Conservation International (CI) is an American nonprofit group that works to protect the environment. It is based in Crystal City, Virginia, and was started in 1987 by Spencer Beebe and Peter Seligmann. CI focuses on saving biodiversity and improving the connection between ecosystems and human health. It runs programs related to climate change, ocean protection, and works with governments, communities, and other partners worldwide.

In 1987, CI helped arrange a debt-for-nature swap with Bolivia, which was the first of its kind. In 1989, CI used biodiversity hotspots to guide its conservation efforts. In 1990, it created the Rapid Assessment Program to quickly study biodiversity and help make conservation decisions. CI has also worked on conservation funding and international projects, such as helping start the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund in 2000 and creating the Global Conservation Fund. It has run public campaigns, including the 2014 project Nature Is Speaking, which featured celebrities.

CI mainly operates through the Conservation International Foundation, a U.S. nonprofit group. It works in many countries through local programs and partnerships. In 2024, the foundation reported $271 million in income and $298 million in costs. In 2025, CI had more than 1,600 employees. Some people have criticized the group for how it carries out projects and its work with companies.

History

Conservation International was founded in 1987 by Peter Seligmann and Spencer Beebe. In July 1987, the organization and the Government of Bolivia signed a Debt-for-nature swap agreement, which was the first of its kind. Conservation International received US$650,000 of Bolivian debt for US$100,000. Bolivia gave the Beni Biological Station Biosphere Reserve the highest level of legal protection, created three nearby protected areas, and agreed to provide US$250,000 in local currency for managing the reserve.

In 1989, Conservation International began focusing on biodiversity hotspots.

In the early 1990s, Conservation International stopped using direct-mail fundraising and used support from board members and foundation grants, including from the MacArthur Foundation. In 1990, it formed its first corporate partnership with McDonald's Corporation.

In 1990, Conservation International created the Rapid Assessment Program, a program to quickly assess biodiversity and support conservation decisions. In the mid-1990s, the organization increased its fundraising efforts, focusing more on foundations and wealthy donors. In 1998, Conservation International scientists developed a method to set conservation priorities by combining biodiversity hotspots and major tropical wilderness areas.

In 2000, Conservation International joined the launch of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), a partnership involving the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility, and Conservation International to help civil society groups protect biodiversity hotspots. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation joined CEPF in 2001, and the Government of Japan joined in 2002.

In 2001, Conservation International launched the Global Conservation Fund to help ensure that specific protected areas have enough money to be maintained. In 2004, Starbucks launched Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices, a verification program developed by Starbucks, Conservation International, and SCS Global Services.

In 2008, Conservation International changed its mission to focus on how human well-being and natural ecosystems are connected. It expanded its work with a stronger focus on marine conservation, scientific research, conservation finance, and partnerships with governments, corporations, and Indigenous and local communities.

In 2014, Conservation International launched the public-awareness campaign Nature Is Speaking at SXSW Eco in Austin, Texas.

In 2017, M. Sanjayan became chief executive officer, replacing Peter Seligmann, who stayed as chair of the board.

In August 2025, Sanjayan stepped down as CEO, and Daniela Raik was named temporary CEO while the board searched for a permanent leader. In February 2026, Conservation International announced Sebastian Troëng as CEO and named Lisa P. Jackson as temporary chair of the board, replacing Robert J. Fisher. Conservation International epidemiologist Dr. Neil Vora was named to the 2025 Time 100 Next list. In fiscal year 2024, Conservation International reported spending over US$297 million.

Approach and priorities

Conservation International uses science to decide where to focus conservation efforts and works with partners and funding sources to protect nature on a large scale.

Conservationists use areas called biodiversity hotspots to choose where to invest in conservation. These hotspots are places with many species found nowhere else and where habitats are being lost quickly. Conservation International uses the hotspot idea along with other important areas, such as large tropical forests and ocean regions, in its work. Some scientists have discussed whether focusing only on hotspots might miss other areas that are also important for conservation.

