The Nsumbu Project was one of the Lion Recovery Fund’s earliest investments, and in some ways was a bold decision starting out, as Nsumbu had no lions and had never been considered a lion stronghold. However, kickstarting effective management in neglected landscapes is a huge part of what the LRF is about. Using lions as flagships to protect savannah landscapes and thus benefit savannah biodiversity writ large. LRF’s willingness to support this project helped give Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) the courage to take on the Nsumbu Project. Support from Disney also played a key role in making this possible, as it enabled the LRF to issue a series of grants.

In the years prior to working with Wildlife Conservation Network to manage the LRF, I worked with the NGO Panthera as a research scientist. I was working on an assessment of the performance of protected areas for lions and their prey. The study showed, starkly, how poorly lions were doing, even in protected areas.

One interview I had during that study was especially memorable. Craig Zytkow, who owns a lodge on the shores of Lake Tanganyika inside Nsumbu National Park in northern Zambia, was lamenting the fact that the park was being hammered by poaching and that lions were on the edge of disappearing. Craig was spending a fortune of his own funds protecting a bubble around his lodge, but it was a losing battle. The last lions of Nsumbu disappeared shortly after and Nsumbu joined the long list of parks that had lost their lions.

But then something changed. In 2017, FZS made the decision to partner with the Zambian wildlife authorities to support management of the park. They hired Craig as their project lead and things took a sudden, dramatic turn for the better.

Big-Screen Connection

To celebrate the 2019 reimagining of “The Lion King,” Disney launched the global PROTECT THE PRIDE campaign in collaboration with WCN’s Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) to raise awareness of the crisis facing lions. The birth of the lion cubs in Zambia’s Nsumbu National Park is a great example of the types of efforts Protect the Pride has allowed the LRF to do.

• The Protect the Pride campaign raised more than $4.8 million for the LRF.
• The campaign was reprised for 2024’s release of “Mufasa: The Lion King,” celebrating the successes to date and looking toward a future when lions and people thrive.
• Protect the Pride spotlights the stories of the people on the frontlines of lion recovery, aiming to increase awareness of the plight of the species, and invite meaningful conservation solutions that protect lion habitats, strengthen local communities, and secure a future for these majestic creatures.

A Striking Difference

FZS and the Zambian authorities tackled the rampant poaching that had resulted in lions disappearing and wildlife populations having cratered. They brought poaching under control and wildlife started to recover. With LRF support, zebra and buffalo—key lion prey species—were reintroduced.

I visited Nsumbu in 2017 and then again in 2023, and the difference was striking—wildlife populations were much larger and more widely distributed. Then in 2024, with support from the LRF, lions were reintroduced to the park. Starting conservatively, two females and one male were reintroduced. The two females have now had two cubs each, and the population is well on the road to recovery. More lions will be introduced in the future to ensure genetic diversity, but the initial reintroduction was a roaring success!

The post How Four Tiny Cubs Marked One Giant Win for Lion Conservation appeared first on Wildlife Conservation Network.

We were so relieved to hear from our Partners that their team in Ituri is safe. But the OCP needs your help to make sure that their staff, and the local communities that they work with every day, remain so.

The strain of Ebola currently present in Ituri Province is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which is both rare and difficult to identify. There is currently no approved vaccine or treatment for this strain of Ebola, which makes prevention incredibly important. It is the only tool that the OCP and others in Ituri Province have.

To respond to the outbreak, the OCP is urgently working to raise $25,000—funds that will help ensure that essential information is communicated across communities, and secure essential protective supplies, including:

• Face masks
• Medical-grade disinfectant and chlorine solution for foot baths
• Latex gloves
• Personal Protective Equipment such as coveralls and shoe covers
• Handwashing stations, soap
• Hand sanitizer and re-fillable bottles

The Okapi Conservation Project team is already implementing biosecurity measures across their work areas. Given the nature of this virus they are not only protecting their own staff, but the communities they serve throughout the region.

Quote

“The okapi, the forest, and the people of Ituri are deeply intertwined, and the health of this ecosystem depends on the health of the communities within it. We have been here through difficult seasons before, and we will see this through, with your support.” —The Okapi Conservation Project

We are proud of the entire team at the Okapi Conservation Project, and echo their calls for support. If you are able to make an emergency gift today, please know that it will go directly to protecting their team and community partners.

