The Nature Conservancy Science

Subscribe to the TNC Science Insights newsletter on LinkedIn for quick, expert takes on the science behind conservation and climate. Get bite-sized research, real-world impact stories, and practical tools, delivered regularly to keep you informed. Subscribe here https://nature.ly/3PpySNS

Today's solar development decisions could shape wildlife, communities, and energy systems for years. In a new interview, scientists from TNC's Idaho chapter discuss a project exploring how utility-scale solar can help both people and wildlife in the Northwest. Listen here https://nature.ly/4eBAqgR

🌳💧How often does a walk in the woods or a stroll along a river spark your curiosity? 🥽 🛣️ Click below to see our team's journey from curiosity to scientific discovery across Arizona's ponderosa forests, rivers and desert wetlands. lnkd.in/p/gW9QDGmG Watch the full video now: nature.ly/3VWHgqU

Even after losing specialized pollinators, endangered Hawaiian plants are finding ways to persist. Researchers found that nectar-feeding birds both pollinate flowers and rob nectar, yet seed production remains strong, revealing surprising ecological resilience. Read more https://nature.ly/3TVmNlJ

Some conservation insights take decades to uncover. In the latest TNC Science Insights, discover how 10+ years of box turtle research is guiding prairie restoration, meet the scientist who helped launch TNC, and explore new advances in sagebrush restoration. lnkd.in/p/eSFNx7ej

Less than 1% of the Great Lakes' lakebed may hold some of their most important fish habitat. New research mapped rocky reefs across the lakes, revealing hotspots that align with key spawning grounds and can help guide conservation and fisheries management. Learn more https://nature.ly/3WsArxm

Conservation decisions can create ripple effects far beyond nature. In the latest TNC Science Insights, explore new research on Seychelles' lobster fishery, science guiding grassland restoration, findings on shark trade, and lessons from 75 years of conservation. www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-h...

Restoring water to dried peatlands can help keep fires at bay. Research from Indonesia found that peatland rewetting with canal blocks reduces fire risk, lowers emissions, and can deliver returns that exceed restoration costs. See how https://nature.ly/4hAyebx

About 1,000 miles south of Hawaii, there is an extraordinary coral reef surrounding Palmyra Atoll. While these corals have experienced their own heat challenges and coral bleaching, they also have many lessons to share. Fish are friends, coral has helpers and sharks rule.

The effects of climate change don't stop when a flood recedes or a wildfire burns out. The latest edition of TNC Science Insights examines how climate extremes can reshape ecosystems and how Indigenous-led conservation in the Great Bear Sea is helping safeguard coastal ecosystems. nature.ly/4j481mO

A glorious time on Dził Nchaa Sí'an (Mt. Graham) this week visiting sacred waters, beautiful sky, and the first taste of fall. #waterConservation @science.nature.org @nature.org

Technology is strongest when it supports local leadership. In Arnhem Land, Indigenous rangers, community members, and researchers explored how digital tools can strengthen Indigenous-led stewardship, helping communities shape a stronger future. Learn more about TNC's work https://nature.ly/47tlFbX

Nature supports more than biodiversity. The latest edition of TNC Science Insights explores why ecosystem loss can create risks for food, water, and economic security, plus community-led conservation in Zambia and new research mapping hidden reefs in the Great Lakes. www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-lo...

Thanks for following along today! Grasslands are diverse, resilient ecosystems that benefit both people and nature. I hope you've learned something new and are inspired to visit a grassland near you. -Marissa A.

Our TNC science in MN, ND and SD is critical to delivering on our 2030 protection and improved management of lands outcome. Our science tells us where and how we need to take action to get the highest quality restoration and management acres for nature and people. -Marissa A.

Grasslands are incredibly beautiful places, but difficult to capture in a photo. You have to get creative and immersed in the plants. I grew up in Missouri, the Show Me state. Show me your grasslands! -Marissa A.

Restoration is important for climate adaptation AND is an extremely time intensive and costly endeavor. This data can guide the investment of restoration resources to places that have multiple benefits, improving outcomes with limited funds. Check out more here https://nature.ly/4z34Al8 -Marissa A.

