path forward.

A group of White-tailed Deers
White-tailed Deer White-tailed deer in a snowy forest. © Kent Mason