Build Nigeria’s Next Generation of Conservation Scientists
DONATE TO PANGOLINO Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Name Pangolino Location: Cross River State, Nigeria, Africa Appeal Category: Community Support and Development Capacity Building and Training Wildlife Conservation Key Species: White-bellied pangolin Black-bellied pangolin Challenges And Threats: Limited conservation training infrastructure and research opportunities for young scientists in Nigeria Ongoing illegal hunting and trade of pangolins driven by livelihood dependence and weak enforcement Fragmented data and limited technical capacity to support evidence-based conservation decision-making Actions: Establish conservation research and training center in Cross River State Train early-career Nigerian conservation scientists and community practitioners Expand community-based pangolin conservation and monitoring programs The Challenge Cross River State is home to two of the world’s most heavily trafficked mammals, the white-bellied pangolin and black-bellied pangolin, both under intense pressure from illegal hunting and trade. Conservation capacity in the region hasn’t kept pace with that threat: few facilities exist to train, mentor, or equip Nigerian researchers, leaving a critical gap between the urgent need for evidence-based conservation and the people available to deliver it. Communities living alongside pangolins often depend on the same forests for their livelihoods, creating trade-offs between economic survival and biodiversity protection that demand locally grounded, scientifically sound solutions. Urgent Solutions Pangolino has already purchased land near Calabar—roughly the size of a soccer field—to build a Conservation Research and Training Center. The center will train early-career Nigerian scientists in field ecology, spatial analysis, and conservation science, while supporting the community-based programs already reducing pangolin hunting in the region: school conservation clubs, participatory monitoring, and co-designed interventions with local stakeholders. By integrating fieldwork, data science, and community collaboration, the center will generate the evidence needed to guide conservation strategy across Nigeria. Why Your Donation Matters Funding this center builds a durable pipeline of Nigerian conservation expertise rather than another short-term intervention. Donations will go directly toward computers, essential infrastructure, and stipends for students and early-career conservationists—resources that currently don’t exist in the region. Strengthening local capacity means conservation solutions stay rooted in local knowledge and leadership, which is what’s required to address the deeper drivers of pangolin hunting: poverty, limited livelihood options, and weak enforcement. The center will also sustain the community programs already underway, helping reduce pressure on pangolins while building a sustainable foundation for conservation science in West Africa. Partner Qualifications Verified Partner Legally Constituted Effective Impact
Pangolino
DONATE TO PANGOLINO Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Pangolino Location Cross River State, Nigeria, Africa Category Capacity Building and Training Community Support & Development Wildlife Conservation Urgent Appeals Build Nigeria’s Next Generation of Conservation Scientists Date Founded 2022 Website www.pangolino.org Partner Qualifications Verified Partner Legally Constituted Effective Impact About Pangolino Pangolino is a Nigerian conservation nonprofit working to protect the White-bellied pangolin and Black-bellied pangolin through community-based conservation in Southeast Nigeria, where hunting remains the primary direct threat to both species. Their approach combines field research, conservation education, and collaborative community interventions that address the social and economic drivers behind wildlife exploitation. Pangolino has reached people through school conservation clubs, film screenings, and over 10,000 educational materials distributed to date. Their research, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, produced one of the first detailed analyses of pangolin hunting and trade dynamics in Nigeria. Pangolino is co-developing community bylaws to reduce pangolin hunting while establishing a resilience fund to support local healthcare projects. Their Challenges Nigeria’s forests are disappearing. Agricultural expansion, logging, infrastructure development, and a rise in small-scale mining—including inside Protected Areas—have fragmented habitat and driven steep declines in wildlife populations across the country. In Cross River State, two of the world’s most trafficked animals, the White-bellied pangolin and Black-bellied pangolin, face relentless pressure from hunting and illegal trade driven by demand for food, income, and international trafficking networks. Conservation capacity compounds the problem. With limited funding, weak enforcement infrastructure, and insufficient investment in locally-led research, Nigeria’s globally significant biodiversity remains chronically underprotected—and the communities most connected to that wildlife often face poverty and food insecurity that make purely regulatory approaches ineffective. Their Approach Pangolino’s model is built on the premise that effective conservation has to be designed with—not for—the communities closest to wildlife. Field surveys, interviews, and behavioral assessments build the baseline data needed for evidence-based decisions, which feeds directly into targeted outreach: school conservation clubs, community meetings, film screenings, and awareness campaigns designed to shift long-term behaviors. Their flagship initiative takes that engagement further—working with local stakeholders to co-develop community bylaws limiting pangolin hunting, paired with a locally identified healthcare resilience fund that links biodiversity protection to tangible community benefit. Strengthening the pipeline of early-career Nigerian conservation scientists is also central to their work. Why They Need Your Help Donations support two priorities: expanding community-based programmes already underway—awareness campaigns, school clubs, participatory monitoring, and the community bylaw initiative—and establishing a Conservation Research and Training Centre near Calabar on a plot of land Pangolino has already secured. The centre will provide early-career Nigerian researchers with hands-on training in field ecology, conservation science, and data analysis: infrastructure and mentorship that currently has no equivalent in the region. Funds go toward computers, essential facilities, and stipends for students and practitioners who would otherwise have no pathway into conservation science.
