Nature Conservancy

Nature Conservancy
Name	Nature Conservancy
Founded	0 1951
Location	Arlington County, Virginia, United States
Key people	Jennifer Morris (CEO)
Area served	Global
Focus	Conservation biology, Climate change mitigation, Sustainable development
Revenue	$1.3 billion (2022)

Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Founded in the United States in 1951, it has grown into one of the world's most expansive and science-driven conservation entities. The organization employs a collaborative, non-confrontational approach, working with Indigenous peoples, local communities, governments, and corporations to achieve durable conservation outcomes. Its work spans all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries and territories, protecting millions of acres of critical habitat.

History

The organization traces its roots to the 1946 formation of the Ecological Society of America Committee, which sought to preserve natural areas for scientific study. It was formally incorporated in 1951, with its first project acquiring 60 acres of land along the Mianus River Gorge on the border of New York and Connecticut. Early leadership from figures like Richard H. Pough emphasized land acquisition as a primary tool. A significant expansion occurred in the 1960s under Robert E. Jenkins, who pioneered the use of systematic conservation planning and biological surveys. The 1980s and 1990s saw a strategic shift toward larger-scale, whole-system projects, such as the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, and the 2000 merger with The Nature Conservancy of Canada marked a key step in its international growth, leading to subsequent offices across Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region, and Africa.

Mission and approach

The core mission is to conserve terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems through direct action, science, and partnership. Its hallmark strategy is the "Conservation by Design" framework, a science-based methodology for setting priorities, taking action, and measuring results. This approach often involves the purchase or donation of conservation easements on ecologically significant lands, frequently working with entities like the United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The organization also emphasizes market-based strategies and sustainable finance mechanisms, such as debt-for-nature swaps and water funds, to create long-term funding for conservation. Key initiatives integrate climate change adaptation, promoting natural climate solutions like forest and grassland conservation to sequester carbon.

Conservation projects

Notable projects include the protection of over 800,000 acres in the Adirondack Park, one of the largest conservation transactions in U.S. history. In the Amazon rainforest, it supports the Amazon Region Protected Areas program in partnership with the Brazilian government and the World Bank. The organization's Coral Triangle Initiative works to safeguard marine biodiversity across Southeast Asia. In Africa, projects range from community-led conservation in the Northern Rangelands Trust of Kenya to protecting migratory corridors for elephants in the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. Domestically, major efforts include restoring the Longleaf pine ecosystem across the Southern United States and conserving working lands in the Great Plains.

Organization and governance

Headquartered in Arlington County, Virginia, the organization operates through a decentralized network of state, country, and regional programs. It is governed by a Board of directors comprising leaders from science, business, and philanthropy, with current leadership under CEO Jennifer Morris. The global operations are supported by affiliate organizations like Nature Conservancy of Canada and Conservación Internacional Perú. A large staff of scientists, including ecologists and GIS specialists, informs all conservation planning. Financial operations are audited annually, and the organization consistently receives high ratings from charity watchdogs like Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau.

Partnerships and funding

Collaboration is central to its model, involving diverse partners such as the United Nations Development Programme, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and corporations like JPMorgan Chase and Amazon. It works closely with Indigenous groups, including the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona and the Guna Yala comarca in Panama. A significant portion of funding comes from individual memberships and major gifts, supplemented by government grants, corporate partnerships, and revenue from its own NatureVest impact investing arm. The organization has also engaged in complex conservation finance deals, such as blue bonds with the Government of Belize and green bonds in Latin America.

Impact and recognition

The organization reports having protected more than 125 million acres of land and thousands of miles of rivers worldwide. Its science publications, such as those in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, have influenced global environmental policy. It has been recognized with awards including the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy and the Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Award. The organization's data platforms, like the Resilient and Connected Networks mapping tool, are used by agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While generally praised for its pragmatic, large-scale impact, it has occasionally faced scrutiny over partnerships with major corporations and its land management practices, leading to ongoing evolution of its ethical guidelines.

Category:Environmental organizations based in Virginia Category:Conservation organizations Category:Organizations established in 1951