It was a year of rough seas for the world’s oceans. But that didn’t stop conservationists and communities from working to protect the seas. Here are highlights from the year.

December 23, 2024

Conservation International researchers in Peru have uncovered a wealth of wildlife, including species new to science.

December 20, 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, global temperatures are at an all-time high — topping the previous hottest-year on record: 2023. Yet amid this backdrop, research consistently shows nature is a powerful climate ally.

December 17, 2024

“Invest in one woman, and that ripples out to her family, her community and beyond. It changes people’s lives.”

December 12, 2024

In southern Africa, grasses can beat the heat better than trees, according to Conservation International research.

December 10, 2024

An unheralded breakthrough at the recent UN biodiversity conference highlights the often-overlooked connection between our health and the planet’s, a Conservation International expert says.

December 3, 2024

A recent study on climate solutions downplays nature’s potential, two Conservation International experts say.

December 2, 2024

For the conscientious consumer, finding the perfect present can be a challenge. Not to worry, Conservation International's 2024 gift guide has you covered.

November 26, 2024

A Conservation International scientist shares what can be done to prevent an ‘outright alarming’ future for whale sharks.

November 20, 2024

A new Conservation International study measures the cooling effects of forests against extreme heat — with eye-opening results.

November 18, 2024

November 14, 2024

Conservation International is helping recover a savanna habitat nearly twice the size of Manhattan.

November 13, 2024

“Nature is resilient — when given the chance.” A Conservation International study shows where trees can grow back on their own — and fight climate change.

November 5, 2024

"Before, we were working blind": A new Conservation International study gives scientists an unprecedented view into a remote tropical forest.

October 30, 2024

Conservation International is launching a historic conservation partnership to plant 1 billion trees and protect 1 million hectares across India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

October 29, 2024

More than one in three of the world’s tree species are at risk of extinction, according to the first Global Tree Assessment, published today.

October 28, 2024

In his free time, epidemiologist Neil Vora loves dystopian fiction, where he finds something surprising for our climate future: hope.

October 23, 2024

Nature has been mopping up our carbon pollution for years — is it starting to give out? Not quite, two Conservation International scientists say.

October 21, 2024

Ocean protections are lagging dangerously. Here’s what it’s going to take to meet global goals, according to a Conservation International marine scientist.

October 17, 2024

If someone asked you why biodiversity matters, would you know what to say? Conservation International is here to help.

October 15, 2024

As world leaders prepare to make future-defining decisions on biodiversity, Conservation International experts are pushing for stronger protections.

October 14, 2024

‘It’s easy to take water for granted’: How one self-professed pessimist keeps fighting for the future of freshwater ecosystems.

October 7, 2024

Does the ocean hold the key to a replacement for plastic? Sway, a California-based startup backed by Conservation International, is using seaweed to replace the plastic in packaging.

October 1, 2024

Rising ocean temperatures are disrupting marine ecosystems, a new study finds — but recent Conservation International projects offer hope for sharks.

September 24, 2024

A new study challenges the idea that marine protected areas come at the expense of locals’ access to fish — instead, finding that fish catches in coral reefs could increase by up to 20 percent.

September 17, 2024

Parts of the Amazon rainforest are suffering through the worst droughts ever recorded. As a result major rivers are dwindling and wildfires are burning out of control. Deforestation is behind it.

September 11, 2024

In Kenya's Chyulu Hills, Conservation International is helping communities turn nature into a lifeline for education, health and well-being.

September 9, 2024

Shrimp powered a small Mexican community’s economy for years — until deforestation nearly wiped them out. To bring them back, the community enlisted an unexpected, and misunderstood, ally.

September 5, 2024

There are plenty of fish in the sea, so the old saying goes. But that’s not as true as it used to be: Climate change, pollution and overfishing have slashed global fish populations. Now a new study suggests the problem may be worse than expected.

August 29, 2024

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

Farmland worldwide could stash away as much planet-warming carbon as the global emissions of all cars combined — if it integrates more trees, our new study finds.

August 15, 2024

Surf breaks worldwide are loved for their natural beauty and the thrill of riding that next big swell. Now, a first of its kind study finds that they are also an ally in the fight against climate change.

August 13, 2024

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

From the savannas of Africa to remote Pacific islands, Indigenous Peoples and local communities are helping to conserve some of the most remarkable species on Earth.

August 9, 2024

Earth is teetering perilously close to climate “tipping points.” Now, scientists have found that every fraction of a degree of warming matters when it comes to whether or not these tipping points occur.

August 6, 2024

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

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

Guyana is making some giant steps for conservation with plans to double its protected areas within the next 18 months.

July 26, 2024

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

Pantry staples don’t get a lot of love. But for Sarela Herrada, they’re at the heart of a mission to support farming communities and make healthier, ethically-sourced foods more widely available.

July 16, 2024

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

In the semi-arid shrubland of Namaqualand, dry conditions have long been a cycle of life. But climate change is now slowly transforming this once-thriving biodiversity hotspot, making life challenging for wildlife and the shepherds who have farmed here for centuries.

July 9, 2024

The CDC recently issued a warning to expect an increased risk of dengue — part of a worrying trend on a warming planet, where disease vectors like mosquitoes and ticks thrive.

June 28, 2024

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

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

Nearly a third of fishing lines are lost or discarded at sea. This so-called “ghost gear” — along with nets and traps — is deadly for marine animals. One man is on a mission to clean it up, net by net.