Birds Nepal
DONATE TO BIRDS NEPAL Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Birds Nepal Location Napalparasi, Nepal, Asia Category Capacity Building and Training Scientific Research Wildlife Conservation Urgent Appeals Save Nepal’s Critically Endangered Bengal Florican Date Founded 2021 Website birdsnepal.org Partner Qualifications Verified Partner Legally Constituted Effective Impact About Birds Nepal Birds Nepal is a Nepali nonprofit dedicated to protecting birds and their habitats through long-term monitoring, scientific research, and community-based conservation outreach. The organization focuses on Nepal’s most ecologically important and most threatened landscapes, with particular emphasis on the grassland and wetland species whose populations have been hit hardest by habitat loss, illegal hunting, and climate pressure. The organization was founded in honor of the late Dr. Lawrence Thompson, a molecular biologist at the Livermore laboratory in California whose post-retirement passion for bird photography led him to support conservation organizations around the world. Birds Nepal carries that legacy forward, applying rigorous field science and direct community engagement to the protection of some of South Asia’s most endangered birds. Their Challenges Nepal sits at the intersection of what Birds Nepal calls the “triple planetary crisis”—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—and the country’s bird populations are bearing a disproportionate share of the impact. Local pressures compound the picture: illegal hunting and poaching of birds and wildlife, illegal fishing, the degradation of grasslands by fire and overgrazing, and significant research gaps that leave protected area managers without the data they need to respond effectively. Grassland and wetland specialists—including some of Asia’s rarest birds—are among the most exposed. Their Approach Birds Nepal works as an action-oriented organization that combines field science with direct community partnership. Their core activities include long-term monitoring and scientific research on key bird species and habitats; conservation awareness and outreach in areas with the highest hunting and poaching pressure; training programs designed to help local communities transition from nature-dependent livelihoods to alternative income sources; and direct engagement with protected area managers and government stakeholders to translate field data into species action plans. Why They Need Your Help As a young organization working in one of South Asia’s most biodiverse but most under-resourced bird habitats, Birds Nepal relies on international donors to fund the fieldwork, training, and stakeholder engagement that keep their conservation work moving. Through Conservation Allies, 100% of every donation flows directly to the program—funding the science, the outreach, and the action plans that will determine whether Nepal’s most endangered birds have a future.
