If you are in the area, please join us for a presentation in Baraboo or a workshop in Viroqua! April 15, 2026Join us at the Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library in Baraboo, WI for the Cabin Fever Lecture series sponsored by the Baraboo Range Preservation Association (BRPA). Dr. Allendorf will share projects protecting biodiversity, including endangered … Continue reading Join Us For Two Live Events in Wisconsin this April

Why the Future of Wildlife Depends on Women Women carrying fuelwood out of a community forestUdayapur, Nepal (December 2025) In forests, grasslands, and villages around the world, conservation does not begin in laboratories or government offices. It begins in daily life, with the women collecting firewood, gathering fodder for livestock, harvesting medicinal plants, tending crops, … Continue reading Women at the Frontlines of Conservation

A beach in Myanmar Conservation Is a Long Game There is a common misconception that effective conservation follows a straight line: identify a threat, implement a solution, measure success, and move on. In reality, the work of protecting ecosystems, and the communities who depend on them—is rarely so orderly. Conservation meant to last generations demands … Continue reading Conservation Is Not a Straight Line—It’s a Long Game.

Erecting signage around the lakes and wetlands in Myanmar There’s a persistent myth in conservation that communities are passive recipients of protection efforts; people to be consulted after plans are made or helped once decisions are finalized. But across cultures and ecosystems, the reality tells a very different story. People who depend on the land … Continue reading Communities Are Not the Beneficiaries of Conservation—They Are Its Driving Force

We talk a lot about saving the planet, but real conservation starts with understanding.The books we are sharing in this blog post have changed how we see land, wildlife, people, and power. They go beyond headlines and hashtags, and into the lived realities of conservation: who it impacts, what’s at stake, and why simple answers … Continue reading 7 Reads for 2026

As the world heads into 2026, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of environmental challenges we face. Climate instability, habitat loss, and biodiversity decline can make progress feel distant or fragile. But community-led conservation tells a different story—one grounded in measurable results, local leadership, and steady, long-term change. In 2025, Community Conservation and … Continue reading Impacts 2025 – What Community-Led Conservation Achieved This Year

Preparing signboards for Naung Yan Lake in Myanmar. Signboards are a critical conservation tool because they publicly declare the protective measures and boundaries set by the community. Local Heroes, Global Impact Stories of species teetering on the edge of extinction, disappearing forests, and polluted rivers and oceans are now all too common. Every day brings another headline about … Continue reading How Community Conservation Is Turning Crisis into Renewal

From Empowering to Powering Communities:why we must strike the word empower from our conservation vocabulary At Community Conservation (CC), we think of communities not as passive recipients of aid but as leaders, stewards, and decision-makers. They already hold agency, responsibility, and authority in the landscapes they call home. And yet, we’ve noticed that we often … Continue reading We Don’t Use THAT Word