The post An Urgent Appeal from the Okapi Conservation Project, in Ituri Province appeared first on Wildlife Conservation Network.

Bringing Back our Ecosystem Engineers

Sea otters are joy made visible—floating on their backs, using rocks as tools to crack open urchins, gathering in tight-knit rafts that bob on the waves. For too long, that joy has been absent from many of the shores that sea otters used to call home. Once abundant from Baja California across the Pacific to Japan, sea otters were hunted to near extinction for their fur, dwindling to only 2,000 survivors at the turn of the 20th century. Their absence has had dire consequences.

As ecosystem engineers, sea otters protect kelp forests by eating the sea urchins and other invertebrates that graze on them. Without otters, those forests, which act as nurseries for many of the fish that coastal communities depend on, have been decimated. Today, coastal communities are living with the long-term consequences of an ecosystem out of balance—from increased coastal erosion, to less productive fisheries. It is those very communities that have ignited a spark to bring back our sea otters, and WCN’s Sea Otter Fund (SOF) is helping sustain and increase that momentum through the projects we support.

A Rare Opportunity

Our approach is founded on the knowledge that sea otter reintroduction—the translocation of animals from surviving populations back to areas where they have gone locally extinct—has worked in the past. One- third of all sea otters alive today are the result of successful reintroductions. Reintroducing sea otters is about far more than simply moving otters: it’s a multi-stage, multi-year process involving aligning partners, planning logistics, implementing reintroduction and managing people and otter populations. This World Otter Day, we are closer than ever to our goal of bringing otters home.

This report focuses on the rare opportunity of this moment, when community-driven momentum, strong science primed partnerships converge. WCN’s SOF is catalyzing further momentum by supporting partners along the sea otter’s historical range to reverse the course of 120 years of local extinction. With grants supporting management and planning, research, ecosystem restoration, economic and cultural development, and community engagement, the SOF is putting hope into motion.

Read the Report

Read the full Sea Otter Fund annual report here. And from all of us at WCN, happy World Otter Day!

The post A Day for Otters. A Year Working to Save Them. appeared first on Wildlife Conservation Network.

For over 30 years, the Okapi Conservation Project has been working to answer these questions and to save the incredible okapi. Also known as the “forest giraffe,” the okapi is found only in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Striking and elusive all at once, the okapi was the last large African mammal to be documented by Western science. And while it is a source of pride in the DRC, designated as their national animal and even appearing on bills and coins, few Congolese have ever seen one.

But thanks in part to the efforts of the Okapi Conservation Project–a WCN Conservation Partner–that is set to change.

The arrival of “Forest” and “Thank You”

Last month, our friends at the Okapi Conservation Project shared some exciting news with us about two male okapis named Pori (“Forest”) and Ekpangi (“Thank You”). Both animals were successfully brought into care at the Okapi Conservation and Education Center in Epulu, and have adapted well to their new environment. This was a delicate operation that required months of careful preparation, including camera trap studies to identify suitable areas with stable okapi populations, and traditional ceremonies with the local communities that share the forest with these animals. It was accomplished in partnership with Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

A long-awaited return

Pori and Ekpangi join a beautiful third okapi, Tundana, a healthy female who was brought to Epulu Station in 2025. But this is about more than just the movement of three individual animals–it is a change more than a decade in the making. For 13 years there were no okapis at the Okapi Conservation and Education Center, which had been the only place where Congolese citizens could come to learn about their national animal and see it in its natural habitat. 

Today, thanks to Tundana, Pori, and Ekpangi, the station has been restored to its historic role in conservation and education. For local communities, government officials, and visitors alike, the presence of okapi at Epulu Station serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting the country’s unique biodiversity. John Lukas, the President of the Okapi Conservation Project, says, “It is critical that the people of DRC can learn about their national animal, the ghost of the forest, surrounded by the flora and fauna of their habitat, if they are expected to protect the ecosystem okapi call home.”

Ambassadors for a species and an entire ecosystem

Okapi education and conservation are about far more than a single species. They are a flagship species of the Ituri Forest, which they share with numerous other threatened animals, including eastern chimpanzees and forest elephants. By strengthening national pride and public engagement around okapi conservation, the project also supports broader efforts to safeguard one of Africa’s most important tropical forests.

