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
Save Djibouti’s Last Gazelles, Cheetahs, and Wild Places
DONATE TO ADN Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Name Association Djibouti Nature Location: Djalelo Protected Area, Djibouti, Africa Appeal Category: Endangered Species Community Support and Development Wildlife Conservation Key Species: Gerenuk (Near Threatened) Dorcas gazelle (Vulnerable) Soemmerring’s gazelle (Vulnerable) Challenges And Threats: Drought, irregular rainfall, and rangeland degradation Conflict over scarce resources between pastoralists, managers, and wildlife Biodiversity loss threatening species and livelihoods alike Actions: Restore rangelands through improved rainwater management Build inclusive dialogue platforms between herders and Protected Area managers Monitor and protect threatened wildlife through community-based conservation The Challenge The Djalelo Protected Area in Djibouti’s Arta Region is a cornerstone of the country’s natural heritage—and one of its most stressed. The site shelters emblematic and threatened species including the Gerenuk (Near Threatened), Dorcas gazelle (Vulnerable), and Soemmerring’s gazelle (Vulnerable). Its global scientific value was underscored by the 2019 rediscovery of the Somali sengi—long thought extinct and now recognized as a new genus for science—and by the 2023 confirmation of cheetahs in Djibouti for the first time in more than three decades. But the same landscape now faces converging threats. Recurrent droughts, increasingly irregular rainfall, and the degradation of rangelands are eroding ecological resilience and pushing fragile pastures toward irreversible collapse. As water and grazing become scarce, tensions rise—between pastoralist communities, Protected Area managers, and wildlife—over access to dwindling natural resources. And without dedicated species monitoring and community-based conservation, Djalelo’s rare and elusive mammals—including the maned rat, caracal, leopard, and the cheetahs rediscovered nearby—risk being lost before science has fully documented them. Urgent Solutions Association Djibouti Nature is leading three integrated lines of work at Djalelo, designed to address the Protected Area’s ecological, social, and biological challenges together. Donations to this appeal will directly support: Restoration of degraded rangelands through improved rainwater management, including the deployment of half-moon digging techniques that curb soil erosion, capture rainfall, and regenerate vegetation for both wildlife and livestock Establishment of inclusive dialogue platforms bringing pastoralist communities, Protected Area managers, and traditional and local authorities together to resolve resource-access tensions and co-design conservation measures Systematic biodiversity monitoring of Djalelo’s threatened species—including the Gerenuk, Dorcas gazelle, and Soemmerring’s gazelle—alongside the rare carnivores and elusive mammals documented in the area Public awareness and environmental education campaigns to build local stewardship and ensure long-term community engagement ADN team capacity, field equipment, and operations to sustain the work across the full project period Why Your Donation Matters Djalelo sits at the intersection of three of the hardest problems in modern conservation: a deepening climate crisis, contested access to natural resources, and a biodiversity register that is only beginning to be fully understood. None of these problems can be solved in isolation—and none of them will be solved without sustained investment in the people, the science, and the Protected Area itself. Your donation funds exactly that work. Through Conservation Allies, 100% of every dollar flows directly to ADN’s program—to the rangeland restoration, the community dialogue platforms, the species monitoring, and the on-the-ground engagement that together can secure Djalelo for the next generation of wildlife and the communities that share the landscape with them. For one of the most strategically important biodiversity sites in the Horn of Africa, this is the moment to act. Partner Qualifications Verified Partner Legally Constituted Effective Impact
Save Nepal’s Critically Endangered Bengal Florican
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 Name Birds Nepal Location: Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal Appeal Category: Endangered Species Protected Area Management Scientific Research Key Species: Bengal florican (Critically Endangered) Swamp francolin Bristled grassbird Challenges And Threats: Grassland fires destroying critical breeding habitat Overgrazing and human disturbance Illegal hunting and poaching Actions: Systematic scientific monitoring of endangered grassland birds Direct engagement with Protected Area managers and government stakeholders Development of a species action plan The Challenge The Bengal florican is one of the rarest birds in Asia—a small grassland bustard whose global population has collapsed dramatically over the past century. Once widespread across the floodplains of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, the species now survives only in a handful of isolated grassland reserves, and Nepal’s Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is one of its last viable habitats. Koshi Tappu—a wetland and