Conservation News
News, views and stories from the front lines of conservation
Apr 26, 2024
Why are some marine protected areas falling short?
By Mary Kate McCoy
With coral reefs at risk, new ‘Changing Planet’ explores innovative solutions
By Mary Kate McCoy
New film drops beat for ‘climate heroes’
By Vanessa Bauza
New research: Critical 'irrecoverable carbon' at risk
By Mary Kate McCoy
BREAKING CONSERVATION NEWS
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All recent news
Why are some marine protected areas falling short?
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
With coral reefs at risk, new ‘Changing Planet’ explores innovative solutions
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
New film drops beat for ‘climate heroes’
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
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
Planetary scientist wins ‘Nobel for the environment’
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
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
‘Be confident that you are enough’: Women in STEM speak up
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 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
Study: How nature can fight climate change — and how it can't
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
‘Climate-smart’ farming boosts forests, food security in Madagascar
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
Study: Shark-finning bans fall short, but bright spots offer hope
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
Meet the startup using magnets to keep sharks at bay
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
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
2023 in review: In hottest year on record, nature is a key climate ally
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
2023 in review: Amid growing ocean threats, a surge of innovative solutions
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
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
Pacific island enacts bold new ocean protections
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
‘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
It’s about TIME: Conservationist recognized as climate leader
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
From mountains to mangroves: One expert's journey into marine conservation
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
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
Can shrimp farming restore mangroves? This scientist is making it happen
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
Meet the startup that's making seaweed more sustainable
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
Report: Companies that buy carbon credits lead on climate action
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
‘Small rock’ making big ocean conservation impact
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
New conservation effort seeks $1 billion for Eastern Himalayas
A new initiative in the Eastern Himalayas aims to raise US$1 billion to accelerate — and scale up — local conservation work, providing resources to plant 1 billion trees, and protect and restore 1 million hectares by 2030.
September 20, 2023
World falling well short of climate goals, new report finds
The results are in on the world’s first climate change progress report: Drastic improvement is needed — and fast.
September 9, 2023
U.S., Peru trade debt for nature
The government of Peru signed a deal to redirect more than US$ 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
Natural wonders: Destinations that inspired our experts
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
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
What drives deforestation — and how can we stop it?
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
It had to be a snake: New species gets famous name
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
As coffee demand grows, farmers work to deliver a sustainable brew
Every day, billions of cups of coffee are consumed around the world — and experts say demand could triple over the next 30 years. So, how will all those lattes, espressos and cold brews affect the environment?
August 14, 2023
At Amazon summit, a milestone on the road to protecting the rainforest
Eight Amazonian nations have agreed to create an alliance to protect the world’s largest rainforest, following decades of rising deforestation and warnings of a “tipping point” that could alter the ecosystem — and Earth’s climate.
August 9, 2023
3 ways Indigenous knowledge protects nature
On International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Conservation News is highlighting three stories about Indigenous peoples on the frontlines of protecting the nature they rely on.
August 9, 2023
‘Disaster’ deferred: Deep-sea mining talks postponed
After intense negotiations, discussions on commercial deep-sea mining have been postponed — at least for now. Environmentalists view the decision as a hopeful step toward protecting fragile marine ecosystems.
August 1, 2023
3 things our experts loved in July
Conservation International is powered by 1,500 people in more than 30 countries — their interests, like their hometowns, are all over the map. In this monthly feature, our experts share some of their favorite things.
July 31, 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
New study reveals seaweed’s hidden climate benefits
A new study found that seaweed forests may play a bigger role in fighting climate change than previously thought — absorbing as much climate-warming carbon as the Amazon rainforest. But not all seaweed forests are created equal.
July 18, 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
When COVID halted wildlife tourism in Kenya, one area weathered the storm
Every year, Kenya’s Maasai Mara region attracts droves of tourists, eager for a glimpse of one of the largest movement of animals on Earth. Until 2020, when everything changed. Yet, what began as a crisis presented new opportunities.
