Conservation News
News, views and stories from the front lines of conservation
Aug 31, 2024
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Long silenced, an African park roars back to life
By Will McCarry
All recent news
Long silenced, an African park roars back to life
Years of civil war left Mozambique’s national parks in ruins. But in one park, a decade of conservation has brought the savanna roaring back to life. Now, Conservation International and Peace Parks Foundation are replicating this success on a massive scale.
August 20, 2024
World Elephant Day: 3 stories to catch up on
Elephants have a profound impact on people and nature. Known as “ecosystem engineers,” they spread seeds that restore forests. Yet, poaching, habitat destruction and climate change have pushed these giants to the brink.
August 12, 2024
New study links birds' diets to forest health
A new study finds that birds’ feeding preferences are highly connected to environmental stressors — and changes in their behavior could have major impacts on forests and other critical ecosystems.
July 30, 2024
In Ecuador, a ‘milestone’ effort to protect mangroves — and people
Once underappreciated, mangroves are having a moment. Now, a landmark $36.4 million project aims to give Ecuador’s degraded mangroves a new lease on life.
July 26, 2024
One small country, one giant leap for nature
Guyana is making some giant steps for conservation with plans to double its protected areas within the next 18 months.
July 26, 2024
Study: Reforestation is cheaper than previously thought
Restoring forests is critical for stopping climate change — but it costs money, and there’s more than one way to do it. So, what's the best way? A new study has answers.
July 24, 2024
Landmark debt swap to protect Indonesia's coral reefs
The government of Indonesia announced this week a deal to redirect more than US$ 35 million it owes to the United States into the conservation of coral reefs.
July 10, 2024
To coexist with giants, meet people's needs first: expert
Human and elephant conflict is on the rise, largely because of elephants' diminishing habitat. Experts say that protecting the species requires understanding and supporting rural communities that share spaces with them.
June 27, 2024
Can an ancient tradition save an African grassland?
Africa’s pastoralists have long raised their livestock to mimic the rhythms of nature. Reviving their way of life is key to restoring grasslands.
June 25, 2024
With new protections, a critical fishery gets new lease on life
Fishing is a way of life in Peru. But one of it's most important fisheries is not immune from human-made pressures like overfishing and mining. Now, a new protected area is offering a new lease on life.
May 28, 2024
For fashion industry, a new model for working with Indigenous Peoples
The fashion industry’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples has historically been fraught — but a new initiative aims to reset it.
May 21, 2024
News spotlight: Nature’s decline is driving a surge in diseases
Our health is personal, but health risks are not. Around the world, entire populations — both human and wildlife — are facing new health challenges, all driven by the same culprit: environmental degradation.
May 17, 2024
News spotlight: Conservation works, offers hope for biodiversity
A sweeping analysis of more than 600 conservation efforts — some dating back a century — found that they’re making a big difference for nature.
May 7, 2024
Amid a deforestation crisis, two countries plant seeds of hope
Earth lost 3.7 million hectares (9.2 million acres) of tropical forest last year, an area nearly the size of the Netherlands. Yet amid these sobering findings, there are signs of hope.
April 8, 2024
New research: Critical 'irrecoverable carbon' at risk
Earth has lost 2 billion metric tons of “irrecoverable carbon” since 2018 — an amount greater than the United States’ annual greenhouse gas emissions — underscoring the need to halt deforestation and expand protected areas.
March 28, 2024
Report: One-fifth of Mekong River fish face extinction
Unsustainable development has pushed one-fifth of the fish in the Mekong River — the lifeblood of Southeast Asia — to near extinction, according to a new report.
March 21, 2024
Biologist’s keen eye spots (another) new species in the Pacific
With the dazzling diversity of species that live on a coral reef, dwarfgobies are easy to overlook. While the may be easy to overlook — they are the most diverse of all fish genera.
March 20, 2024
For these women, sustainable business is buzzing
Around the world, women beekeepers are helping to protect bees by sharing their knowledge and traditions. This International Women’s Day, we highlight the work of three beekeepers who live in very different geographies, but are united in their passion for the pollinators.
March 8, 2024
Deep-sea expedition may have discovered over 100 new species in the Pacific
A recent deep-sea expedition off the coasts of Chile and Peru is revealing the secrets of a vast underwater mountain system — and could help make the case for future ocean protections there.
March 4, 2024
Study: To restore grasslands, it’s time to get wild
It’s easy to understand why ambitious reforestation campaigns capture public attention. Earth’s forests are absolutely vital to staving off a climate crisis and protecting nature. But what about grasslands?
