Innovative Conservation Science to Meet the Challenges of our Time
How to protect the world’s biodiversity will be the point and priority of the 2024 United Nation’s Biodiversity Conference (COP16) October 21 through November 1 in Cali, Colombia. This year’s meeting will focus on the Global Biodiversity Framework developed at the last Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal, Canada.
COP16: Your Guide to the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference
October 21-November 1 in Cali, Colombia
Since 2015, governments have had the legally binding Paris Agreement—like a collective guiding star on climate—but now is the time to update decadal globally agreed targets for nature. So the focus is implementing the new, 10-year Global Biodiversity Framework: humanity’s roadmap towards a more nature-positive future.
The science is clear: As global biodiversity continues to decline at an alarming rate, we must protect 30% of terrestrial, inland water and marine areas by 2030. To ensure long-lasting protection, these conserved areas must be effectively managed and inclusively governed.
Dive deeper on biodiversity issues and learn more about the paths to implementation with TNC’s Guides: Biodiversity Action, Close the Nature Funding Gap, Build Better for Biodiversity, Recognize Local Leaders, + Partnerships for Protecting Nature
Biodiversity + Climate Change
Two crises pose a serious threat to life on Earth: the climate change crisis and the nature crisis. They are intrinsically linked. Natural ecosystems play a fundamental role in climate change mitigation, from strengthening the capacity of low-lying areas to withstand storms, to building resilience to drought, floods and fire.
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.
Earlier Springs Cause Problems for Birds
A climate change induced mismatch between green up and migration may prove too much for some species. But researchers say there’s still hope
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.
30X30 Protected Areas
TNC supports a new deal for nature calling for 30 percent of ocean, land and water to be managed as intact and fully functional natural ecosystems. It’s not enough to draw lines on a map—we need to improve the design, management, financing and interconnectivity of these critical areas that sustain us all.
Nature and Equity: The Future of Lasting Conservation?
Solutions to the challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change may require entwined solutions framed by “Nature and Equity.”
Market-based Climate Mitigation and Biodiversity Conservation Solutions Must Consider Gender
To be equitable, market-based climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation solutions must also consider gender at their core.
Biodiversity Conservation: 7 Principles for Matching Goals with Actions
Scientists offer 7 key principles to help achieve the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 2050 vision: living in harmony with nature.
Biodiversity + Protected Areas
Protections should be placed in areas scientifically identified as having the highest conservation value and that represent the planet’s biodiversity. But protected areas alone are not enough without science-based management. A protected area that has lost most of its large mammals, birds and trees through illegal activities cannot fully contribute to reducing extinction rates.
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.
How to Catch a Wild dFAD
A small boat, four people, 500 pounds (or more) of rope, netting, floats, rafts and sometimes barnacles. Gloves definitely required.
Caught on Camera: the Long-Nosed Chilean Shrew Opossum
Camera traps in the Valdivian Coastal Reserve document an increase in sites where one of Chile’s least-known marsupials is known to live.
Biodiversity + Indigenous Knowledge
Scientific evidence shows us that indigenous peoples and local communities are often more effective conservation stewards than government-funded protected area agencies. Indigenous owned and managed lands and waters should receive recognition and support for their role in achieving biodiversity conservation targets.
Protected Areas are Vital, but they are not Enough for Lasting Biodiversity Conservation
Sustaining global biodiversity requires broadening the area-based conservation toolkit beyond protected areas.
Saving Animals by Mapping Their Migrations
Maps that display migration data with the human connections and livelihoods can help advance sustainable conservation.
Four Steps for the Earth: Mainstreaming the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
The upcoming Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meeting, and adoption of the new Global Biodiversity Framework, represent an opportunity to […]
Biodiversity + Siting
Very little of the planet is truly “untouched”—95 percent of the Earth’s surface outside of the polar regions has been modified by humans. Whether it’s clearing land to grow crops and build cities, or fragmenting habitats with highways and railroads, human development has changed the surface of the planet in a variety of ways.
Empowering Communities with Solar
The ongoing transformation of the U.S.’s energy systems creates a compelling opportunity to build the energy infrastructure of the future.