That work has never been more important than it is today. As the country moves through a period of ongoing instability, both the Okapi Conservation Project and their partners on the ground are doing essential work to protect wildlife and to ensure a future for okapi and the forests they depend on. At WCN, we celebrate the return of okapi to Epulu Station and the incredible efforts of these dedicated conservationists.

The post After 13 Years, a Return for the Okapi appeared first on Wildlife Conservation Network.

My journey began in the shadow of Machu Picchu. While millions of tourists visit to learn of the rich cultural history of the Inca Empire, Spectacled Bear Conservation (SBC), a member of WCN’s Partner Network since 2016, focuses their conservation efforts there to understand the health of the bear population that roam the surrounding peaks. Machu Picchu’s natural setting sits on the eastern slopes of the Andes encompassing the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna, including the spectacled bear. For the first time ever, SBC has deployed GPS collars on spectacled bears here to identify critical breeding and feeding grounds in Machu Picchu’s Historic Sanctuary. Their network of 200 camera traps has already revealed a thriving population—detecting at least 43 individual bears—alongside species never before recorded in the area, like the kinkajou and the rare northern tiger cat. This was not easy work. Imagine putting a camera every half mile over an area the size of San Francisco while navigating challenging terrain with a heavy backpack—scrambling up and down steep cliffs, fording streams, and adapting to dramatic changes in elevation and climate. SBC’s efforts are ensuring that the growth of tourism doesn’t come at the expense of the bears’ last remaining habitat.

From Cusco, I traveled north to the Amazonas region to meet Fanny Cornejo and the Yunkawasi team. Their mission is centered on one of the rarest primates on Earth: the yellow-tailed woolly monkey. With its mahogany fur and striking yellow tail tufts, this monkey is more than just a species; it is an “engine of ecological recovery”. As it moves across the ridges, it disperses seeds that grow into the canopy of tomorrow, sustaining the water and soil that local communities depend on. 

What makes Yunkawasi’s approach so inspiring is their commitment to local autonomy. In the village of Beirut, Corosha, Yunkawasi helped establish the Oso Dorado Association—a legally registered community group that now manages its own conservation funds and programs. Today, the people who live in these forests are the ones who monitor the wildlife, lead eco-tourism efforts, and serve as the stewards of their ancestral land. Yunkawasi has turned this rare primate into a national symbol of pride through their national campaign, “Achórate por el mono choro de cola amarilla” (“Stand up for the yellow-tailed woolly monkey!”), even landing its likeness on a commemorative Peruvian coin.

After also joining the Yunkawasi team for their all-staff retreat outside of Lima, I felt a deep sense of hope. Their energy and professionalism are world-class. As WCN continues to vet Yunkawasi for our Partner Network, I am reminded of why we do this work—to back the visionary leaders who are ensuring that Peru’s wild frontiers remain wild for generations to come.

Whether it’s a bear navigating the cliffs of Machu Picchu or a monkey swinging through the canopy of Amazonas, the story is the same: conservation is most successful when local communities lead efforts in their own landscapes, drawing on traditional knowledge, cultural connections to wildlife, and deep understanding of local contexts. By incorporating diverse perspectives and building collaborative relationships, we strengthen our collective ability to protect wildlife and ecosystems.

The post Beyond the Mist: Protecting the Spectacled Bears and Woolly Monkeys of Peru appeared first on Wildlife Conservation Network.

NEW YORK, NY — Global leaders, Indigenous advocates, and ocean scientists will gather at the United Nations this April for a special screening of Remathau: People of the Ocean (2025), a powerful new documentary that follows Micronesian scientist Dr. Nicole Yamase on her historic journey to the Challenger Deep—the deepest known point in the ocean. Hosted during the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the event brings together partners across conservation, philanthropy, and Indigenous leadership to highlight the essential role of Pacific communities in shaping the future of ocean stewardship.

Co-hosted by Causeway Impact, OneReef, Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), and the Permanent Mission of the Federated States of Micronesia to the United Nations, the gathering will feature a screening of the film followed by a discussion on the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, cutting-edge science, and global ocean policy.