South Rupununi Conservation Society
DONATE TO SRCS Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS) Location Guyana, Latin America Category Capacity Building and Training Scientific Research Wildlife Conservation Urgent Appeals None currently Date Founded 2002 Website www.srcs-gy.com Partner Qualifications Verified Partner Legally Constituted Effective Impact About South Rupununi Conservation Society The South Rupununi Conservation Society are a community-led non-profit with a membership largely consisting of Indigenous Rupununi residents, working across biodiversity research, cultural heritage, environmental education, sustainable livelihoods, and organizational strengthening. Their species programs focus on six priorities—the Red siskin, Giant armadillo, Giant anteater, Yellow-spotted river turtle, Hoary-throated spinetail, and Rio branco antbird. Over two decades they have supported 865,000+ acres of community-managed conservation areas and reached more than 2,000 students with environmental education. Their Challenges Guyana’s forests and biodiversity are under growing pressure. Mining, logging, and the expanding oil and gas sector drive deforestation, soil erosion, and water contamination. In the South Rupununi, changing fire regimes, irregular rainfall, large-scale agriculture, new roads, and overharvesting of wildlife are compounding the strain—all while communities try to balance development with protecting the ecosystems they depend on. Their Approach SRCS use a community-based conservation model that combines scientific research, Indigenous knowledge, and local leadership. Programs are designed and run alongside Indigenous communities, making conservation culturally grounded and durable. Field research on their six priority species feeds directly into practical action—from the community-managed conservation areas on titled Indigenous lands, to bird guide training that links conservation with real income. Why They Need Your Help SRCS relies on external funding to sustain conservation, education, and livelihood programs across the Rupununi. Your support keeps biodiversity research and species monitoring going, powers ranger and guide training, and strengthens youth environmental leadership—keeping community-led conservation alive in one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.
Protecting Guatemala’s Cloud Forest From Devastating Wildfires
DONATE TO DEFENSORES Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Name Defensores de la Naturaleza Location: Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve Actions: Hiring and training of rangers and forest firefighters to protect Guatemala’s largest continuous patch of cloud forest. Providing uniforms, tools, and transportation to ensure safe, efficient work. Forest protection actions to reduce wildfire risks and illegal activities while protecting critical areas and biodiversity. Appeal Category: Capacity Building and Training Protected Area Management Wildlife Conservation Key Species: Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) Horned guan (Oreophasis derbianus) Jaguar (Panthera onca) Golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia) Challenges And Threats: Forest firefighters face high-risk situations combating wildfires affecting over 500 hectares annually. Adequate resources to address this emergency are not prioritized by government entities. The Challenge Each year, wildfires burn more than 1,200 acres in the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve, a vast mountain range in eastern Guatemala that protects the country’s largest remaining cloud forest. These fires destroy critical biodiversity and natural ecosystems while degrading air quality and threatening water availability for over 200 communities in the region. Forest firefighters are essential to both suppressing active fires and preventing future ones through community monitoring, raising awareness, and training local farmers in safer agricultural burning practices. Yet they work with insufficient resources and face life-threatening conditions during increasingly severe fire seasons driven by climate change. Without adequate support, these frontline defenders cannot effectively protect one of Guatemala’s most vital conservation areas. Urgent Solutions Defensores de la Naturaleza partners with local communities to combat wildfires in the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve. This year, Porta Hotel Antigua joins these efforts, creating a cross-sector alliance to prevent and respond to the wildfire crisis. Why Your Donation Matters The Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve protects Guatemala’s largest continuous cloud forest and endangered species like the Baird’s tapir, Jaguar, and Horned guan, while regulating water supplies for hundreds of thousands of people and capturing carbon that fights climate change. Guatemala is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, and wildfires are accelerating environmental destruction. When the Sierra de las Minas forest burns, communities lose clean water and livelihoods, wildlife loses habitat, and we all lose a critical climate ally. Your support protects this treasure when it’s needed most. Your donation funds the hiring, training, and equipping of community-based forest firefighters who serve as the frontline defense for this irreplaceable ecosystem. It provides the uniforms, tools, and transportation needed to work safely across thousands of acres of remote cloud forest. Trained teams suppress active fires, monitor vulnerable areas, educate communities about fire prevention, and restore burned landscapes. Partner Qualifications IUCN Member Verified Partner Legally Constituted Top Accountability Effective Impact Conservation Action Heroes