February 23, 2024
In Bolivia, a 'conservation mosaic’ gets another (big) piece
In the remote lowland forests of northwestern Bolivia, a small community has taken a big step to protect one of the Amazon’s most biodiverse regions.
February 5, 2024
Study: As climate crisis escalates, so too could human-elephant clashes
When humans and elephants come into contact, the results can be deadly — and if climate change and habitat loss continue, a new study finds, things could get even worse.
February 2, 2024
2023 in review: Partnerships and communities drive nature conservation
Conservation News is reflecting on some of our most noteworthy stories about how nature and human well-being are intertwined — and what it takes to protect them.
December 19, 2023
To save the axolotl, Mexico looks to the past
A Mexico City lake and its canals are the only place on Earth where the axolotl lives. But over the years, it has been drained, polluted and crowded with predatory invasive species — severely endangering the salamander. A new effort aims to change that.
December 6, 2023
In new TED talk, doctor prescribes conservation
While it may seem unusual for a medical doctor to work for a conservation nonprofit, it's centered on a powerful premise: that human health and the protection of nature are inextricably linked.
December 5, 2023
With new discovery, island nation turns page on a painful legacy
Scientists recently discovered a new species of gecko. As remarkable as that discovery was, it signified something more: a fresh approach to conservation in a nation historically marked by foreign intrusion and exploitation.
December 4, 2023
‘Tis the season for gifts you can feel good about giving
Finding the perfect gift is hard. But don't stress — we’ve got your back. Conservation International’s 2023 gift guide is full of meaningful and unique items that give back to nature.
November 28, 2023
Can tree farms save a forest? Brazil is about to find out
In Brazil's s Mato Grosso do Sul, native species are reclaiming thousands of acres once heavily grazed by cattle. A bold initiative aims to protect and restore nature to an area twice the size of Manhattan — and find new ways to pay for it.
November 20, 2023
In an undisturbed cave, expedition finds ‘microbats’ once thought lost
Pacific sheath-tailed bats are vanishing across Oceania. But recently, an expedition on one of Fiji’s least visited islands made a remarkable discovery: A cave containing thousands of Pacific sheath-tailed bats.
October 30, 2023
How one South American country became a lab for conservation
In 1987, Conservation International had a radical idea to reduce Bolivia's debt in exchange for nature conservation. Since then, the country has become a laboratory for the protection of nature, field-testing ideas that would spread around the world.
October 26, 2023
U.S., Peru trade debt for nature
The government of Peru signed a deal to redirect more than US$ 20 million it owes to the United States into the conservation of some of the most biodiverse areas on Earth.
September 7, 2023
More than monuments: Study shows World Heritage sites are biodiversity havens
For more than 50 years, UNESCO has protected cultural and natural wonders as World Heritage sites due to their “outstanding universal value.” Turns out, there's another big reason these marvels are irreplaceable: their biodiversity.
August 31, 2023
Ecuadorean voters reject oil drilling in Amazon
Following a decade-long fight led by Indigenous activists and environment leaders, Ecuadorians voted decisively to end oil drilling in one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth — a move heralded by supporters as “historic.”
August 23, 2023
Tachymenoides harrisonfordi: A new snake species named after Harrison Ford
A new species of snake has been named after Harrison Ford in honor of his decades-long environmental advocacy. Unlike the actor's famously ophidiophobic character Indiana Jones, Ford reportedly likes snakes — and found a quick kinship with this one.
August 15, 2023
Countries agreed to protect 30% of the planet. Now what?
More than six months ago, nearly every country signed on to the most ambitious plan ever to protect nature — a sweeping framework that aims to conserve 30 percent of the planet's land and waters by 2030. It’s an unprecedented agreement. So, what’s next?
July 26, 2023
How an extraordinary new effort is giving sharks ‘a fighting chance’
Earlier this year, three zebra shark pups became the first endangered sharks ever to be bred in captivity for the purpose of being released into the wild. They're part of a bold plan to bring sharks back from the brink of extinction.
July 24, 2023
News spotlight: Europe passes bill to fix nature and climate
The European Parliament agreed on legally binding targets to protect and restore nature in the European Union — a significant step but short of the “30 by 30” goal that most conservationists and scientists have called for to stem the tide of species extinctions and climate change.
July 13, 2023
Fungi: Our new climate allies?
Underneath the ground, intricate fungal networks are working together with plants to absorb huge amounts of carbon — equivalent to more than a third of the world's annual fossil fuel emissions, according to a new study.