June 20, 2024

Brutal heat waves swept across the Southern Hemisphere earlier this year. Now it’s the Northern Hemisphere’s turn. Yet humanity continues to actively destroy one of its best allies against the heat: forests.

June 17, 2024

A landmark treaty to protect the world’s oceans could go into effect soon — but experts argue it must consider climate change if it is going to succeed.

June 13, 2024

The ocean feeds us, regulates our climate and sustains economies. Yet numerous threats are devastating the health of marine ecosystems. In honor of World Oceans Day, we take a dive into efforts that are charting anew course for our oceans.

June 6, 2024

June 5, 2024

There’s only one place on Earth where reef manta rays are truly thriving. A new study finds that this manta haven is even more special — and threatened — than previously thought.

May 30, 2024

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

The ocean powers food systems and economies. It also badly needs to be protected from overexploitation. Humanity can do both — with some science, money and humility, experts say.

May 23, 2024

The fashion industry’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples has historically been fraught — but a new initiative aims to reset it.

May 21, 2024

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

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

Around the world, more than 3 billion people have been affected by extreme weather over the past 20 years — but those impacts are very unevenly distributed, according to a new Conservation International study.

May 3, 2024

Countries around the world are trying to bring fish populations back from the brink after decades of overfishing. But some marine protected areas are falling short with a certain type of fish. Here’s why.

April 25, 2024

In the third year of the sweeping global PBS series “Changing Planet,” Conservation International CEO M. Sanjayan explores how climate change is affecting some of Earth’s most vulnerable ecosystems — and the groundbreaking science that’s offering hope.

April 22, 2024

A new documentary takes viewers on a trip around the world to explore one of nature’s most powerful — yet overlooked — climate allies: blue carbon.

April 18, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

A pioneer in the field of sustainability has earned a major honor. Johan Rockström is this year’s winner of the Tyler Prize, recognized for his work developing the planetary boundaries framework, which gauges Earth’s ability to sustain humanity.

February 29, 2024

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

For International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we celebrate some of the women powering our research and fieldwork. They share their passion for protecting nature — and advice for the next generation.

February 9, 2024

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

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

Not long ago, the idea that nature could be humanity's ally against climate change was not widely known. In recent years that idea has increasingly moved into the mainstream. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that recognition has led to some confusion.

January 23, 2024

In Madagascar, a sustainable agriculture program aims to help farmers adapt to the increasing droughts and intense cyclones of a warming planet. According to a new report, those efforts are paying off.

January 17, 2024

Despite evidence that efforts to ban shark finning in recent years isn't reducing shark mortality, new research shows there is reason to have hope.

January 12, 2024

Despite having far more to fear from humans, sharks are often vilified in popular culture. To protect beachgoers, governments often resort to ineffective strategies — at great cost to marine life. One company aims to change that.

January 8, 2024

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

Conservation News is reflecting on some of our most noteworthy stories about how nature helps combat climate change — from fascinating fungal networks that capture staggering amounts of carbon, to new research into the health of forests.

December 18, 2023

Conservation News is reflecting on some of our most noteworthy ocean stories of the year — from an innovative approach to protecting Pacific waters, to the launch of a new program to reintroduce threatened sharks back into the wild.

December 14, 2023

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

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

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

New Caledonia recently took a big step for ocean conservation by banning all industrial activities — such as fishing, mining and oil drilling — in 10 percent of its waters. The new protections safeguard marine habitats, as well as some of the healthiest coral reefs on Earth.

November 29, 2023

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

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

TIME has named Conservation International CEO M. Sanjayan to its inaugural list of the 100 most influential people driving climate action in business.

November 16, 2023

Growing up in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Jill Hamilton always felt connected to nature — and knew she would pursue a career to protect it. But time spent on the coast with family drew her from the mountains to the ocean.

November 1, 2023

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

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

Aquaculture — a fancy term for farming fish and other aquatic animals — has been criticized for years. But one scientist wants you to know that it could be essential to feeding the planet, fighting climate change, protecting marine life and supporting small farmers — if done right.

October 17, 2023

In the past decade, seaweed production has boomed as researchers and investors eye its climate potential. Yet alongside seaweed’s promise, there are pitfalls. A company in the Philippines is working to change that.

October 11, 2023

Companies that buy carbon credits are doing more to tackle their climate footprints than companies that don’t, a new report finds.

October 10, 2023

The small South Pacific island nation of Niue recently launched a first-of-its-kind sustainable funding initiative that enables anyone to sponsor a square kilometer of its ocean waters — a sanctuary for humpback whales, sea snakes and gray reef sharks.

September 25, 2023

A new initiative in the Eastern Himalayas aims to raise US$1 billion to accelerate — and scale up — local conservation work, providing resources to plant 1 billion trees, and protect and restore 1 million hectares by 2030.

September 20, 2023

The results are in on the world’s first climate change progress report: Drastic improvement is needed — and fast.

September 9, 2023

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

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

Conservation International is powered by 1,500 people in more than 30 countries — their interests, like their hometowns, are all over the map. This month, our experts share some of the places that inspired them this summer.

August 30, 2023

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

As dangerous heatwaves shatter records around the world, a new study provides the most comprehensive review yet of how to stop deforestation — a major cause of climate-warming greenhouse gases, second only to fossil fuel emissions.

August 16, 2023

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