The Nature Conservancy & National Geographic Society Externship Program

Together, the partners developed a program centered around a rigorous externship open to young adults ages 18-25 to equip them with the knowledge, tools, and relationships to seek solutions and take action in their communities around the globe. The program intentionally creates more opportunities for young people from all communities to prepare for careers in conservation and exploration. At the end of this eight-week experience, externs create an ArcGIS StoryMap presentation based on the local conservation issue they investigated. As the externship concludes, participants can apply for seed funding to begin enacting the solutions they identified in their communities. The program has addressed the challenge of inadequate leadership opportunities for global youth, by providing young adults from ages 18-25 with the opportunity to tackle global conservation issues, while gaining conservation skills.

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Management and Protection of the Coastal Wetlands in Yancheng, China

The Jiangsu Yancheng Wetland Rare Birds National Nature Reserve has the largest and most intact intertidal ecosystem on the western coast of the Pacific and the eastern edge of the Eurasian continent. It serves as an important stopover for water birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and protects the largest wild red-crowned crane wintering population in China. Over the past 40 years, the reserve has carried out extensive work in coastal wetland and wildlife protection, scientific monitoring and research, publicity and nature education, and the transformation of the value of ecological products. It has continuously improved its construction and management level, made unremitting efforts in the practice and demonstration of protection, development, and support functions, and effectively protected the biological and cultural diversity within the area. It plays an important role in maintaining ecological security and showcasing ecological image.

Engineering the Production of Compostable Menstrual Pads Using Plant-Based Fiber as the Main Absorbent Core

This initiative is part of the Sparsa Solution, a Nepali non-profit organization that locally produces and distributes compostable menstrual pads, which have an absorbent core made from banana fiber.,
Conventional fluff pad production machines are either manual-making them labor-intensive and unhygienic-or fully automated, which requires high upfront investment and is often incompatible with eco-friendly materials. To overcome these challenges, engineers from NIDISI, Sparsa, and Grit Engineering developed a semi-automatic, low-cost system tailored to local Made in Nepal.
Built with limited resources, the system produces 3,500–4,000 pads per day and includes:

A paper shredder for uniform fiber cutting;
A custom mattress-making machine for the fluffy absorbent core;
A modified pad assembly machine that seals different layers using ultrasonic sealing and compostable glue.

This setup enables safe, small-scale production while reducing plastic waste and supporting menstrual health for the benefit of women and the environment.

Building networks and relationships to strengthen and promote the compostable menstrual pad production in Nepal

This initiative is part of the Sparsa Solution, a Nepali non-profit organization that locally produces and distributes compostable menstrual pads with an absorbent core made from banana fiber.

To scale impact and ensure sustainability, Sparsa actively builds strong relationships with government bodies, grassroots organizations, and global partners. We engage municipalities, schools, and women-led NGOs to expand awareness, build trust, and ensure our solutions are locally relevant and widely accessible. We are a proud member of the Menstrual Health Management Partner Alliance (MHMPA) Nepal, enabling national-level advocacy and knowledge exchange. By completing all legal steps and aligning with government frameworks, we ensure full compliance and credibility. These partnerships—ranging from policy support to grassroots mobilization—have enabled Sparsa to extend its reach, foster innovation, and integrate menstrual health into broader development goals.

Eco-Friendly Salt Marsh Restoration Using Fishery By-Products

IPCC recognizes seagrass beds, salt marshes, and mangroves as the three primary blue carbon ecosystems. Taean National Park features a diverse coastal environment including salt marshes, coastal sand dunes, and seagrass beds. These habitats support a variety of species that are specially adapted to these environments. These areas are ecologically significant both as critical habitats and natural carbon sinks. However, ongoing coastal development and increasing visitors have led to continuous degradation and a reduction in their area due to human activities.

In the past, fishery by-products were classified as general waste. Improper disposal practices, including illegal dumping and uncontrolled accumulation along the coast, resulted in marine pollution, foul odors and decay. To address this issue, legislation was enacted to promote the recycling of fishery by-products. In line with this initiative, the park launched a pilot project to restore salt marshes and reinforce the coastline using recycled oyster shells.

Swinging into action: French golf tees off for biodiversity conservation

To better understand and preserve the rich yet under-documented biodiversity of golf courses, the French Golf Federation partnered with the National Museum of Natural History in 2016 to launch the Golf for Biodiversity Programme. The initiative aims to improve ecological knowledge, management, and conservation practices on golf courses in France. When joining the Programme, an ecological diagnostic is conducted on the golf course by a naturalist organisation and clubs implement tailored action plans based on expert recommendations. A Bronze, Silver, or Gold certification rewards efforts to study, protect, and promote biodiversity, based on the club’s commitment level. Data collected feeds into the National Natural Heritage Inventory, advancing national scientific research. While the Museum gains valuable insights into previously overlooked ecosystems, clubs benefit from expert support, training, strong peer network, and enhanced image.