Restoration prospects were identified where cropland overlaps areas with limited habitat connectivity. Water quality benefits were strongest in Iowa and southern Minnesota, phosphorus retention peaked in the Red River Valley, and pollination and carbon benefits occurred across the region. -Marissa A

Through funding from the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, we worked with partners to identify where restoring crop land to grassland would reconnect habitats as well as retain sediment, phosphorus and nitrogen to improve water quality. https://nature.ly/4xMfUAP -Marissa A.

Grasslands have contributed to amazing farmland in many parts of the world. Science can tell us where to restore grassland to benefit biodiversity connectivity and water quality through sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus retention. https://nature.ly/4rDpu7J -Marissa A.

I love grasslands because they are diverse, dynamic, and deeply linked with people. People and grasslands have supported each other for time immemorial. Restoring this relationship is key to conservation. Today I’ll highlight science helping us do that, even as we face climate change. -Marissa A.

Today's takeover starts here! Hear from Marissa Ahlering as she introduces herself and explains why grasslands are one of the world's most overlooked and important ecosystems.

You've probably heard wildfire smoke is bad for you, but how bad? Our new paper in Sci Rep shows even low-level wildfire-specific PM2.5 (10–50 µg/m³) is linked to more hospital encounters (e.g., heart attacks, heart failure, AFib, cardiac, COPD & PE). doi.org/10.1038/s415... @science.nature.org

Tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET, we're handing the keys to grassland scientist Marissa Ahlering 🔑🎙️. Follow along as she shares why prairies matter, how science is helping balance agriculture and biodiversity, and why some of the world's most overlooked ecosystems deserve a closer look.

Building the energy projects we need starts with better planning. TNC Science's Clean Energy Compass helps planners and developers identify climate, conservation and community considerations early, helping avoid delays and improve outcomes for people and nature. https://nature.ly/4xIYJ3g

Decades of science are helping guide the future of forest restoration. The latest edition of TNC Science Insights explores a new resource for restoring Appalachian red spruce forests, plus shorebird conservation and new insights into how plants respond to climate change. nature.ly/3Vwv1kx

🦇🌲🔬 Ultrasonic recorders to see if restoration in Washington's coastal rainforests influences bat communities It was a treat to wander between old growth forest stands, overstocked stands that were clear-cut and replanted, and thinned restored stands @nature.org @science.nature.org #batscience

Three sisters. More than 1,400 miles traveled. Rivers, highways, wild landscapes, and human-dominated areas crossed in search of a future. Their remarkable journey reveals both the connectivity of Africa’s wild places and the deadly threat of wire snares. https://nature.ly/4yMD37m

Where renewable energy gets built can shape its impact. The latest edition of TNC Science Insights explores a new science-based approach to renewable energy siting in Portugal, plus community-led conservation in Africa and the barriers limiting blue carbon projects. nature.ly/4yFJyZq

Take a look at our science team’s accomplishments last year: Tablets and airborne mapping save time for forest thinning Protection restores mesquite bosque in 20 years 10 large landscapes prioritized across western dry forest using wildfire risk tool

From watersheds to coral reefs, some of conservation’s biggest successes began as small, unproven ideas. Discover five innovations that grew from seed to scale and are helping shape a more resilient future for people and nature 🌰 🌳 . https://nature.ly/4cIiWP8

Faster data can mean better fisheries management. The latest edition of TNC Science Insights explores a new artificial intelligence-powered monitoring system for global fisheries, plus mangrove conservation in Papua New Guinea and coral reef restoration in Mauritius. www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-ai...

The clean energy transition needs more than speed. It needs smart planning. TNC's Smart Siting Guide for Portugal identifies lower-conflict locations for renewable energy development, helping balance climate goals with the needs of nature and communities. https://nature.ly/3TeybIV

Big news from Gabon! The Government of Gabon, The Nature Conservancy, and Enduring Earth have launched Gabon Infini, a new initiative designed to mobilize up to $200M over 10 years for conservation and community development. Read more about this new initiative here https://nature.ly/4isiiZR

Nature provides more than carbon benefits, so should climate finance reflect that? The latest edition of TNC Science Insights explores new research on rewarding biodiversity and community outcomes, plus wildlife-friendly roads and peatland restoration in Indonesia. www.linkedin.com/pulse/theres...