June 13, 2023
Study: Camera traps key to closing biodiversity data gaps
As countries ramp up efforts to stem a wave of species extinctions amid a global biodiversity crisis, overcoming data gaps is critical to effective conservation.
June 7, 2023
News spotlight: How Indigenous communities brought a sacred caiman back from the brink
For years, two communities in southeast Colombia have worked to protect the black caiman — the largest predator in the Amazon River basin, which was hunted to near extinction in the area for its highly-prized skin.
May 26, 2023
After Australia’s bushfires, AI cameras capture wildlife recovery
Three years after Australia’s most devastating fire season ever, new images from motion-activated cameras placed across the country’s scorched forests are giving researchers an unequaled view into wildlife recovery.
May 11, 2023
Indonesia protects ‘walking sharks.’ Are other sharks next?
The Indonesian government has granted six species of threatened “walking sharks” the highest level of protection — a move experts hope will lead to the conservation of other sharks, whose numbers have plummeted due largely to the shark fin trade.
April 19, 2023
In Amazon, small towns are a force of nature
Years ahead of schedule, Bolivia has met an ambitious goal to protect 30 percent of its land — and that's thanks in large part to Amazonian towns and villages that are accelerating the pace and scale of conservation in the country.
April 12, 2023
Gordon Moore, digital pioneer and philanthropist, dies at 94
Digital pioneer, business leader and philanthropist Gordon Moore died at his home in Hawaiʻi on March 24. While Moore was best known as a titan of the tech world, his contributions to the natural world were equally pathbreaking.
March 25, 2023
Study: Patterns of wildlife ‘range loss’ could offer clues for conservation
More than one million species are at risk of extinction largely because they are being pushed out of places where they have long lived — known as “ranges.” But not all range loss looks the same.
March 14, 2023
News spotlight: How does your diet affect the environment?
In case you missed it: Every bite of food we eat comes with an environmental cost. But not every diet is created equal. A new tool illustrates the toll our food system takes on nature — comparing dietary staples like meat, fish, dairy, eggs and grains.
February 6, 2023
The year ahead: Funding critical commitments to nature
The recent United Nations biodiversity and climate summits ended with major commitments for stemming climate change and stopping the loss of biodiversity. As nations now turn to implementing these ambitious goals, there’s one persistent sticking point: funding.
January 26, 2023
In race to reach net zero, businesses look to carbon credits, survey finds
Business leaders recognize the urgency of the climate crisis — and are taking action, according to a new report.
January 12, 2023
A Peruvian forest was vanishing. Coffee and community trust saved it
In the Alto Mayo Protected Forest in Peru, local farmers have partnered with Conservation International to produce sustainable coffee and halt deforestation. Since 2011, this partnership has helped deforestation decline by 59 percent.
January 10, 2023
COP15 reaches ambitious plan for nature, now countries must accelerate action
In a powerful commitment to nature, nearly 200 countries have signed a sweeping agreement to protect a third of Earth’s land and oceans by 2030.
December 20, 2022
New science: Protecting even a small area can reap big benefits for people
Protecting nature starts with science. Here’s a roundup of recent scientific research published by Conservation International experts.
December 15, 2022
What is the biodiversity COP and why does it matter?
In a once-in-a-decade opportunity, policymakers from 196 countries are gathering in Montreal to tackle Earth’s “silent crisis” — the massive collapse of biodiversity.
December 7, 2022
News spotlight: Can consumer choices protect a critically endangered whale?
In case you missed it: North Atlantic right whales are fast approaching extinction. Each year, this rare species migrates along the eastern coast of the United States. The path leads right whales into a gauntlet of treacherous fishing grounds around New England.
December 5, 2022
News spotlight: Mangrove deforestation drops, but new protections still needed
Worldwide, mangroves — once destroyed for agriculture and development — have seen a sharp decline in deforestation. A new report from the Global Mangrove Alliance offers a plan to end mangrove loss entirely.
November 23, 2022
News spotlight: In the Philippines, a sea turtle sanctuary is threatened by climate change
On a tiny island in the Philippines, fishermen and green sea turtles live side by side in hard-earned harmony. That wasn’t always the case. Slowly and steadily, they have returned, a story of against-the-odds compromise.
November 15, 2022
News spotlight: What happened to Alaska’s snow crabs? Scientists have a few leads.
