A planet in balance is one in which people, species, and economies can all thrive. But with threats like habitat destruction, climate change, and species extinction, we are living on a planet that is increasingly out of balance. The planet’s wild places are disappearing at an unprecedented rate. In less than 50 years, we’ve lost 60 percent of wildlife populations. In the last century, 90 percent of large ocean fish have disappeared. Species of plants, animals, and insects are going extinct more than 1,000 times faster than ever before.
The good news? In protected areas, life comes back. Already, 15 percent of our land and 7 percent of our ocean are part of officially protected areas. But it’s not enough. That’s why the National Geographic Society has launched Last Wild Places, a decade-long initiative to help protect the places that sustain life on Earth.
We envision a world where intact large wilderness areas contain the bulk of biodiversity on our planet, are resilient to—and help us mitigate—climate change, and continue providing the goods and services that are essential for humanity’s survival. Our target is ambitious but based on the best science: to protect at least 30 percent of the planet by 2030.
OUR PROJECTS
Okavango Wilderness Project
Working to protect one of our planet’s most pristine wetlands
National Geographic Society
Community, Conservation, and Collaboration
Community-based conservation is critical to efforts to increase the area of the planet under protection and safeguard the biodiversity that people and wildlife rely on. In partnership with the National Geographic Society, the conservation organization African People & Wildlife has created a framework and toolkit highlighting best practices in locally-led conservation, informed by the experiences of more than 50 organizations.
Stories
Learn about some of the challenges and successes in protecting the world’s Last Wild Places.
Last Wild Places: Gorongosa
For 15 years, Mozambique was engulfed in a brutal civil war that devastated human and wildlife populations alike. Now, in part by focusing on empowering and educating women, Gorongosa National Park has become a model of successful conservation efforts.
Last Wild Places: Majete
When Tizola Moyo started as a ranger in 1993, Majete Wildlife Reserve was devoid of any wildlife. Now, with the help of the park’s rangers and community collaboration, it's flourishing.
Last Wild Places: American Prairie Reserve
The American Prairie Reserve is assembling land in northern Montana, with the goal of creating a seamless 3.5 million acre grassland habitat. When they reintroduce bison to the landscape, both the ecosystem and local people benefit.
Last Wild Places: Iberá National Park
Iberá National Park in northeastern Argentina is part of one of the largest wetlands in South America, but much of its wildlife went extinct in the 20th century due to widespread hunting and habitat loss. Now, a dedicated team of conservationists is working hand in hand with local communities to reintroduce many of the keystone species that were lost, while also helping to preserve the region's unique cultural heritage.
CAMPAIGN FOR NATURE
The National Geographic Society has partnered with the Wyss Campaign for Nature—a $1 billion investment to help communities, indigenous peoples, and nations conserve 30 percent of the planet in its natural state by 2030 by creating and expanding protected areas, establishing more ambitious international conservation targets, investing in science, and inspiring conservation action around the world.
MAIN PHOTO BY KOSTADIN LUCHANSKY; PHOTOS ON “OUR PROJECTS” (U-D) BY ENRIC SALA, AND CORY RICHARDS; PHOTOS ON “OUR PARTNERS” (L-R) BY JONAS VAN DE VOORDE, GIB MYERS, TIMOTHY NORRIS, JOEL SARTORE, JUAN PABLO MOREIRAS, AND ENRIC SALA; AND PHOTO ON “CAMPAIGN FOR NATURE” BY CHRIS BOYES.