At a moment when the international community is grappling with climate change, biodiversity loss, and the protection of 30 percent of the ocean by 2030, the event underscores a growing recognition: durable conservation outcomes depend on Indigenous peoples and local communities who have stewarded these ecosystems for generations. Remathau: People of the Ocean, directed by Daniel H. Lin and produced by Nia Tero, offers a rare and deeply human window into this reality, weaving together scientific exploration with cultural identity and ancestral connection to the sea.

The film centers on Dr. Nicole Yamase, the first Micronesian and Pacific Islander to reach the Challenger Deep, whose journey represents both a scientific milestone and a powerful narrative of representation in ocean exploration. Her story reflects a broader shift in ocean science—one that increasingly values the leadership, knowledge systems, and lived experience of Indigenous communities.

The convening also highlights the work of the organizations behind the event. OneReef has emerged as a leading force in advancing community-based ocean stewardship across the Pacific, working alongside local partners in places such as Palau, Yap, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. Through a model that blends Indigenous leadership, rigorous science, and innovative financing, OneReef supports over 100 coastal communities in strengthening fisheries management, protecting marine ecosystems, and building long-term resilience to climate change.

WCN brings a complementary strength for scaling conservation impact globally. Known for its high-impact, entrepreneur-driven approach, WCN has helped channel tens of millions of dollars to frontline conservationists worldwide, supporting species and ecosystem protection through its network of partners and its ability to connect philanthropy directly to field-based solutions. WCN believe conservation is most successful when local communities lead efforts in their own landscapes, and this event is a living example of that belief in practice. Its involvement in this event also reflects a growing commitment to ocean conservation and the elevation of Indigenous-led initiatives.

WCN’s Voice in the Room

Kirah Forman-Castillo, Belize National Coordinator of MarAlliance, a member of WCN’s Partner Network, will join the conversation to share how MarAlliance is working to protect threatened marine wildlife with dependent communities. Growing up in a fishing family, Kirah nurtured a love for the sea from an early age. Now, she’s implementing MarAlliance’s vision for the conservation of sharks, rays, sea turtles, and large finfish important for fisheries – and their critical habitats along the Mesoamerican Reef.

In addition to Kirah, WCN will also be represented at the event by Tommy Sheridan, Senior Manager of WCN’s Partner Network, and Melissa Fenton, Head of Corporate Partnerships.

About Our Co-Hosts
Causeway Impact plays a critical role in mobilizing the philanthropic capital needed to support these efforts. As a strategic advisor to major donors and foundations, Causeway Impact specializes in aligning funding with high-impact opportunities across climate, conservation, and social equity. By bridging the gap between funders and frontline organizations, it has helped unlock significant resources for initiatives that prioritize both ecological outcomes and community leadership.

One Reef works alongside island communities to protect and restore coral reef ecosystems, combining traditional stewardship with modern science to advance community-led conservation for future generations.

Together, these partners represent a broader movement toward integrated, community-centered approaches to conservation, one that recognizes that the health of the ocean is inseparable from the wellbeing, rights, and leadership of the people who depend on it.

The event will take place at the Directors Guild of America Theater and is open to registered participants. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with filmmakers, conservation leaders, and Indigenous voices shaping the future of ocean stewardship.

Event Details
What: Film Screening and Discussion — Remathau: People of the Ocean (2025)
When: April 29^th, 2026, 6-7:45pm (doors open at 5pm)
Where: Directors Guild of America Theater
Registration: https://luma.com/qhhhp6xp

The post Global Leaders Convene at United Nations to Spotlight Indigenous Ocean Stewardship in Documentary Premiere appeared first on Wildlife Conservation Network.

The Goldman Prize is widely considered the world’s most prestigious award for grassroots environmental advocates and practitioners. This year, it recognizes Iroro for a body of work that spans endangered species recovery, community-led forest protection, and climate change mitigation — and for what she has spent the better part of a decade doing at the center of all three: going to extraordinary lengths to save a bat few have ever heard of, in a rugged and remote montane landscape.