Deep in the frigid east Bering Sea, snow crabs have historically flourished — supporting Alaska’s $160 million annual crabbing industry. Yet state officials recently sent shockwaves across the industry when they announced there would be no snow crab season this year for the first time.
October 25, 2022
Meet a scientist: Using tech to advance wildlife conservation
Senior Wildlife Conservation Scientist Jorge Ahumada uses technology to track wildlife species around the world and ensure the data is available to craft smart policies for their protection. Conservation News spoke to him about his passion for mining big data to uncover hidden trends in nature.
October 21, 2022
News spotlight: Australia aims to end extinctions — critics see a plan that picks ‘winners’
Australia has lost more mammals to extinction than any other continent. A new plan commits to protecting its iconic wildlife, but some say it doesn’t go far enough.
October 10, 2022
News spotlight: Sea creatures could harbor the next generation of medications, but are they at risk?
In case you missed it: Scientists are sourcing new, lifesaving medications from the sea. But deep-sea mining explorations could risk critical marine ecosystems before their potential is understood.
September 12, 2022
News spotlight: Researchers want to resurrect the Tasmanian tiger. Should they?
In case you missed it: Emerging genetic technologies could someday bring back Tasmania’s apex predator. But critics say concerns abound — including siphoning resources from conservation.
September 2, 2022
News spotlight: Warming waters spawn salmon famine
In case you missed it: Millions of salmon commute up Alaska’s Yukon River every fall in search of safe places to spawn. But as waters begin to warm, their populations have slumped to all-time lows.
August 22, 2022
News spotlight: Earth’s most unique birds are also most likely to go extinct
In case you missed it: A new study found that birds with distinctive shapes and sizes are the most likely to be lost.
August 15, 2022
News spotlight: To boost biodiversity and climate resilience, bring back the mammals
In case you missed it: Large mammals are critical to keeping ecosystems in balance.
August 10, 2022
News spotlight: Desert bacteria could unlock more powerful antibiotics
In case you missed it: Species living in extreme conditions could advance antibiotic production.
July 26, 2022
News spotlight: New hope for Mekong ‘megafish’
In case you missed it: A giant stingray hooked (and released) by a fisherman in Cambodia’s Mekong River earlier this month has taken the title of world’s largest freshwater fish.
June 27, 2022
New app aims to take a bite out of illegal shark fin trade
New technology will help inspectors tackle the illegal wildlife trade using a tool most already have in their pockets: their cell phones.
June 8, 2022
Study: More than a fifth of reptile species face extinction
A new study, published today in Nature, assesses more than 10,000 reptiles around the world — from turtles, snakes and lizards to crocodiles — and warns that we must conserve them to prevent dramatic changes to Earth’s critical ecosystems.
April 27, 2022
A ‘manta ray ruler’ could help protect these gentle giants
A new technique for measuring manta rays could offer critical insights into their health, reproductive status, lifespans and whether a population is growing or shrinking.
March 4, 2022
Thomas Lovejoy, ‘godfather of biodiversity,’ dies at 80
The conservation movement has lost one of its giants. Renowned ecologist Thomas Lovejoy died Dec. 25 at the age of 80, National Geographic reported.
December 26, 2021
Climate, biodiversity fight gets $5B shot in the arm
In an announcement today at New York Climate Week, nine philanthropic organizations pledged US$ 5 billion over the next decade to support the creation and expansion of protected areas, sustainable management of the world’s oceans and Indigenous-led conservation.
September 22, 2021
In the high seas, scientists uncover a ‘vortex of life’
On the surface, the international waters off the coasts of Peru and Chile are a seemingly barren expanse. But beneath the waves, two underwater mountain chains — known as the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges — are bursting with life, according to a new study.
June 30, 2021
New science: a path for protecting chimps and more
Protecting nature starts with science. Here’s a roundup of recent scientific research published by Conservation International experts.
June 3, 2021
New tool could help bring threatened species back from the brink
A new tool provides a clear picture of where species are at the greatest risk of extinction — and helps guide conservation actions to protect them.
May 13, 2021
As pandemic pounded Peru, one region thrived on coffee, carbon
Across Peru, the COVID-19 pandemic has left millions without jobs. But in the Alto Mayo Protected Forest, where the Amazon meets the Andes, coffee farmers were spared much of the economic devastation that gripped Peru’s cities and towns.
April 9, 2021
Trove of new species discovered in hidden Bolivian valley
On an expedition to Bolivia's Zongo Valley, a team of researchers recently discovered 20 species completely new to science, and rediscovered several species that had not been seen for decades.