tall-grass mosaic along the Koshi River in eastern Nepal—faces three converging threats to its grassland bird community. Annual fires, set primarily for grazing management, destroy critical breeding habitat year after year. Overgrazing by livestock further degrades the tall-grass ecosystems the Bengal florican and other specialists depend on. And illegal hunting continues to pressure already-thin populations of the Reserve’s most vulnerable birds—including the Swamp Francolin and Bristled Grassbird, both of which share the florican’s narrow ecological niche. Without intervention, the remaining grassland bird populations at Koshi Tappu face local extinction. The science needed to prevent it does not yet exist. Urgent Solutions Birds Nepal is launching a focused habitat monitoring program at Koshi Tappu to fill that gap. Donations to this appeal will directly support: Systematic monitoring and population surveys of the Bengal florican and other endangered grassland species at Koshi Tappu Documentation of grassland fire patterns, grazing pressure, and illegal hunting incidents across the Reserve Direct engagement with Koshi Tappu’s protected area managers and Nepal’s national park authorities to share findings as they emerge Co-development of a species action plan with reserve staff and government stakeholders—translating field data into binding protection measures Equipment, transportation, and team capacity for sustained year-round monitoring Why Your Donation Matters The Bengal florican will not survive in Nepal without urgent, evidence-driven intervention—and the protected area system that holds its last habitat will not act without the data to support it. That is the gap Birds Nepal is moving to close. Your donation funds the field science, the stakeholder engagement, and the species action plan that together can turn Koshi Tappu from a passive refuge into an active conservation success story. Through Conservation Allies, 100% of every dollar flows directly to the project—to the rangers, biologists, and community members whose work in the field is the only thing standing between these birds and extinction in Nepal. For one of Asia’s rarest birds, this work is the last opportunity to act before it is too late. Partner Qualifications Verified Partner Legally Constituted Effective Impact
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.
Emergency Wildfire Response and Prevention in Bolivia
DONATE TO NATIVA Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Name Naturaleza, Tierra y Vida (NATIVA) Location: Gran Paisajes del Chaco, Chiquitania y Pantanal, Bolivia Appeal Category: Protected Area Management Wildlife Conservation Community Support and Development Key Species: Jaguar, Chaco peccary, Lowland tapir Challenges And Threats: Megafires intensified by drought and climate change, burning through protected landscapes and Indigenous territories. Illegal settlements and deforestation fragmenting habitat across the Chaco, Chiquitania, and Pantanal. Limited equipment, monitoring, and logistics leave remote areas without rapid wildfire response. Actions: Equip and train community wildfire brigades with gear, protective equipment, and specialized firefighting skills. Expand satellite monitoring and early fire detection systems for real-time hotspot response. Provide emergency logistics and field operations support during active fire seasons. The Challenge Bolivia is in the middle of an escalating wildfire crisis. Prolonged drought, rising temperatures, and unsustainable land use have pushed the Chaco, Chiquitania, and Pantanal into increasingly frequent megafires. Each fire season destroys critical habitat, degrades soils and waterways, and puts Indigenous and rural communities at risk. Many protected landscapes still lack the equipment, early-warning systems, and trained brigades needed to contain fires before they spread. Urgent Solutions NATIVA is launching an integrated wildfire prevention and response program. They will strengthen local brigades with specialized training, protective equipment, and logistical support; expand satellite monitoring to detect hotspots in real time; and run awareness campaigns to help communities adopt preventive fire-management practices before the next dry season. The goal: sharply reduce wildfire impact and safeguard critical habitat for jaguars, Chaco peccaries, lowland tapirs, and the people who share their range. Why Your Donation Matters Your support goes straight to protecting some of Bolivia’s most extraordinary ecosystems. Every contribution equips a frontline brigade, keeps a monitoring system online, or fuels an emergency deployment when a fire breaks out. Investing in prevention now is how we stop irreversible biodiversity loss and defend Indigenous territories—before the next fire season hits. Partner Qualifications IUCN Member Verified Partner Legally Constituted Top Accountability Effective Impact Conservation Action Heroes
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
Save Colombia’s Chocó Rainforest