Pulling a species back from the brink

It started with a hike. In 2016, Iroro and her colleagues spent four days in the Afi Mountains Wildlife Sanctuary in southeastern Nigeria. What they found was a protected area in name — but not fully in practice for small mammals. Large charismatic species found in the sanctuary, including gorillas and chimpanzees, had their advocates. But small mammal hunting was rife and largely unchecked, with bats being the most hunted animals. That gap became the founding premise of SMACON: that conservation should be evidence-based, and it should reach the species that others overlook.

Iroro had already spent years building the scientific foundation to take on this mission. She earned degrees in environmental science and biodiversity conservation, completed a PhD at Texas Tech, and began assembling Nigeria’s first national bat database. She understood that West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea Islands are understudied hyperdiverse centers of endemism, meaning the knowledge gaps are enormous, and so is what’s at stake.

That same year, during her work in the Afi Mountains, Iroro documented the Short-tailed Roundleaf bat in Nigeria and helped protect the country’s last known roost. With an estimated population of 1,500 individuals, it is among the most endangered bat species globally. The roost faced real threats: from wildfires sparked by farmers clearing land, to hunters disturbing the bats by building camp fires in their caves. Without intervention, the species didn’t stand a chance.

Building a wildfire solution from the ground up

Iroro’s response was to build something lasting and replicable. Started in the Afi Mountains, the Zero Wildfire Campaign produced a model that has grown into something much larger: the Tropical Fire Alliance (TFA), SMACON’s climate change mitigation initiative targeting uncontrolled wildfires across the pan-tropics.

TFA was built upon straightforward logic: under climate change, wildfires have become a leading driver of deforestation worldwide. Tropical forests are the planet’s major terrestrial carbon sink. And the communities that live closest to those forests are the least equipped to protect them. TFA’s approach cuts through that by working at the source, reducing wildfire risk, and responding to any fires before they spread.

In the Afi Mountains, SMACON built a community-based forest guardians force equipped with remote firefighting gear and an early-warning wildfire prediction system. Community leaders help enforce local wildfire laws tailored to each village. For four consecutive years, no wildfires reached critical bat habitat at the sanctuary.

SMACON plans to scale that model far beyond Nigeria: supporting thousands of forest communities, to protect 500 billion hectares of tropical forest from wildfires over the next decade, sequestering 15 to 20 million tonnes of carbon per year. What began as a campaign to save one bat roost is now a blueprint for forest protection at a planetary scale.

Why this recognition matters

SMACON is a small team operating in understudied landscapes with limited infrastructure. Iroro runs active field programs, mentors young Nigerian scientists, and advocates for policy that connects conservation science to government action, often all at once.

In August 2024, WCN welcomed SMACON as the 26th member of our Partner Network. Iroro brings the same rigor to her community partnerships that she brings to her science: evidence-based, relationship-driven, and grounded in a conviction that conservation only sticks when the people who share a landscape have a real stake in it. As she’s said of her work with local communities: “It is only by working with and embracing the local people that sustainable conservation will be achieved.”

By joining WCN’s Partner Network, SMACON gains access to WCN’s funding, network of conservation supporters, and the resources to scale work that is already proving its impact. We are proud to stand behind Iroro and her team as they carry this mission forward. The Goldman Prize shines a well-deserved spotlight on what sustained, rigorous grassroots conservation looks like. We couldn’t be more proud to support Iroro, and more grateful that the world is now paying attention.

The post Iroro Tanshi, Co-founder of WCN Partner SMACON, Wins 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize appeared first on Wildlife Conservation Network.

The heartbeat of conservation is not found in the tools we use, but in the people who use them. When we strengthen our own organizations, we strengthen the future for the Grevy’s zebra.

— Peter Lalampaa, Executive Director, Grevy’s Zebra Trust

In November 2025, Grevy’s Zebra Trust (GZT) and Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) attended collaborator Maliasili’s three-day Organizational Development Practitioners’ Gathering at Lake Elementaita in Gilgil, Kenya, bringing together 12 distinguished nonprofits from around the world to share insights and strengthen the pivotal roles they play in scaling up locally-led conservation organizations.

At WCN, we don’t just fund conservation — we fuel it. Our Partner Network is built on trust-based partnerships that strengthen local conservation organizations across the globe. As our staff provide direct technical expertise, strategic guidance, mentoring and skills training, conservationists and their organizations become more efficient, resilient and confident in their work.