July 6, 2023
3 things our experts loved in June
Conservation International is powered by 1,500 people in more than 30 countries — their interests, like their hometowns, are all over the map. In this monthly feature, our experts share some of their favorite things.
June 29, 2023
Study: Protecting the ocean benefits people and nature
Across the globe, marine protected areas help struggling fish populations and ecosystems recover and flourish. But what impact do they have on the people living nearby? A new study finds big benefits for both biodiversity and coastal communities.
June 22, 2023
News spotlight: Just how big is the ocean plastic problem?
Every year, up to 10 million tons of plastic end up in the world’s oceans — an amount so large it’s hard to visualize. Two journalists from Al Jazeera found that if flattened, ocean plastic today would cover an area roughly the size of Jamaica.
June 21, 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
Meet the South African startup putting cattle to work for conservation
Livestock herding and wildlife conservation are often perceived as conflicting pursuits, with the belief that one must come at the expense of the other. However, in South Africa, a fresh approach centered on Indigenous knowledge is challenging this perception.
June 12, 2023
On U.S. East Coast, smoky skies latest sign of a changing climate
This week, the East Coast of the United States is grappling with something that other places around the world are all too familiar with: wildfire smoke. But it may not stay a novelty for long, Americans should start expecting more of these episodes thanks to climate change.
June 8, 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
Study: Protected forests are a climate powerhouse
Protected forests keep significantly more climate-warming carbon out of the atmosphere than unprotected forests, according to a new study. The research illustrates just how important protected areas are in the fight to curb climate change.
June 1, 2023
3 things our experts loved in May
Conservation International is powered by 1,500 people in more than 30 countries — their interests, like their hometowns, are all over the map. In this monthly feature, our experts share some of their favorite things.
May 31, 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
When protecting nature helps build peace
As climate change accelerates, there's a growing sense of urgency to address how changes to our ecosystems can lead to conflict. For years, Conservation International has worked to bring environmental peacebuilding and conflict sensitivity to its work.
May 25, 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
3 things our experts loved in April
Conservation International is powered by 1,500 people in more than 30 countries — their interests, like their hometowns, are all over the map. In this monthly feature, our experts share some of their favorite things.
April 27, 2023
New ‘Changing Planet’ season highlights progress, hope amid climate crisis
Conservation International CEO M. Sanjayan embarks on the second year of an ambitious global journey for the PBS series “Changing Planet,” which explores how six of the world’s most iconic biomes — from Africa’s savannas to the icecaps of the Arctic — are adapting to climate change.
April 26, 2023
Why understanding people is key to protecting nature
Humans have altered the planet so dramatically that scientists say we may have entered a new geologic epoch — the Anthropocene. And yet human behavior is often overlooked when it comes to developing conservation solutions. A new book aims to change that.
April 25, 2023
5 experts share how hope fuels their work
Yes, it’s easy to feel despondent. The planet is overheating and nature is declining at unprecedented rates. But environmental chaos is not inevitable. Conservation International experts share why they have hope for our Earth — and why you should, too.
April 20, 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
In ‘The Last of Us,’ a warning for future pandemics
In a recent New York Times op-ed, Conservation International pandemic prevention fellow Neil Vora explains how climate change is raising the risk of new health threats, including fungal pandemics, and argues that governments need to step up their preparations.
April 11, 2023
From tiny nation, a ‘hallmark moment’ for climate justice
A small Pacific island nation is behind a landmark U.N. resolution that could hold carbon-polluting countries to account for failing to act on climate change. Conservation News explains what the resolution means and how it could advance climate justice.
April 6, 2023
3 things our experts loved in March
Conservation International is powered by 1,500 people in more than 30 countries — their interests, like their hometowns, are all over the map. In this monthly feature, we highlight three things that kept our experts busy while off the clock.
March 27, 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
After nearly 50 years, water back on the global agenda
This week, the United Nations holds its first global freshwater conference in nearly 50 years. In the years since, the global population has doubled — yet the challenges facing the health of, and access to, freshwater resources have been largely overshadowed by the climate and biodiversity crises.