Help Support Tesoro Escondido Reserve Parabiologists
DONATE TO TESORO Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Name Tesoro Escondido Reserve Foundation Location: Lowland Ecuadorian Chocó, Esmeraldas, Ecuador Actions: Wildlife monitoring with camera traps and surveys of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Jaguar coexistence; building community trust and promoting safe, respectful practices. Environmental education through workshops, school gardens, and hands-on learning. Community support in reforestation, pollinator gardens, meliponiculture, and Chachi community life-planning. Ongoing training to strengthen educational, technical, and research skills. Appeal Category: Capacity Building and Training Community Support and Development Education Endangered Species Protected Area Management Wildlife Conservation Key Species: Brown headed spider monkey Jaguar Giant macaw Harpy eagle Challenges And Threats: Logging Agricultural expansion Hunting Human-wildlife conflict The Challenge Ecuador’s current conservation reality is shifting dangerously. The merger of the Environment Ministry with the Energy and Mines Ministry signals a move toward extractive priorities, while illegal mining, expanding agriculture, timber extraction and organized crime continue to drive some of the country’s highest deforestation rates—especially in Esmeraldas, where the Tesoro Escondido Reserve is located. Local communities remain vulnerable, facing limited access to basic services and growing threats to their land rights. New national regulations restrict NGO action and increase costs, placing both forests and the Rights of Nature at risk. Meanwhile, funding for local conservation jobs is shrinking. We are running out of time to protect the forest and the people who defend it. Urgent Solutions Tesoro Escondido responds by strengthening community-led conservation through its team of local parabiologists—young leaders and agents of change who monitor wildlife, support jaguar coexistence, teach environmental education, restore forests, protect native bees, and support Chachi communities in participatory planning. In 2026, we aim to reinforce our institutional capacity: improving financial stability, governance, monitoring systems, community resilience, and youth leadership. Conservation must remain rooted in local knowledge, science, and strong communities—especially in a rapidly changing landscape. Why Your Donation Matters Your support directly funds the people who protect the forest every day. Parabiologists are essential—wildlife monitors, educators, community leaders, agents of change, role models, and the link between science and territory. Yet resources for local salaries are increasingly scarce. Your donation keeps monitoring active, strengthens community planning, supports women and youth, and ensures that conservation remains led by those who call this forest home. Supporting Tesoro Escondido means standing with the forest—and with its guardians. Partner Qualifications Verified Partner Legally Constituted Top Accountability Effective Impact Conservation Action Heroes
Asociación Ecológica de San Marcos de Ocotepeque (AESMO)
DONATE TO AESMO Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Asociación Ecológica de San Marcos de Ocotepeque (AESMO) Location San Marcos, Ocotepeque, Honduras Category Capacity Building and Training Ecosystem Restoration Land Purchases Urgent Appeals Coming soon Date Founded 1990 Website aesmo.org Partner Qualifications IUCN Member Verified Partner Legally Constituted Effective Impact About Asociación Ecológica de San Marcos de Ocotepeque (AESMO) Founded by citizens of San Marcos, Ocotepeque, Honduras, Asociación Ecológica de San Marcos de Ocotepeque (AESMO) began as a grassroots effort to address local environmental challenges. Since 1997, AESMO has expanded its efforts to multiple municipalities in the departments of Ocotepeque and Lempira. AESMO operates throughout the Trifinio-Occidente Region of Honduras, working across seven municipalities in Ocotepeque and three in Lempira. Their conservation initiatives span critical ecosystems including the Güisayote and Pacayita Volcano Biological Reserves and several key watersheds such as Río Hondo, El Espinal, Cerro Negro, Nueve Pozas, Higuito, Sumpul, and Mocal. These areas feed into both the Ulúa Basin (draining into the Caribbean Sea) and the Lempa Basin (draining into the Pacific Ocean), benefiting communities in both Honduras and El Salvador. A hallmark of AESMO’s approach is its Shared Governance Model, a pioneering framework that brings together civil society, local governments, cooperatives, private enterprise, academia, and international partners. Through this model, AESMO coordinates joint land purchases to ensure sustainable management of water, biodiversity, and soil—while also improving food security and quality of life for local families. Their Challenges The Trifinio region faces escalating environmental degradation driven by unplanned urbanization and agricultural expansion. These pressures are rapidly eroding forest cover, contaminating soils and water sources, and placing entire ecosystems—and the people who depend on them—at risk. With more than 250,000 people across Honduras and El Salvador reliant on these ecosystems for clean drinking water and agriculture, the situation is urgent. The AESMO Shared Governance Model, proven effective for over two decades, offers a participatory, nature-based solution to safeguard these critical landscapes. However, the worsening impacts of climate change demand that the model be expanded to additional micro-watersheds and protected areas at both