We look to nature to satisfy our basic needs of food, water, and shelter. The challenge today is that there are more and more people, but less and less nature to go around.

Take China. Topping 1.3 billion, it is the world’s most populous country. With such staggering numbers, the pressure on the country’s environment is overwhelming. And for China’s conservation efforts to succeed, its communities must be an integral part of the solution. The same can be said for any city, town, or village anywhere in the world.

From coffee farmers in Latin America to villagers near African parks, we support indigenous communities with the steadfast belief that their involvement in conservation is the best way to guarantee a healthy future for people and our planet.

Our partner communities have shown that it’s possible to live in harmony with nature. They’ve been doing it for centuries. In the face of mounting pressures, the Kayapo Indians of the Brazil invited us to help them conserve their traditional lands. Today, they manage some of the best preserved areas of the Amazon rain forest. In Indonesia, we have been working with governments and communities for years to restore mangroves, which serve as a buffer against environmental threats and protect local communities from natural disasters like the tsunami of 2004.

Conservation doesn’t have to come at the expense of people. In fact, communities are the natural stewards of their surroundings, a principle that has been part of our mission from day one. From the air we breathe to the water we drink, both local communities and world at large have a clear stake in protecting the environment.

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