A New Future for Mine Lands in the Central Appalachians
In Central Appalachian, mine lands can be restored to forests in ways that benefit biodiversity, carbon storage and local economies.
Solar Energy Development Doesn’t Have to Destroy Vital Habitat (but It Could)
With careful planning, the U.S. could produce needed solar energy and still protect lands important for animal movement and migration.
Biodiversity + Cities
Science to help plan cities with nature in mind. With nearly 70 percent of the world’s population expected to live in urban areas by 2050, cities are swelling to accommodate newcomers. It is and will be necessary to integrate biodiversity protection into development, but a new deal for nature should establish national incentives for nature-based solutions in urban areas.
Bringing Beavers Back to Britain
Nature Conservancy & National Geographic Society extern Eleanor Salisbury shares her experience studying how reintroducing beavers to the U.K. can benefit both nature and people.
How Trees Can Help Fight Rising Heat in Arid Cities
New science shows increasing greening programs in arid cities could reduce air temperatures near people’s homes by an average of 0.5˚C.
What Does Urbanization Mean for Melbourne’s Platypus?
National Geographic Society & TNC extern Brendan Cohen recounts his kayak journey along the Yarra River, where platypus are under threat from urbanization.
Biodiversity + The Ocean
Science to protect, restore and manage marine ecosystems by creating high seas and coastal havens where nature can regenerate and fortify itself against climate change and other threats.
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.
Meet Lizzie McLeod, TNC’s Global Oceans Director
From religion major to glass blower to leader in global ocean conservation, Lizzie McLeod’s career path has been anything but conventional.
Migration Data Helps Protect Leatherbacks Across Oceans
Data from a TNC-lead tagging study reveals the epic migrations of leatherback turtles.
Biodiversity + Fresh Water
Protect and restore ecosystem function in watersheds (e.g., water funds) to provide access to safe drinking water and be a safe haven for wildlife and a resilient buffer to climate change.
Mapping the World’s Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems Reveals Protection Gaps
A first-of-its-kind global map shows 53% of groundwater-dependent ecosystems are in areas of known groundwater depletion, and likely at risk.
Freshwater Migratory Fish are in Trouble All Over the World
The Living Planet Index reports a staggering 81% average decline in global freshwater migratory fish populations since 1970.
Making Global Freshwater Targets Local
Creative solutions that go beyond conventional protected areas are necessary to safeguard the future of global freshwater ecosystems.
Biodiversity + Agriculture
Science for Sustainable Food Production. When it comes to the climate and biodiversity crises, the agricultural sector is both challenge and solution. Science shows many of the most productive approaches to farming work with nature and promote mutually beneficial relationships between food production and the ecological processes that sustain it.
A Roadmap for Reducing the Climate Impacts of U.S. Beef
Adoption of selected actions, especially around grazing, could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. beef industry by up to 30%.
Brazilian Family Farmers Use Agroforestry to Improve their Lands and Livelihoods (and Help Fight Climate Change)
Natural climate solutions, like agroforestry, can help protect biodiversity and contribute to the reductions needed to mitigate climate change.
New Study Finds People and Nature Thrive With Diversified Farming
A new global study finds that the benefits of diversified agriculture are abundantly clear, whether for food security, biodiversity or the bottom line.
Biodiversity + Restoration
Science for restoring lost habitats and reducing future impacts. Humanity has left a significant mark on roughly half of the Earth’s lands beyond the polar regions, as well as the majority of the global ocean. To reach biodiversity goals, we need to protect nature in areas outside of wilderness, such as cities and farms.
When Sea Cucumbers Spawn, Where Do Their Larvae Go?
New research on sea cucumber genetics indicates that locally managed marine areas are a good way to protect this fishery for communities.
Want Resilient Coral Reefs? Bring Back Seabirds
Eradicating rats and restoring seabird populations could increase coral reef resilience to climate disturbances.
Natural Forest Regrowth Works for Climate Change Mitigation
One of the most powerful ways trees can help mitigate global climate change may also be one of the most overlooked: letting nature takes its course.