DONATE TO PROAVES Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Name Fundación ProAves Location: Las Tángaras Nature Reserve, Chocó, Northwest Colombia Appeal Category: Ecosystem Restoration Endangered Species Protected Area Management Reforestation Wildlife Conservation Key Species: Gold-ringed tanager Black-and-gold tanager Baudo guan Colombian black spider monkey Harlequin poison frog Challenges And Threats: Critical 242-acre property at risk of deforestation Habitat fragmentation threatening endangered species Agricultural expansion pressures, including pasture and abattoir development Actions: Secure the property to expand Las Tángaras Reserve. Maintain forest corridors for wildlife connectivity. Protect cloud forest ecosystems and biodiversity. The Challenge Colombia’s Chocó bioregion, one of the wettest and most biodiverse places on Earth, is vanishing at an alarming rate. More than 70% of its rainforest has already been lost, leaving only scattered remnants capable of supporting its astonishing wildlife. At the heart of this landscape lies the 9,960-acre Las Tángaras Reserve, one of the last intact strongholds for species found nowhere else. Its cloud forests shelter critically threatened wildlife, including the Gold-ringed tanager and the Colombian black spider monkey. But this refuge is now in immediate danger. A 242-acre property located inside the reserve boundary is scheduled for sale before year-end. If ProAves cannot secure it in time, it will be converted to cattle pasture and an abattoir triggering deforestation that would fragment the reserve, destroy habitat, and jeopardize the survival of its endangered species. This is one of the last unprotected properties directly bordering Las Tángaras Reserve. Losing it would break the forest corridor and tear apart the ecological continuity the entire ecosystem depends on. Urgent Solutions ProAves urgently seeks to purchase the 242-acre property to secure it forever. Your support will: Protect a rainforest and Cloud forest twice the size of Vatican City, sheltering ~68,600 mature trees. Prevent the release of 90,000 metric tons of stored CO₂ equivalent to the electricity use of 1,200 homes for a decade. Complete a unified 9,960-acre conservation corridor, strengthening habitat connectivity for threatened birds, mammals, and amphibians. Safeguard cloud forest headwaters that feed the Atrato River, a lifeline for Afro-Colombian communities downstream. Permanently protect one of Colombia’s most endangered biodiversity corridors at a critical moment. Why Your Donation Matters If this property is not secured before the end of the year, forest clearing will begin and the damage will be irreversible. This is a one-time opportunity to save a vital tract of rainforest that stabilizes climate, protects water systems, and shelters species found nowhere else on Earth. And right now, every donation is doubled, protecting twice as much rainforest when it matters most. Your Impact (Matched 1:1):$100 — Protects 9,720 sq. ft. of rainforest$250 — Protects 24,280 sq. ft. of rainforest$1,000 — Protects 97,200 sq. ft. of rainforest Every gift in your name helps secure irreplaceable habitat and keeps the Chocó’s extraordinary wildlife alive, forever. Partner Qualifications IUCN Member Verified Partner Legally Constituted Top Accountability Effective Impact Conservation Action Heroes
Save 1,000 Giant Trees in the Western Ghats
DONATE TO AERF Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Name Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF) Location: Western Ghats, India Appeal Category: Community Support & Development Ecosystem Restoration Reforestation Challenges And Threats: Widespread deforestation and habitat fragmentation Degraded forest patches leading to biodiversity loss and soil erosion Climate stress and invasive species affecting tree survival Actions: Planting and enrichment of giant native trees in degraded areas Restoring connectivity between fragmented forest patches Community training and engagement for long-term forest stewardship The Challenge The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are home to rich biodiversity and vital forest ecosystems. Many areas in this landscape have suffered extensive degradation due to deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and climate stress. Giant native trees, which are critical for maintaining forest structure, supporting wildlife, and regulating water and soil, are disappearing at an alarming rate. This loss of canopy trees not only threatens countless plant and animal species but also undermines the livelihoods of local communities who rely on the forests for clean water, food, and sustainable income. Without immediate restoration, degraded forests will continue to deteriorate, leading to further habitat loss, increased soil erosion, and diminished ecosystem resilience. Urgent Solutions To address these urgent threats, AERF is implementing a holistic restoration strategy focused on ecological and community resilience: Native Tree Planting & Enrichment: Planting and nurturing giant native tree species in degraded forest patches to restore canopy cover and structural diversity. Forest Connectivity: Reconnecting fragmented forests to enable wildlife movement, improve ecological processes, and maintain biodiversity. Community Engagement & Capacity Building: Training local villagers in tree propagation, planting, and long-term forest monitoring, fostering stewardship and sustainable livelihoods. These actions aim to restore forest health while ensuring that communities are active partners in conserving and benefiting from these landscapes. Why Your Donation Matters Your support will directly contribute to protecting over 1,000 giant native trees, restoring ecological balance, and reviving critical forest corridors. Donations empower local communities to manage and care for forests sustainably, ensuring the benefits of restoration last for generations. With your help, AERF can strengthen both natural and human resilience—enhancing biodiversity, stabilizing soils, improving water retention, and creating opportunities for local livelihoods. Every contribution advances a model of forest restoration that combines conservation success with community well-being, ensuring the Western Ghats’ giant trees stand well into the future. Partner Qualifications IUCN Member Legally Constituted Effective Impact