In the 2010s, Conservation International’s public messages increasingly focused on how humans rely on nature for health and happiness. This idea was often expressed as "people need nature to thrive." The organization’s leader, Peter Seligmann, explained that the focus changed from protecting nature "for its own sake" to showing how nature helps people. At the same time, the organization used more public communication tools, such as virtual reality storytelling. The "Nature Is Speaking" campaign, started in 2014 and shared at SXSW Eco, used short films with voices from celebrities to explain that nature will continue to exist, but humans depend on healthy ecosystems. The campaign used celebrities to give voices to parts of nature, showing nature as a speaking character in its messages.

Science and research

Conservation International refers to the Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Science and Solutions as its main research center. The center’s team of more than 40 scientists works with Conservation International field staff, people with traditional knowledge, local communities, and partners to create information meant to help with conservation efforts and decisions.

Conservation International’s published research includes methods for choosing conservation priorities, such as using maps that show important areas for biodiversity and large tropical wilderness regions to guide decisions about where to invest resources.

The organization has also conducted quick biodiversity surveys through its Rapid Assessment Program, which was started in 1990 to collect information about plants and animals during field studies, helping to support conservation decisions.

Global programs and initiatives

Conservation International has started and supported several projects that involve multiple countries. These projects are managed centrally or carried out in different nations, in addition to work done in individual countries.

Conservation International has used conservation finance, which is a way to move money toward conservation efforts. This often includes linking conservation results with long-term funding and, in some cases, financial returns.

In its early years, Conservation International was involved in debt-for-nature swaps. In 1987, it helped arrange a deal with Bolivia that is considered the first of its kind. This agreement used local currency funds to support the creation and management of protected areas.

In later years, Conservation International helped start or join platforms that use conservation finance to protect biodiversity on a large scale. These include the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and the Global Conservation Fund, which help ensure long-term financial support for protected areas. Conservation International has also used methods like voluntary-market REDD+ finance linked to conservation agreements and participated in projects designed to secure long-term funding for protected-area systems.

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a program supported by multiple donors that helps civil society groups protect biodiversity in areas with high species diversity. Conservation International was part of CEPF’s start in 2000, working with the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation joined CEPF in 2001, and the Government of Japan joined in 2002.

In 2001, Conservation International launched the Global Conservation Fund, which focuses on making specific protected areas financially self-sustaining.

In 1990, Conservation International created the Rapid Assessment Program, a project that quickly surveys biodiversity to help with conservation decisions by collecting biological data from field studies.

Conservation International has supported marine conservation projects in the Pacific, including large marine protected areas, marine spatial planning, and fisheries initiatives. In Kiribati, the Phoenix Islands Protected Area was established in 2008 through a partnership between the Government of Kiribati, Conservation International, and the New England Aquarium. In Hawaiʻi, Conservation International has worked with partners like NOAA Fisheries on sustainable seafood and fisheries projects, including efforts to increase the use of invasive reef fish such as ta‘ape (bluestripe snapper).

In Palau, Conservation International has collaborated with local partners to support the management and sustainability planning of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary and the country’s domestic fishing zone. This includes marine-spatial-planning and fisheries-capacity initiatives aimed at creating a sustainable, locally owned fishery.

Mountains to Mangroves is a regional project in the Eastern Himalayas (including Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, and Nepal) that is led by Conservation International. It aims to restore large areas of land through tree planting and other efforts. In Bhutan, the initiative includes a partnership to restore 50,000 hectares of degraded land over the next decade. In 2025, the United Kingdom partnered with Conservation International to create the Mountains to Mangroves Atlas, a digital map designed to guide nature-based solutions in the Eastern Himalayas.

Governance and organizational structure

Conservation International works mainly through the Conservation International Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The foundation is managed by a board of directors and led by a chief executive officer. In February 2026, Sebastian Troëng became the chief executive officer. Lisa P. Jackson became the interim chair of the board, replacing Robert J. Fisher. Actor Harrison Ford is a member of the board. CharityWatch reported that the foundation met standards for good management, such as having an independent audit, a public conflict-of-interest policy, and a majority of independent board members.

The organization operates in many regions through country programs and related groups. CharityWatch's report mentions 14 affiliated organizations. These groups are separate but included in the foundation's financial reports. Some of these groups work as separate national organizations, like Conservation South Africa.