Peter Lalampaa arrived at the gathering with the perspective of a leader who has spent decades navigating the complexities of community-led conservation. As both a Board Member and the head of one of WCN’s Partner organizations, Lalampaa bridged the gap between the strategic theory of organizational health and the frontline reality of conservation in northern Kenya. He was joined as a guest speaker by Dickson Kaelo, CEO of the Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA). Together, they shared lessons learned, best practices and the qualities of strong partnerships, offering guidance on building long-lasting, trust-based relationships. Across cultures and languages, conversations revealed that organizational development accelerates momentum and provides guardrails for partnership. As Kaelo noted, “we cannot achieve anything without strong institutions.” Both speakers identified organizational development as the work of nurturing young organizations through support, resource management and a push toward partner independence, further illustrating the strength of WCN’s model.

Discussions centered on three critical themes: Strengthening Organizational Development Approaches in Diverse Contexts, Methods and Approaches for Organizational Development Delivery, and Decolonisation and Localisation in Organizational Development. For GZT, this was more than a retreat. It was an opportunity to refine the internal engines that power their work. WCN spent the week facilitating workshops on organizational development tools and participating in dialogue around transdisciplinary problem-solving, ensuring that GZT’s internal structures are as resilient as the pastoralist communities they serve.

This gathering brought together organizations across contexts and geographies, united by a commitment to making organizational development a global priority. Guests included WCN conservation partners such as GZT, alongside collaborators including BirdLife International, Conservation Confluence, Synchronicity Earth and others. For WCN, the gathering also deepened its relationship with Maliasili, fostering clear alignment and strengthening shared values that open the door for continued mutual learning. The gathering resulted in a concrete roadmap for GZT’s next phase of growth. The primary takeaway was clear: a conservation organization can only be as effective as its people and its internal systems. By investing in GZT’s internal capacity, we are directly investing in the survival of the Grevy’s zebra.

At WCN, our commitment to scaling up locally-led conservation is matched by a global community of supporters whose generosity keeps this work alive. None of it is possible without our donors, whose steadfast commitment allows organizations like GZT to focus on what they do best: protecting wildlife and empowering communities.

The post Strengthening Local Leadership: A Gathering of Organizational Development Practitioners appeared first on Wildlife Conservation Network.

At Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), we believe in the power of conscious consumerism. We’ve partnered with remarkable companies who share our commitment to conservation and sustainability. Each brand featured here contributes directly to protecting endangered wildlife and supporting the communities that live alongside them. In addition to commercial gifts, you’ll discover unique treasures crafted by local communities that work with our Conservation Partners. These beautiful items provide sustainable incomes to rural artisans while protecting endangered wildlife in their regions.

From everyday essentials to once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences, these thoughtfully selected options offer you ways to align your purchases with your values. Because when it comes to saving wildlife, every choice matters.

Sustainable Shopping

Wildlife Tracking Bracelets + Plushes, Fahlo

Transform your accessory collection with purpose! Fahlo’s beautiful tracking bracelets ($16.95) and tracking plushes ($29.95) connect you directly with wildlife conservation efforts around the world. Each purchase allows you to follow a real animal’s journey through an interactive digital experience—simply scan the QR code to reveal your animal’s name, photo, story, and receive exciting updates along the way. Choose from elephants, penguins, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, snow leopards, and many more beloved species. Fahlo proudly donates 10% of net profits to support vital conservation initiatives for vulnerable wildlife populations, making these items meaningful gifts for nature enthusiasts of all ages.

StoptheDrop® with Loopy Cases

Protect your phone and wildlife with Loopy’s innovative smartphone cases! Their signature StoptheDrop® feature prevents drops while their commitment to conservation protects endangered species. Through their Loopy for a Cause 1% Pledge program, these durable, stylish cases contribute directly to wildlife preservation efforts worldwide. When you choose their Leopard or Midnight Leopard Loopy® Cases (available for various phone models), a portion of your purchase helps protect endangered species. Make your everyday tech accessories work harder for wildlife conservation with every purchase.

