Conservation Science
Protecting nature is what we do. Science shows us how. We tell the stories behind Nature Conservancy science — from the field to the research lab, and everywhere in between.
From the Field
We get our boots dirty. Join us as we cover science in action, from stormwater drains to the Indonesian rainforest..
Mangroves: These Climate Defenders Are Critical to Human Health
National Geographic Society & TNC extern Vaidehi Patel shares her experience studying the intersection between mangrove populations and human health.
Aquaculture Can Benefit Blue Carbon Ecosystems
A new review, led by TNC scientists, explores the potential for bivalve aquaculture to benefit blue carbon ecosystems.
New Jersey Cats Caught on Camera
Photographer Steve Winter uses camera traps to capture stunning images of bobcats and other wildlife in New Jersey.
Remote-Controlled Badger Helps Study Prairie Dog Alarm Calls
Researchers in Montana use a taxidermied badger and remote-control car to show how long-billed curlews listen in on prairie dog alarm calls.
Palmyra Atoll: An Angler’s Experience Fishing for Science
A passion for fishing remote places leads this global fishing guide to Palmyra Atoll.
Call Boxes & Crow Effigies: Protecting Nesting Birds in Cape May
TNC is using call boxes, fake effigies, and bird decoys to protect nesting shorebirds on Cape May.
Science for Strategy
Science is strategy. Learn from 600 scientists & our partners researching the best way to protect nature.
To Help Iconic Trees, Inject Them With Disease
To save American elms, conservationists are quite literally injecting disease into the trees. This Q&A explains why.
How Living Cover Could Help Heal the U.S. Corn Belt
Regenerative ag practices—like cover crops, agroforestry, and pastured livestock—could reduce nitrate loss, erosion and emissions.
Three New Natural History Books for August
Stunning photos of fungi, botanical essays, and stories from the Australia’s natural history collections.
Climate Mitigation Depends on Seed-Dispersing Wildlife
A new study finds that the loss of seed-dispersing species in tropical forests more than halves the potential for areas of natural regrowth to sequester carbon.
The Power of the Emerald Edge
Old-growth forests in the Emerald Edge store carbon, support biodiversity, and sustain Indigenous stewardship.
Strictly Protected Marine Areas Can Effectively Deter Most Industrial Fishing
Industrial fishing vessels in fully and highly protected marine areas occur about 9 times less frequently than in unprotected surrounding waters.
Science Brief
Your hub for the latest peer-reviewed research powering conservation action.
Archives
Young Forests Are an Overlooked Climate Solution
New research by TNC scientists provides the first detailed picture of the carbon removal value of naturally regrowing forests
Sun on the Water: How to Plan for a Renewable Energy Future That Floats
The expansion of floating photovoltaics could provide renewable energy while also sparing land. But there are still many unknowns.
Minimizing Tradeoffs Between Crop Yields and Climate Benefits
Research pinpoints where regenerative agriculture practices can have the most benefits for climate change mitigation and crop production.
One Size Does Not Fit All for Sustainable Livestock Production
Understanding economic, environmental, and social and cultural contexts is essential to achieving sustainable livestock production.
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.
Fish Aggregating Devices Could Enhance the Effectiveness of Blue Water Marine Protected Areas
Research from TNC’s Palmyra Atoll suggests fish aggregating devices could increase the time mobile species spend within blue water MPAs.