March 22, 2023
Experts see hope in gloomy climate report
Humanity is set to blow past 1.5°C of planetary warming by the early 2030s, according to a new report released today by the U.N. But the report also offers hope in the form of actions that could avert the worst impacts of climate change.
March 20, 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
Why a new treaty to protect the high seas is a ‘game-changer’
Roughly two-thirds of the world’s oceans lie beyond national boundaries in an area known as the “high seas” — yet only about 1 percent of that largely unexplored expanse has been protected. Now, nearly 200 countries have agreed on the first-ever United Nations treaty to protect the high seas.
March 10, 2023
What on Earth is ‘HFLD’? (Hint: It’s about forests)
From “blue carbon” to “ecosystem services,” environmental jargon is everywhere. Conservation International looks to make sense of it in an occasional explainer series. In this installment, we explore the role “HFLDs,” play in storing climate-warming carbon.
March 8, 2023
On carbon offsets, Wirecutter story doesn’t cut it
A recent article claims that buying carbon offsets for your flight doesn't help the climate crisis. This conclusion is bafflingly wrong: Paying to protect an area of forest to offset the climate footprint of your flight does in fact — demonstrably and verifiably — help.
March 1, 2023
The year ahead: Climate change is here. Nature can help
For millions of people around the world who are learning to survive in the face of droughts, floods and more frequent storms, climate change is not a future problem — it’s here now. Nature can be a powerful ally in adapting to these impacts.
February 16, 2023
News spotlight: A climate hero emerges — beavers
Increasing drought and urban expansion have contributed to the destruction and degradation of 35 percent of the world’s wetlands. How might we stymie this decline? Introducing beavers back into their natural habitats is a good start.
February 13, 2023
5 life lessons from women in science
The gender gap in science is no secret. And while the number of women pursuing careers in science is steadily rising, the lack of representation can be a tough hurdle to overcome.
February 10, 2023
3 reasons for hope for the Amazon
When U.S. President Joseph Biden meets with Brazil’s newly elected president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in Washington this week, climate change and the fate of the Amazon will be one of the many items of discussion, according to news reports.
February 9, 2023
‘Audacious’ reforestation effort grows in Brazil
A bold initiative to regrow 73 million trees in the Brazilian Amazon has made substantial progress despite some unexpected hurdles, according to an upcoming report.
February 7, 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
News spotlight: Ice sheet warming at highest rate in 1,000 years
In case you missed it: One of the coldest regions of the planet is experiencing its highest temperatures in at least a millennium. While grim, the findings are in line with what’s becoming clearer and clearer — Earth’s frozen regions are steadily warming.
January 30, 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
News Spotlight: Indigenous land stewardship key to preserving Amazon carbon sinks
In case you missed it: The Amazon is the ecological jewel of the world, home to nearly 400 billion trees and 10,000 species at risk of extinction. It’s also the world’s largest terrestrial carbon sink. Yet a new report shows those climate benefits are not uniformly distributed.
January 23, 2023
It's 2023 — is this the year fresh water has its moment?
From roaring rivers to seasonal springs, freshwater is essential to life on Earth. Yet these ecosystems — and the species within them — tend to be overlooked, receiving only a fraction of the attention and funding dedicated to nature conservation.
January 17, 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
News spotlight: Could seaweed be our new big climate ally?
In case you missed it: A recent study reveals that underwater forests are much more prolific than previously thought — and may play a key role in stemming the climate crisis.
January 9, 2023
News spotlight: New satellite offers view into nearly all of Earth’s waters
In case you missed it: As climate change drives sea level rise, and more extreme droughts and floods, understanding the world’s water patterns is increasingly important. Luckily, scientists are coming up with new ways to adapt. The latest: satellites.
January 3, 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
News spotlight: Cities turn to nature to revive their rivers
In case you missed it: Around the world, rivers have been treated like repositories of trash and toxic runoff — some so heavily polluted that they caught on fire. Now, cities from Australia to Europe to North America are turning to nature to restore their waterways.
December 12, 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