Support the Peruaçu Communities in Coping with the Water Crisis
DONATE TO EKOS BRASIL Verified for authenticity Learn More IMPACT PROMISE Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact Partner Snapshot Partner Name Instituto Ekos Brasil Location: Vale do Peruaçu, Minas Gerais, Brazil (Januária, Itacarambi, and São João das Missões) Appeal Category: Community Support & Development Protected Area Management Reforestation Key Species: Rock Cavy Cougar & Mountain Lion Hoary Fox Bush Dog Giant Anteater Narrow-billed Woodcreeper Boa Constrictor Challenges And Threats: Forest fires Intense deforestation Water crisis Soil degradation Actions: • Contribute to water security and increase the availability and quality of waterin the region• Identify more sustainable income-generating activities and productionpractices aligned with the conservation of natural resources and localbiodiversity• Highlight the vital role of Indigenous communities in protecting and conservingnatural resources and biodiversity The Challenge The Brazilian Cerrado is a vast tropical savanna that covers more than 20% of the national territory and is the second-largest biome in the country. Over half of its native vegetation has been converted for agribusiness, making the region a major global supplier of soy. Scientists are increasingly concerned about how these land use changes may affect the future of the biome and its communities—especially given the Cerrado’s higher vulnerability to climate change and drought compared to other regions in Brazil. This project, led by Instituto Ekos Brasil, focuses on the Peruaçu Cluster, part of the Sertão Veredas–Peruaçu Mosaic (MSVP) in Minas Gerais. The area spans five municipalities, with a total population of 118,233 inhabitants. Located within Brazil’s Drought Polygon, the Peruaçu region faces harsh conditions such as irregular rainfall, high temperatures, and low water reserves—leading to water insecurity, social vulnerability, and rural exodus, particularly among the youth. Water scarcity is considered the most pressing issue in the region. The Mosaic lies within a watershed with a negative water balance, and the unregulated use of groundwater has intensified the crisis. Another critical challenge is the high incidence of wildfires, some of which are illegal and others characteristic of the biome, but increasingly worsened by prolonged dry periods. Despite these threats, the region plays a vital role in conserving the Cerrado’s biodiversity. The Peruaçu Caves National Park and the Peruaçu Caves Environmental Protection Area are especially important for local communities, who rely on their natural and cultural heritage as sources of income aligned with conservation. These landscapes represent not only ecological value, but also the cultural and economic resilience of traditional populations. Urgent Solutions To address the escalating climate and water crisis in the Peruaçu region, Instituto Ekos Brasil has developed a rapid-response package of nature-based, community-driven solutions that are ready for implementation in the most severely impacted areas. Their proposed interventions include: Installing rainwater harvesting cisterns to immediately improve household water access and reduce dependence on overdrawn underground sources; Creating productive home gardens with native Cerrado species to support food security and diversify income in a landscape where water is increasingly scarce; Restoring degraded springs and riparian zones to safeguard the region’s fragile water sources; Conducting on-the-ground climate risk mapping, co-created with local communities, to guide future adaptation efforts; Hosting community workshops that integrate scientific and traditional knowledge, empowering residents to become local leaders in climate resilience. These solutions are low-cost, scalable, and rooted in traditional livelihoods. With donor support, they can be launched within the first 12 months of the project, directly benefiting over 30 families and contributing to the stabilization of a vital ecosystem. Why Your Donation Matters The implementation of this project will enable these marginalized communities, who are directly affected by the impacts of climate change but play a crucial role in the conservation and stewardship of ecosystems, to not only survive with dignity but also overcome their vulnerabilities in the face of the ongoing climate and water crisis affecting the region. Partner Qualifications IUCN Member Verified Partner Legally Constituted Top Accountability Effective Impact Conservation Action Heroes