December 14, 2020
Kenya’s wildlife tourism, a casualty of COVID, gets a lifeline
The loss of tourism revenue in the Maasai Mara could spell trouble for the very species that tourists come to see. Now, wildlife conservancies are getting a lifeline.
November 19, 2020
In Galápagos, novel conservation approach finds ‘sweet spot’ between production, protection
A Conservation International expert explains how an integrated approach to protection and production could help humanity transform how we manage the lands and seas we depend on.
September 2, 2020
Notes from the field: Protection protocol and revitalizing grasslands
Here are two recent conservation success stories you should know about.
August 5, 2020
Expert: To prevent pandemics like COVID-19, ‘take care of nature’
Conservation News spoke to renowned ecologist and Conservation International scientist Lee Hannah about how giving nature space could help curb future disease outbreaks.
March 27, 2020
Meet a scientist: a species-discovering savant
Conservation News spoke with Conservation International's Mark Erdmann about his job as a marine biologist, where he spends almost as much time underwater discovering new species as he does helping communities above ground conserve them.
March 25, 2020
5 ways you can help save species from extinction
Conservation News tapped five Conservation International experts for their best tips to help wildlife, whether you're relaxing on vacation or going out to dinner.
March 3, 2020
Study: Protecting tropics could save half of species on brink
Conservation News spoke to the lead author of a groundbreaking new study that offers a solution to save more than half of the world's species that are at risk of extinction, while slowing climate change.
February 26, 2020
Discovery afoot: New study cracks mystery of how ‘walking’ sharks split
Conservation News spoke with one of the authors of a new study on walking sharks to find out how he and his team uncovered the evolutionary origin of these peculiar creatures — and how this information could help us adapt to climate change.
January 22, 2020
New tech could transform science of wildlife ‘selfies’
A new research database called "Wildlife Insights" will help researchers share data and guide wildlife conservation.
December 17, 2019
In wind-swept Andes, (sustainable) vicuña wool is good as gold
Find out how one woolly species is supporting conservation work and livelihoods for communities in Bolivia.
November 7, 2019
‘Ecological SWAT team’ documents treasures from a lost city
A team of scientists completed a biological survey of the “White City” of Honduras, a recently discovered set of ancient ruins deep within the Mosquitia rainforest.
June 20, 2019
A new report depicts a failing planet. A new book has solutions
A UN report released today paints a sobering picture of the natural world — and the blame for the damage lies solely at humanity’s feet. Almost 1 million species face extinction; essential crops are under threat; our oceans are overfished.
May 6, 2019
Indonesian province leaps ahead in conservation
The government of the province of West Papua announced legislation establishing it as Indonesia’s first “conservation province.”
March 25, 2019
Why is biodiversity important?
Four reasons biodiversity is essential to humanity.
November 15, 2018
Meet a scientist: the whale whisperer
We spoke with Olive Andrews about what whales can teach us about the health of the oceans — and her longtime friendship with a humpback named “Nala.”
July 12, 2018
3 ways climate change affects tropical rainforests
Climate change will affect tropical rainforests — here are 3 ways how.
June 26, 2018
Saving the mangroves to save the clams — and a way of life
A community in Colombia ensures their mangroves and clams are around well into the future.
June 21, 2018
5 ways that climate change affects the ocean
Conservation News examines some of the ways that climate change affects life in the oceans — and what that means for humanity.
June 7, 2018
In a long-lost city, scientists find an ‘exuberance’ of life
A team of researchers led by Conservation International explored the biological treasures that exist in an inaccessible corner of Central America.
May 23, 2018
Satellite tags shed light on sea turtle treks
Knowing where the turtles go is the first step to protecting them.
May 22, 2018
3 reasons elephants make the best mothers
On this Mother’s Day, here are three reasons why elephants make some of the best mothers.
May 10, 2018
‘My Africa’ field notes: Capturing baby elephants in virtual reality
Human Nature offers a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and inspirations of filming “My Africa.”
April 26, 2018
‘My Africa’ field notes: Portraits of hope for Africa’s elephants
Here are some of our favorite photos taken at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, with stories about the elephants and the caregivers who look after them.
April 4, 2018
4 things you didn’t know elephants do for you
On top of being amazing creatures, elephants actually make life better for all of us, sometimes in surprising ways.
March 28, 2018
Voices of the Alto Mayo: ‘The forest gives me everything’
Abdías Vásquez describes his life in the Alto Mayo and how it has changed since he signed a conservation agreement.
March 27, 2018