national and binational levels. Their Approach AESMO’s Shared Governance Model brings together diverse stakeholders—local communities, governments, NGOs, private entities, and more—to co-manage and conserve natural resources. Recognizing that environmental and socioeconomic challenges are complex and interconnected, AESMO fosters inclusive, equitable solutions that empower local communities with scientific knowledge and decision-making tools. This democratic, participatory approach is deeply rooted in community empowerment. By aligning local priorities with sustainable development goals, AESMO supports lasting conservation outcomes while improving livelihoods. Their use of the Kaizen approach—a philosophy of continuous, incremental improvement—helps communities reduce dependence on external aid, strengthen self-sufficiency, and build resilience through nature-based action. Why They Need Your Help The cloud forests of the Trifinio region are rapidly vanishing. These forests are not only home to endangered wildlife, but also serve as essential water sources for over 250,000 people. Decades of deforestation have left only small fragments of healthy forest intact—and unless urgent action is taken, even these will be lost. Your support will help AESMO: Acquire and protect remaining forest land in collaboration with local communities Employ five forest rangers to ensure continued protection and stewardship Safeguard water sources for thousands of families across Honduras and El Salvador Empower Lenca and Maya Chortí Indigenous communities through participation in co-management councils Every donation helps preserve this critical region and protect it for future generations.
Belantara Foundation
DONATE TO BELANTARA Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Belantara Foundation Location Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia Category Community Support and Development Capacity Building and Training Ecosystem Restoration Education Endangered Species Scientific Research Wildlife Conservation Urgent Appeals Achieving Coexistence Between Communities and Wild Elephants Date Founded 2014 Website belantara.or.id Partner Qualifications Verified Partner Legally Constituted About Belantara Foundation Belantara Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization based in Indonesia that plays a pivotal role in environmental conservation, forest and peatland restoration, wildlife protection, and sustainable community development, particularly across the biodiverse regions of Sumatra and Kalimantan. Their mission is to support sustainable landscape management that strikes a balance between long-term economic development, environmental protection, and improved local livelihoods. Belantara collaborates with government bodies, NGOs, private companies, academia, and local communities to implement impactful, science-driven programs. In 2024, the foundation became a Member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their Challenges Indonesia is home to some of the world’s most ecologically valuable forests—but these ecosystems are under immense threat. Rapid deforestation driven by agricultural expansion (especially oil palm), mining, and infrastructure development has caused large-scale habitat loss and fragmentation. Flagship species like the Sumatran tiger, orangutan, and elephant are at risk, alongside countless other native species. Illegal logging and wildlife trade exacerbate the crisis, while peatland fires contribute to biodiversity loss and carbon emissions. Human-wildlife conflict is also on the rise, as forest loss pushes animals into human settlements. Many of these issues are compounded by limited funding, weak enforcement of environmental laws, exclusion of local communities from decision-making, and the influence of political and economic interests. Climate change adds another layer of complexity, threatening to disrupt already fragile ecosystems. Their Approach Belantara Foundation addresses these challenges through innovative, multi-stakeholder initiatives that integrate conservation and community empowerment. Key programs include: Forest Restoration Project: SDGs Together!This project restores degraded forests by planting endangered and multipurpose native tree species. Since its launch in 2020, it has reforested 94 hectares within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Giam Siak Kecil–Bukit Batu through collaboration with governments, NGOs, local communities, academics, and private stakeholders. Living in HarmonyFocused on five villages in Padang Sugihan, South Sumatra, this initiative aims to reduce human-elephant conflict through the planting of elephant feed crops, establishing salt licks, guiding elephants through ecological corridors, and preventing incursions into residential areas—improving outcomes for both people and wildlife. Sumatra Peatland RestorationIn partnership with Forest Farmers Groups in Jambi Province, this project restores 93 hectares of degraded peatland using tree seedlings that offer both ecological restoration and future economic benefits to the community. Sustainable Village Forest ManagementThis program supports local communities in Riau Province to sustainably manage production forests under social forestry schemes, improving livelihoods while protecting the integrity of natural forest ecosystems. Belantara Learning SeriesA national knowledge-sharing platform offering capacity-building opportunities for university students, conservationists, researchers, government officials, journalists, and the public. In 2024 alone, over 3,000 participants across 38 provinces engaged in sessions on topics such as social forestry, biodiversity, and ecotourism. Muda Mudi Konservasi (Youth for Conservation)This youth engagement initiative connects young Indonesians with biodiversity issues through creative competitions, educational campaigns, talk shows, and events featuring conservation experts and public figures. Why They Need Your Help Belantara Foundation’s core operations are currently funded through annual private sector donations in Indonesia. However, donations received through Conservation Allies go directly to supporting the foundation’s fieldwork and community-based conservation initiatives. Your support helps: Purchase native plant seedlings for forest and peatland restoration Procure equipment for mitigating human-wildlife conflict Fund capacity-building activities for local communities Support community-led programs that promote sustainable, nature-based livelihoods These contributions directly benefit ecosystems, wildlife, and the communities who call these landscapes home.
Ukranian Nature Conservation Group
DONATE TO UNCG Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG) Location Kyiv, Ukraine Category Capacity Building & Training Protected Area Management Scientific Research Wildlife Conservation Urgent Appeals None currently Date Founded 2018 Website uncg.org.ua Partner Qualifications IUCN Member Verified Partner Legally Constituted Effective Impact About Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group The Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG), formally established in 2018, is a nonprofit organization founded by biologists and environmental experts. It now includes over 50 conservation professionals and activists working across Ukraine. UNCG’s work focuses on establishing new protected areas, conserving forests, monitoring wildlife populations, and protecting rare plant and animal species. Through field studies and assessments, they provide critical data to guide environmental efforts. Their initiatives maintain ecosystems in forests, wetlands, and grasslands, ensuring the survival of diverse flora and fauna while protecting water quality, soil health, and regional climate stability. They have been instrumental in creating 75% of Ukraine’s recent protected areas and have contributed over 500,000 biodiversity records to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. UNCG also collaborates with local communities, government agencies, and international organizations to advocate for environmental policy improvements and promote sustainable land use. Their educational outreach inspires public engagement through publications, workshops, and community programs, fostering a culture of conservation for future generations. Their Challenges Ukraine’s ecosystems face significant threats due to ongoing Russian aggression, which has damaged protected areas and disrupted fragile habitats. Vital landscapes, including forests, wetlands, and grasslands, have suffered extensive harm, endangering biodiversity and ecosystem stability. With state resources focused on defense, conservation funding has become scarce, creating an urgent need for external support to sustain fieldwork, document ecological impacts, and plan for ecosystem recovery. UNCG and other conservationists are working to assess the damage and implement strategies for restoring Ukraine’s natural heritage. Recovery efforts include establishing new protected zones, rehabilitating war-impacted habitats, and developing sustainable management practices. UNCG’s commitment to data collection, ecosystem monitoring, and collaboration with local and international partners is critical for ensuring Ukraine’s biodiversity is preserved and its ecosystems are resilient in the long term. Their Approach UNCG leads initiatives to conserve and restore Ukraine’s ecosystems amid ongoing threats. They prioritize preserving ecological data, conducting studies, and creating methods to restore war-damaged habitats. A key focus is advocating for the legal protection of affected areas to safeguard them from regulatory gaps and limited government oversight. UNCG identifies valuable sites across Ukraine to secure their protection status. Their efforts include establishing new nature reserves, improving the management of existing protected areas, and promoting sustainable forest management practices with civic oversight to prevent exploitation. The organization also assesses environmental impacts and advocates for modifications to development projects that threaten biodiversity. In collaboration with international conventions, UNCG monitors and expands Ukraine’s Emerald Network, a vital system of protected sites for European biodiversity. Their work extends to protecting grasslands and steppes from construction and deforestation and conserving rivers and wetlands from drainage projects. By gathering and analyzing data on rare species and habitats, UNCG supports evidence-based conservation actions and policies that minimize ecological harm and build long-term ecosystem resilience. Why They Need Your Help Supporting UNCG ensures the continuation of critical conservation efforts in Ukraine during a time of war. Contributions enable ecological surveys, legal protections for at-risk areas, and biodiversity monitoring across vulnerable landscapes. Funding strengthens their capacity for research, advocacy, and restoration while bolstering civic oversight to counteract risks from deregulation and limited government resources. Donations directly support initiatives such as expanding protected areas, monitoring rare species, and promoting sustainable land management. By contributing, supporters empower dedicated conservation professionals to safeguard Ukraine’s natural heritage and lay the foundation for a sustainable future amid unprecedented challenges.