Chocolate, Washu

Indulge your sweet tooth sustainably. Washu works with local people to craft exquisite treats using Ecuador’s prized “Nacional” cacao, sourced from the small community of Tesoro Escondido. Each delectable bar does more than satisfy sweet cravings—it helps protect endangered brown-headed spider monkeys and their forest home. Your purchase supports fair trade practices, funds wildlife rehabilitation for rescued spider monkeys, and helps maintain one of the largest forest conservation projects in Ecuador’s Esmeraldas province. It’s a perfect stocking stuffer that transforms a moment of chocolate bliss into a lasting impact for wildlife and local communities. Shop here.

Gorilla Conservation Coffee, Conservation Through Public Health

Savor the rich flavor of conservation with every sip! Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH) produces exceptional coffee that protects both communities and wildlife. By paying above market value to marginalized smallholder coffee farmers living around Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park—home to endangered mountain gorillas—this initiative creates sustainable livelihoods that reduce pressure on fragile forest ecosystems. Each purchase helps improve farmers’ well-being while preserving critical wildlife habitat, with $1.50 per kilo of coffee purchased donated directly to CTPH’s ongoing conservation programs. This delicious, ethically sourced coffee offers the perfect way to start your morning with purpose, connecting your daily ritual to the protection of one of our planet’s most magnificent species.

CAT CRAFT Artisan Figurines, Andean Cat Alliance

Discover the perfect gift for animal lovers that carries a deep cultural meaning! These charming handcrafted cat figurines and keychains are lovingly created by artisans in High Andean communities, each piece telling a story of tradition and conservation. Through the innovative Andean Cat Alliance CAT CRAFT project, local craftspeople transform their traditional skills into beautiful artwork while helping protect the rare and elusive Andean cat. The intricate details and vibrant colors of these figurines reflect both the beauty of the Andean landscape and the cultural heritage of the communities that create them. When you purchase these unique treasures, you’re not just giving a delightful decoration—you’re supporting sustainable livelihoods in mountain communities and contributing directly to vital conservation efforts for one of South America’s most endangered felines. Shop here!

Sustainable Travel

Travel with Purpose, Indagare

Take meaningful trips that have a positive impact with Indagare, the membership-based luxury travel agency and media brand that combines curated content with high-touch service. Experience the natural world’s wonders while ensuring their protection through Indagare’s expertly designed conservation journeys, or become a member to craft your own. Indagare’s commitment to responsible tourism means that a portion of your travel costs supports local conservation initiatives in the destinations you visit, whether you’re tracking protected lions in Zimbabwe with award-winning wildlife filmmakers and partners of the Lion Recovery Fund, or you’re gorilla-trekking with biologists in Rwanda. Plus, Indagare is a 100 percent carbon-neutral company, and you can rest assured that the unavoidable emissions from any trip have been offset through trustworthy carbon projects. Travel with purpose and create unforgettable memories along the way.

Concert Tickets, Mammoth

Music lovers can also give back when they buy tickets through Mammoth. With 25+ years in the music business, Mammoth produces shows from folk, country, rock, pop, EDM, metal, and indie! Through TUSK Outreach, $0.50 per ticket on Mammoth ticketed events supports Save the Elephants and other organizations—uniting fans and artists to give back.

Paradise with Purpose, Misool Resort

Experience conservation in action at Misool Resort, a sanctuary where luxury meets environmental stewardship. Nestled in the pristine Raja Ampat archipelago of Indonesia, this intimate and exclusive tropical hideaway offers an unparalleled escape with powder-white beaches and vibrant coral reefs at your doorstep. Limited to just 40 guests and boasting a remarkable 4-to-1 staff ratio, Misool delivers personalized service in one of Earth’s last untouched marine paradises. Your stay directly supports Misool Foundation‘s vital work protecting these fragile ecosystems, including their expansive 300,000-acre marine reserve that has seen fish biomass increase by 250% since its establishment. Immerse yourself in world-class diving among 1,700 species of reef fish, relax in sustainably constructed luxury accommodations, and witness firsthand how tourism can be a powerful force for conservation. 

Every sustainable choice featured in this guide helps create a better future for wildlife. By selecting these products and experiences, you’re not just acquiring something new—you’re supporting local communities, protecting endangered species, and preserving vital habitats around the world.

Want to make an even bigger impact? Consider making a donation. Your gift will directly support wildlife conservationists in the field working on projects that safeguard our planet’s precious biodiversity. Together, we can ensure that wildlife thrives for generations to come.