Thanks for following along today! Protecting migratory birds requires strong science, partnership, and stewardship across entire flyways. We're proud to contribute from Virginia's coast and grateful for everyone helping conserve these remarkable species. -VCR Migratory Bird Team

We often say "the islands are for the birds," but many Virginia Coast Reserve barrier islands are open to visitors, too. Responsible recreation helps protect sensitive wildlife while giving people a chance to experience this remarkable coastal wilderness. Learn more: exploreourseaside.org -VCR Team

Sea level rise is increasing flooding risks for beach-nesting birds. One project we're exploring is the use of elevated nesting platforms to help American Oystercatchers raise chicks above high tides and storm-driven flooding. -VCR Migratory Bird Team

How do you follow a bird across continents? We're using advanced GPS tracking technology to better understand where shorebirds travel and how habitats across the Western Hemisphere are connected. The data helps guide conservation far beyond Virginia. -VCR Migratory Bird Team

Our team manages habitat for incredible coastal birds, including American Oystercatchers, Piping Plovers, Black Skimmers, gulls, and several species of terns. Every nesting season brings new challenges and opportunities to help these birds thrive along Virginia's coast. -VCR Migratory Bird Team

Did you know Virginia’s barrier islands are a critical stopover, nesting, and wintering habitat for shorebirds? The Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve protects more than 50 miles of wild coastline, supporting birds that travel thousands of miles across the Western Hemisphere. -VCR Migratory Bird Team

Hi Bluesky! We’re Alex Wilke and Mario Balitbit from TNC’s Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve. Today we’re sharing what it takes to protect one of the most important migratory bird habitats in the Western Hemisphere and why these barrier islands matter for birds, people, and coastal ecosystems.

Private investment in nature depends on trust. A new TNC-led analysis explores the opportunities and challenges shaping biodiversity credit markets, highlighting the need for robust monitoring, clear rules, and credible claims that deliver real outcomes for biodiversity. https://nature.ly/4wZHoTj

Save the date! On Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. ET, TNC's Migratory Bird Team is taking over our account. Join Alex Wilke and Mario Balitbit for a look at the science, stewardship, and conservation helping shorebirds thrive along Virginia's wild barrier islands. Don't miss it! 🪶

The latest edition of TNC Science Insights explores how science is helping protect one million acres of salt marsh across the southeastern United States, plus freshwater conservation in Ecuador and new research on region-specific green building strategies. www.linkedin.com/pulse/protec...

Nature-based solutions work, but proving their impact can be slow and costly. WaterProof 2.0 speeds up that process, helping users assess benefits in minutes. Join us on September 9th to learn more about this tool and it's impacts. Register here: nature.ly/45YtpBZ

Healthy communities start with healthy landscapes. 🌱 A new TNC-led paper shows how conservation agriculture can create wins for food production, environmental stewardship, and public health. https://nature.ly/4hKihQz

What happens after a dam comes down? The latest edition of TNC Science Insights explores a decade of evidence from New Jersey showing how river restoration improves water quality and aquatic life, plus lessons from resilient coral reefs and climate planning around Lake Victoria. nature.ly/4xc13jT

Smarter restoration starts with smarter investments. A new study found strong support for funding a mix of restoration approaches and directing resources to lower-income and rural areas, where impact for people and nature may be highest. Read the full findings here https://nature.ly/4x19Ipe

Lasting conservation depends on more than protecting nature. The latest edition of TNC Science Insights explores new research from Zambia on the role of governance in community conservation, plus drone-assisted bird research and using forest sounds to track biodiversity. nature.ly/4x1pgcw

Have you visited Conservation Gateway yet? 🌎 🌿 The platform brings together science, data, tools, and insights in one place to support collaboration, informed decisions, and nature-positive solutions. Explore: https://nature.ly/4nkipqD