Conservation Science

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..

A Search for the Cassia Crossbill, Idaho’s Endemic Bird

Meet the crossbill shaped by lodgepole pine “islands” and an absence of squirrels.

Matthew L. Miller

Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas: Culture and Community-Centered Conservation

National Geographic Society & TNC extern Cyusa Rio Dasilva shares his experience studying mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

Cyusa Rio Dasilva

Maximizing Climate Returns: Albedo Accounting for Smarter Carbon Investments

New research shows how the albedo effect—Earth’s reflectivity—influences how well forest restoration projects can help cool the Earth.

Story type: TNC Science Brief

Breakfast with the Resplendent Quetzal

Haunting the cloud forest on a quest to find the magnificent, and increasingly rare, national bird of Guatemala

Cara Cannon Byington

Camera Trap Chronicles: Up Close With Snow Leopards

Enjoy this footage of snow leopards from Mongolia, including the animals scent marking and vocalizing.

Matthew L. Miller and Susan Wollschlager

Ponderosa Pines & 60-Mile Weeks: The Intersection of Sport & Nature

An avid runner finds his connection to nature on the trail in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Thomas Melina Raab

Science for Strategy

Science is strategy. Learn from 600 scientists & our partners researching the best way to protect nature.

Crossing Nets: A Loggerhead Turtle’s Journey Through Bycatch in Catalonia

National Geographic Society & TNC extern Ona Santisteban Uribarri shares her experience studying loggerheads and bycatch in the Mediterranean.

Ona Santisteban Uribarri

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.

Vaidehi Patel

Aquaculture Can Benefit Blue Carbon Ecosystems

A new review, led by TNC scientists, explores the potential for bivalve aquaculture to benefit blue carbon ecosystems.

Story type: TNC Science Brief

New Jersey Cats Caught on Camera

Photographer Steve Winter uses camera traps to capture stunning images of bobcats and other wildlife in New Jersey.

Jenny Rogers and Steve Winter

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.

Christine Peterson

Palmyra Atoll: An Angler’s Experience Fishing for Science

A passion for fishing remote places leads this global fishing guide to Palmyra Atoll.

Francois Botha

Science Brief

Your hub for the latest peer-reviewed research powering conservation action.

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.

Cara Cannon Byington

Story type: TNC Science Brief

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.

Justine E. Hausheer

Story type: TNC Science Brief

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.

Cara Cannon Byington

Story type: TNC Science Brief

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

Justine E. Hausheer

Story type: TNC Science Brief

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.

Cara Cannon Byington

Story type: TNC Science Brief

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.

Cara Cannon Byington

Story type: TNC Science Brief