Conservation International also works with supporting groups in some countries that help with fundraising, partnerships, and regional coordination, along with field programs in different countries. For example, Conservation International-Europe is based in Brussels, Belgium. Its staff handles European public partnerships and communication with other groups.

Funding and financials

According to ProPublica's review of Internal Revenue Service Form 990 filings, Conservation International Foundation reported approximately US$271 million in revenue and approximately US$298 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 2024. This compares to approximately US$204 million in revenue and approximately US$246 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 2023. In these filings, contributions and grants made up the largest part of the money received (91% in FY2024; 85% in FY2023), with smaller amounts coming from investment income and other sources.

CharityWatch's analysis of consolidated financial statements for fiscal year 2023 estimated that government sources accounted for 0% to 24% of the foundation's cash revenue. Conservation International has received support through foundation grants and corporate partnerships and has managed funding for conservation projects, climate initiatives, and biodiversity programs. These efforts include programs connected to the Global Environment Facility and the Green Climate Fund. Some projects have used methods such as trust funds and carbon finance tied to conservation agreements and other actions.

Country programs and affiliates

Conservation International carries out much of its work through country programs and partner organizations. The summaries below describe country programs and partners; projects that involve multiple countries are explained in Global programs and initiatives.

Conservation International has worked in Bolivia since 1987, focusing on protecting the Amazon through efforts to support protected areas and conservation-finance projects. In 1987, it helped create a debt-for-nature swap, which the World Bank called the first of its kind. This swap involved paying $100,000 to buy $650,000 of Bolivian debt, with the money used to fund protection and management of the Beni Biological Station Biosphere Reserve and three other reserves. In 2024, a new protected area called the Área Natural de Manejo Integrado El Gran Manupare was created in Sena (Pando Department), covering 452,639 hectares. Conservation International Bolivia’s technical team worked with local and municipal groups to make this happen.

In Brazil, Conservation International began working in 1990 through Conservation International do Brasil. In the Brazilian Amazon, it helps manage the World Bank-led, Global Environment Facility-funded Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Project. It also managed the UNDP-GEF project Taking Deforestation Out of the Soy Supply Chain, which aimed to reduce deforestation linked to soy farming in the MATOPIBA region.

Conservation International has worked in Colombia since 1991, carrying out programs that combine conservation of natural resources with efforts to support economic development. These programs work with government, academic, and civil-society groups. In 2004, it joined other NGOs in signing a Tropical Forest Conservation Act debt-for-nature agreement that reduced Colombia’s debt to the United States by more than $10 million in exchange for funding tropical-forest conservation projects. In 2022, Conservation International helped launch Herencia Colombia, a project that secured about $245 million in public and private funding to support long-term management and expansion of Colombia’s protected-areas system.

In Costa Rica, Conservation International has worked for over 35 years. Its country program focuses on ocean and coastal conservation and marine spatial planning. It participates in the Transforma-Innova/TRANSFORMA initiative led by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and partner organizations to support low-carbon and climate-resilient practices in agriculture, livestock, and marine-coastal systems. It also runs a pilot project under the Blue Carbon Facility of Agence française de développement (AFD) to support Costa Rica’s National Blue Carbon Strategy and Action Plan, with fieldwork in mangroves in the Gulf of Nicoya.

Conservation International established its Ecuador program in 2001, focusing on biodiversity conservation and protected-area management in the Galápagos Islands and mainland Ecuador, including marine and coastal conservation and climate resilience. It has managed the Global Environment Facility project Safeguarding biodiversity in the Galapagos Islands by improving biosecurity and creating conditions for ecosystem restoration. It also leads the Green Climate Fund project Mangroves for climate: Public, Private and Community Partnerships for Mitigation and Adaptation in Ecuador, approved in July 2024.

Conservation International has worked in Guyana since 1989, focusing on protected-area planning and community-based conservation in forest and coastal ecosystems. In the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region, it supported the Wai Wai community of Konashen (Kanashen), which later became the Kanashen Amerindian Protected Area (about 648,567 hectares) within Guyana’s National Protected Areas System. It also helped Guyana’s REDD+ forest monitoring through the national Monitoring, Reporting & Verification System (MRVS).

