Coconut Palms Dominate Over Half of Pacific Atoll Forests

First study of its kind shows that decades of coconut palm agriculture have led to deforestation on over 80 percent of Pacific atolls, and coconut palms now cover more than half of the atolls' forested areas.

Cara Cannon Byington

Story type: TNC Science Brief

Small but Mighty: Pacific Island Atolls are Globally Important Sites for Tropical Seabirds

Global conservation efforts largely overlook the important contributions of atolls to the protection, restoration, and survival of tropical seabirds.

Cara Cannon Byington

Story type: TNC Science Brief

Can Listening to Oyster Reefs Help Us Assess Their Health?

University of Texas PhD candidate Philip Souza is using acoustic monitoring to eavesdrop on oyster reefs.

Jenny Rogers

Saltmarsh Sparrow: The “Canary” of Sea-Level Rise

The saltmarsh sparrow is literally adapted to keep its head above water. But the seas are rising.

Matthew L. Miller

Restoring River Oxbows Benefits Endangered Fish

The Topeka shiner is returning to Iowa rivers; restoration offers benefits for water quality and flood control.

Matthew L. Miller

Want to Suppress Coral Disease? Bring Back Sea Cucumbers

By feeding on microbial pathogens in marine sediment, the weird and wonderful sea cucumber can enhance reef resilience by suppressing coral diseases.

Cara Cannon Byington

Story type: TNC Science Brief

Peatlands Are One of Earth’s Most Underrated Ecosystems

Peatlands are incredible Natural Climate Solutions. They cover only 3% of Earth’s surface, but store around 30% of all the carbon on land.

Ayla Norris Smith

Studying Challenges to Cozumel’s Coral Reefs

National Geographic Society and TNC extern Sophie Dellinger examines the impacts of poor water quality on Cozumel's coral reefs.

Sophie Dellinger

Overlooked ‘Albedo’ Effect Should Be Factored into Tree Cover Restoration Decisions for Climate

Albedo changes can reduce the climate benefit of tree planting, but new research helps identify areas with the greatest climate-cooling potential.

Ayla Norris Smith

Story type: TNC Science Brief

Want Resilient Coral Reefs? Bring Back Seabirds

Eradicating rats and restoring seabird populations could increase coral reef resilience to climate disturbances.

Justine E. Hausheer

Story type: TNC Science Brief

Running the Numbers on Global Seabird Restoration

A new database of global seabird restoration projects allows scientists to analyze trends and provides a tool for practitioners looking to effectively restore seabirds and coastal ecosystems.

Justine E. Hausheer

Story type: TNC Science Brief

Restoring Old-Growth Forests in the Pacific Northwest: Lessons from TNC’s Ellsworth Creek Preserve

Scientists are evaluating 15 years of forest management at TNC’s Ellsworth Creek Preserve to inform large-scale forest restoration efforts.

Cara Cannon Byington

Story type: TNC Science Brief