Learn more about each of these partnerships and browse other products that support wildlife conservation on our Shop Page.

The post Sustainable Shopping Guide this Earth Day appeared first on Wildlife Conservation Network.

Below you will find a list of thoughtful gift ideas to show your mom, or the motherly figure in your life, some appreciation while also benefiting endangered animals around the world.

StoptheDrop® with Loopy Cases

Help mom protect her phone in style! Loopy’s innovative StoptheDrop® smartphone cases prevent phone drops all while their commitment to conservation protects endangered species. Through their Loopy for a Cause 1% Pledge program, these durable, stylish cases contribute directly to wildlife preservation efforts worldwide. When you choose their Leopard or Midnight Leopard Loopy® Cases (available for various phone models), a portion of your purchase helps protect endangered species.

Concert Tickets, Mammoth

If your mom is a music and wildlife lover, you can treat her to a show all while giving back. With 25+ years in the music business, Mammoth produces shows from folk, country, rock, pop, EDM, metal, and indie! Through TUSK Outreach, $0.50 per ticket on Mammoth ticketed events supports Save the Elephants and other organizations—uniting fans and artists to give back.

Chocolate, Washu

Every mom deserves a sweet treat and when the treat benefits local communities, even better. Washu works with local people to craft exquisite treats using Ecuador’s prized “Nacional” cacao, sourced from the small community of Tesoro Escondido. Each delectable bar does more than satisfy sweet cravings—it helps protect endangered brown-headed spider monkeys and their forest home. Your purchase supports fair trade practices, funds wildlife rehabilitation for rescued spider monkeys, and helps maintain one of the largest forest conservation projects in Ecuador’s Esmeraldas province. It’s a perfect stocking stuffer that transforms a moment of chocolate bliss into a lasting impact for wildlife and local communities. Shop here.

Travel with Purpose, Indagare

Treat mom to the trip of a lifetime. Indagare, a membership-based luxury travel agency and media brand, can bring you to the heart of the natural world’s wonders while ensuring their protection. Sign up for an expertly designed conservation journey, or become a member to craft your own. Indagare’s commitment to responsible tourism means that a portion of your travel costs supports local conservation initiatives in the destinations you visit, whether you’re tracking protected lions in Zimbabwe with award-winning wildlife filmmakers and partners of the Lion Recovery Fund, or you’re gorilla-trekking with biologists in Rwanda. Plus, Indagare is a 100 percent carbon-neutral company, and you can rest assured that the unavoidable emissions from any trip have been offset through trustworthy carbon projects. Travel with purpose and create unforgettable memories with those you love most along the way.

Eco-mochilas, Proyecto Tití

Proyecto Tití’s eco-mochilas are crafted using discarded plastic bags, creating a truly unique and thoughtful gift while simultaneously cleaning up Colombian ecosystems. All items are made by local women in Colombia, giving them an opportunity to provide for their families and reduce dependence on forest resources—ultimately conserving habitat for endangered cotton-top tamarins. Shop here.

Paradise with Purpose, Misool Resort

Take mom to paradise! During her stay at Misool Resort, a sanctuary where luxury meets environmental stewardship, she’ll get to experience conservation in action. Nestled in the pristine Raja Ampat archipelago of Indonesia, this intimate and exclusive tropical hideaway offers an unparalleled escape with powder-white beaches and vibrant coral reefs at your doorstep. Limited to just 40 guests and boasting a remarkable 4-to-1 staff ratio, Misool delivers personalized service in one of Earth’s last untouched marine paradises. Your stay directly supports Misool Foundation‘s vital work protecting these fragile ecosystems, including their expansive 300,000-acre marine reserve that has seen fish biomass increase by 250% since its establishment. Immerse yourself in world-class diving among 1,700 species of reef fish, relax in sustainably constructed luxury accommodations, and witness firsthand how tourism can be a powerful force for conservation.

WCN is proud to partner with these thoughtful companies that are committed to having a positive impact by donating a portion of proceeds to wildlife conservation. We are also delighted to showcase items from rural communities around the world who create products that support conservation and promote sustainable local incomes. Mothers across the globe deserve love for everything they do for us year-round, so we hope these gift ideas will help you show your mom how grateful you are for her. 

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