Conserving Critically Endangered rosewood and Endangered padauk species in Community forest Vietnam's Central Annamite

Rosewood (Dalbergia spp.) and Dipterocarpus macrocarpus are among the most logged and traded tropical timbers in Southeast Asia due to high demand from the luxury furniture market. Extensive illegal logging and trade have led to local extinction or severe population declines across its range. In response, we propose a community-based conservation program in the Central Annamites, Vietnam. The initiative includes establishing community nurseries, replanting rosewood in known habitats, and protecting remaining mature mother trees through the creation of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in community forests. This integrated approach will safeguard vital seed sources, support long-term species recovery, and actively engage local communities. In doing so, it will also create alternative income streams through seedling production, participation in restoration efforts, and access to carbon credits and other green financing opportunities.

World Rowing: Healthy Waters, strong strokes for nature

Clean and healthy waters are vital for human health, food security, reversing nature loss, climate resilience, and sustainable development. Yet rivers, lakes, and coasts are under threat, affecting life on Earth and sports like Rowing, which depend on these ecosystems. To take action, World Rowing deepened its partnership with WWF International by launching the Healthy Waters Alliance, shifting from awareness to impact. The Alliance unites World Rowing and WWF communities to co-create and deliver projects that protect and restore waters essential to rowers, wildlife, communities, and economies. Projects can be initiated by National Rowing Federations, clubs, athletes, event organisers, or local WWF offices. The Healthy Waters Alliance Guide outlines the process for collaboration. In 2024, the Italian Rowing Federation and WWF Italy launched a seabed clean-up with a local NGO, and clubs joined Adopt a Beach, tackling plastic pollution. In 2025, Ambassador Martin Helseth led a clean-up of the Oslo fjord with clubs, NGOs & WWF.

Primer Comité de Género de un Parque Nacional en Chile: Vicente Pérez Rosales

El Comité de Equidad de Género del Parque Nacional Vicente Pérez Rosales es una iniciativa pionera en Chile, creada con el objetivo de promover la igualdad de género en la gestión y vinculación con el entorno de esta área protegida. A través de este comité, se busca asegurar la equidad de oportunidades, toma de decisiones conjuntas y condiciones favorables para las y los guardaparques. Este comité no solo trabaja en la integración de la perspectiva de género en los procesos de conservación, sino también en la generación de espacios de empoderamiento para mujeres guardaparques y de comunidades locales, promoviendo su liderazgo y fortaleciendo su capacidad de influencia en la gestión del parque.

SIREN: A Mobile App and Network of Fishermen to Save Marine Wildlife in Cameroon and Beyond

In Cameroon and other resource-limited countries, marine wildlide data relies heavily on anecdotal reports and one-off surveys, leading to substantial knowledge gaps that hinder effective conservation efforts. The scarcity of scientific expertise, combined with the high cost of dedicated boat surveys, presents a significant barrier to marine wildlife research and conservation.

Fishers and marine species share habitats and resources on a daily basis, creating potential for fishers to act as citizen scientists. We established a network of over 80 fishers who regularly report marine wildlife sightings using a Smartphone App, SIREN. This user-friendly app, compatible with Android and iOS, allows fishermen to document marine mega-fauna sightings, and to capture and upload up to four photographs, along with additional information such as a description. The App automatically associates a location and date with the report, providing data that can be used to co-design conservation measures.

2025

Mainstreaming behaviour change in biodiversity conservation

This document presents the findings of a comprehensive needs assessment conducted by the IUCN SSC CEC Behaviour Change Task Force. It is designed to provide a structured understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and actionable recommendations for integrating behavioural sciences into conservation strategies. The report aims to serve as both a diagnostic tool and a roadmap for advancing the application of behavioural sciences in conservation efforts.

Implementing FLR in wildlife-coupled systems using Pastoralist Managed Natural Regeneration (PMNR) techniques

The East Kilimanjaro landscape in Kenya, covering Kajiado South sub-county (approximately 6,411 km²), encompasses diverse ecosystems, including rangelands suffering from severe degradation. To counter degradation, a forest landscape restoration (FLR) project, supported by WWF and other partners, involving community groups like ALOCA (Amboseli Land Owners Conservation Association) was undertaken. The project focuses on sustainable land use practices and restoration techniques to protect wildlife corridors, promote Maasai pastoral cultural practice, and create livelihood opportunities. Restoration methods include grazing management, tree rejuvenation, rainwater capture, and grass seed banking. Key actors include ALOCA (Amboseli Land Owners Association), Big Life Foundation, Justdiggit, and WWF.

Forest, River, Field, and Sea in Communities of Xinwu, Taoyuan

Bengang Village, Shenzhen Village, and Kejian Village are coastal communities in Xinwu, Taoyuan. Situated next to each other between the basins of Shezi Stream and Fuxing Stream, they feature four main ecosystems: algal reefs, windbreaks, stone fish weirs, and farmlands/ponds.

In 2022, the Hsinchu Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency organized the “Forest-River-Fields-Sea Socio-Ecological-Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS) Localization Resilience Assessment Workshops (RAWs).” The RAWs identified key challenges faced by Xinwu’s coastal communities, including changes in natural and land resource utilization, climate change-induced natural disasters, environmental pollution from industrialization, invasive species, rural depopulation and aging, and the erosion of local cultural knowledge. Conserving and enhancing the resilience of these communities’ SEPLS is an urgent task.