Nigerian Environmental Study Action Team (NEST)
DONATE TO NEST Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Nigerian Environmental Study Action Team (NEST) Location Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria Category Community Support and Development Capacity Building and Training Ecosystem Restoration Urgent Appeals None currently Date Founded 1987 Website www.nestinteractive.org Partner Qualifications IUCN Member Legally Constituted Effective Impact Nigerian Environmental Study Action Team The Nigerian Environmental Study Action Team (NEST) is a leading non-profit organization focused on sustainable development in Nigeria. NEST’s mission is to improve how people interact with the environment by working with a nationwide membership to address pressing environmental issues through targeted projects and research. NEST conducts and promotes research on the Nigerian environment, providing vital insights and raising awareness about the impact of human activities. Their projects emphasize sustainable livelihoods, especially for disadvantaged communities, and advocate for policies that support the responsible use of natural resources. NEST’s efforts include publishing research, educating the public on environmental issues, and supporting grassroots actions to foster a sustainable future. NEST’s vision is to empower people at all levels to engage sustainably with the environment, contributing to global progress in sustainable development. Their Challenges Nigeria faces a range of environmental challenges, exacerbated by limited public awareness and weak policy enforcement. The country’s abundant natural resources are often depleted due to widespread poverty, limited environmental education, and insufficient waste management. Poor farming practices, deforestation from bush burning, and illegal mining activities contribute to soil erosion, habitat loss, and land degradation. In the south, oil pollution further threatens ecosystems, while desertification and occasional droughts impact the dry regions, worsening both environmental and economic conditions. Siltation of major rivers and poorly managed dams affect water navigation and quality. Along Nigeria’s 500-mile coastline, issues like coastal erosion, habitat destruction, plastic pollution, and illegal fishing strain marine ecosystems. Additionally, inadequate environmental impact assessments for projects continue to pose risks to natural habitats across the country. Their Approach Since 1989, NEST has championed environmental protection in Nigeria, organizing annual workshops and numerous events across the country’s diverse ecosystems. These gatherings address pressing issues like climate change, sustainable forestry, and community resilience, often in collaboration with partners like universities and international organizations. NEST has been pivotal in projects that educate, advocate, and foster community-based environmental stewardship, including the Canada-Nigeria Climate Change Capacity Project and studies on Community-Based Forest Management. Recent initiatives, like the Nigeria Climate Change Response Program (2020-2025), reflect their ongoing commitment to environmental advocacy, education, and policy influence. With over 35 years of impact, NEST continues to shape Nigeria’s response to critical environmental challenges. Why They Need Your Help NEST ensures every contribution drives measurable impact on essential conservation and community projects. With a proven track record of successful, evidence-based projects, NEST actively engages local communities in landscape restoration, such as the Moringa oleifera planting initiative in Yobe State to support pastoral livelihoods. Their transparent reporting practices provide assurance that donations are directed effectively to protect Nigeria’s environment and promote sustainable development.