The Nature Conservancy

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

The 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 conservation entities, operating in over 70 countries and territories. The organization employs a science-based approach, leveraging partnerships with Indigenous peoples, local communities, governments, and corporations to address pressing ecological challenges.

History

The organization traces its roots to the Ecological Society of America, whose members formed it to preserve natural areas through direct land acquisition. Its first project was the 1955 purchase of 60 acres for the Mianus River Gorge preserve on the border of New York and Connecticut. Under early leadership from figures like Richard H. Pough, the group focused initially on the Eastern United States, pioneering the use of conservation easements as a tool. A significant expansion began in the 1960s under executive director Robert E. Jenkins, who emphasized a systematic, scientific inventory of biodiversity, later formalized as the Natural Heritage Network. International work commenced in the 1980s, with early projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, leading to a permanent global presence by the 1990s.

Mission and work

Its mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends, guided by a vision of a world where people and nature thrive together. Core strategies include the direct protection of land and water through purchases and easements, advancing conservation science to inform policy, and promoting sustainable practices in sectors like agriculture and fisheries. The organization emphasizes collaborative solutions, often working with entities like the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, and major corporations to integrate conservation into economic planning. Key program areas encompass freshwater security, climate change mitigation through natural solutions like forest and wetland protection, and preserving marine ecosystems.

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 composed of leaders from business, science, and philanthropy, with day-to-day management led by a global executive team under CEO Jennifer Morris. Financial support comes from diverse sources, including over one million members, major gifts from philanthropists like the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, corporate partnerships with companies such as JPMorgan Chase, and grants from agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development. Its financial scale is reflected in assets managing over $7 billion in conservation investments.

Projects and initiatives

Notable projects span the globe, including the multi-national Amazon Rainforest initiative aimed at combating deforestation. In the Asia-Pacific region, it works on coral reef resilience in the Coral Triangle and sustainable forestry in Borneo. In Africa, major efforts include the Northern Rangelands Trust in Kenya and grassland conservation in the Serengeti. Within the United States, large-scale endeavors include the Great Lakes restoration, the Colorado River sustainability program, and the protection of vast ranch lands in the American West. The innovative Debt-for-nature swap program, first executed in Bolivia in 1987, remains a key tool for financing conservation in developing nations.

Criticism and controversies

The organization has faced scrutiny for its corporate partnerships, including historic ties with companies like BP and Dow Chemical, raising concerns about greenwashing. Its practice of allowing board members and donors to purchase conserved lands with houses built on them, highlighted in a 2003 Washington Post investigation, led to internal reforms and Senate Finance Committee inquiries. Some conservationists, including figures like David Brower, have criticized its collaborative, market-friendly approach as being too accommodating to industry. There have also been localized conflicts, such as disputes with Indigenous communities in places like Maine over land management practices.

Impact and recognition

It has protected more than 125 million acres of land and thousands of miles of rivers worldwide. Its scientific contributions, such as the development of the Ecological Systems classification and Resilience and Resistance modeling, are widely used in conservation planning. The organization's work has been recognized through partnerships with entities like the U.S. Department of Defense for resource management and the World Wildlife Fund on global climate goals. It consistently receives high ratings from charity assessors like Charity Navigator and has influenced international policy frameworks, including the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

Category:Environmental organizations based in the United States Category:Conservation organizations Category:Organizations established in 1951