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
Conservation Is Not a Straight Line—It’s a Long Game.
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.
Communities Are Not the Beneficiaries of Conservation—They Are Its Driving Force
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
7 Reads for 2026
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
Impacts 2025 – What Community-Led Conservation Achieved This Year
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
How Community Conservation Is Turning Crisis into Renewal
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
We Don’t Use THAT Word
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
We Need Your Help to Save Tigers
September is National Save a Tiger Month. While it's true that every month is save a tiger month at Community Conservation, we'd like to take this time to reflect on the beauty, power, and fragility of the world’s largest cat. Once roaming vast stretches of Asia, tigers have lost over 90% of their historic range. … Continue reading We Need Your Help to Save Tigers
Top-Down vs. Community-Led Conservation in Cameroon: A Partner’s Perspective
Guest Contributor Adrian Odi-Eban of Community-Based Biosynergy Management (CBBM) Adrian Odi-Eban in the field Community conservation in Cameroon is often interpreted by international NGOs as the provision of alternative livelihoods to local and indigenous communities to reduce pressure on forests and encourage biodiversity protection, especially around protected areas. This strategy tends to reflect a top-down … Continue reading Top-Down vs. Community-Led Conservation in Cameroon: A Partner’s Perspective
The Role of Communities in Biodiversity Conservation in Myanmar
A community member makes a handmade litter bin for the forest Building Communities for Conservation in Myanmar I have been working with the Smithsonian Institution on issues of biodiversity conservation in Myanmar since 1999. While SI worked to build the capacity for biodiversity conservation in many ways (see this report to learn more), my contribution … Continue reading The Role of Communities in Biodiversity Conservation in Myanmar