In Mexico, Conservation International has worked since 1990, with a program that includes coastal and marine conservation and landscape restoration with local and public partners. It partnered in the USAID-supported program Conserving Critical Coastal Ecosystems in Mexico (1996-2003), which supported coastal-management initiatives in Quintana Roo and on Mexico’s Pacific coast and documented technical exchanges with Mexican NGOs, universities, and government agencies. In the 2020s, it has been involved in conservation-finance initiatives linked to Mexico’s biodiversity targets, including the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund project Mex30x30: Conserving Mexican biodiversity through the collective social participation approach.

Conservation International has worked in Peru since 1989, focusing on Amazon forest conservation and protected-area management alongside community livelihoods and conservation finance. In the Alto Mayo Protection Forest, it has used conservation agreements linked to voluntary-market REDD+ finance to support forest protection while providing technical assistance to improve livelihoods for participating households. In 2023, Peru and the United States finalized a Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act (TFCCA) debt-for-nature swap with Conservation International and other NGOs, redirecting more than $20 million in debt payments to a grantmaking fund for forest conservation and sustainable livelihoods in the Peruvian Amazon.

In Suriname, Conservation International helped establish the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, a 1,600,000-hectare protected area created in 1998 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. It also supported the creation of the Suriname Conservation Foundation, a trust fund established in 1999 to help finance protected-area management. Along the coast near Paramaribo, CI-Suriname and partners have worked on nature-based coastal protection at Weg naar Zee using sediment-trapping structures designed to promote mangrove regrowth and reduce erosion.

Conservation International has worked in Botswana since 1993, with programs focused on biodiversity conservation and community-linked natural-resource management, including work associated with the Okavango Delta. In the late 2000s, it participated in coordination forums linked to the Northern Botswana Human Wildlife Coexistence Project and worked with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks on the Western Kgalagadi Conservation Corridor. In the 2020s, Conservation International became the accredited entity for the Green Climate Fund project Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana’s Communal Rangelands.

Conservation International established its Kenya program in 2014. The program works on forest and rangeland conservation and restoration and supports climate-mitigation initiatives, including REDD+. In the Chyulu Hills landscape, it has supported community-based rangeland restoration for climate resilience and pastoral livelihoods. Conservation International is the lead agency for the Global Environment Facility project Advancing human-wildlife conflict management effectiveness in Kenya through an integrated approach.

Conservation International began working in Liberia in 2001, focusing on protected-area and landscape initiatives in the country’s southeast, including work linked to Sapo National Park and the Grebo forest landscape within a larger conservation complex connected to Taï National Park in neighboring Ivory Coast. In May 2018, Conservation International and the Government of Liberia launched the Libe…

Reception and criticism

Conservation International has been criticized by the media and advocacy groups about how it carries out its projects and works with companies.

In 2008, Conservation International faced criticism for its work on the Milne Bay Community Based Coastal and Marine Conservation Project in Papua New Guinea. A report by journalist Mark Dowie said that within four years, most of the project’s $6,443,022 budget was used for staff salaries, vehicles, travel, and overhead costs instead of conservation efforts. A UNDP evaluation reported that between $800,000 and $1.2 million was unaccounted for. Conservation International disagreed with the UNDP numbers, stated it had contributed $2.3 million to the project, and denied any financial wrongdoing. It invited a forensic audit. A later UNDP document described the Milne Bay project as ending early due to "money and political problems."

In May 2011, the magazine Don't Panic released a video showing reporters dressed as executives from a defense company, Lockheed Martin, discussing a possible partnership with Conservation International. The discussion included plans for a business forum and using an "endangered species mascot" in branding. Some environmental groups said this showed how partnerships with companies could help businesses improve their public image. Conservation International’s vice president, Justin Ward, said the video was misleading and did not reflect how the organization works with companies. He stated that corporate partnerships make up less than 10% of CI’s budget and that companies must undergo a review process before partnering. He also said partnerships are acceptable if they are transparent and funds support conservation work.

In 2013, Survival International and Botswana’s Khwedom Council said that Basarwa (San) residents in the Ranyane settlement were being asked to move. They linked this to plans for the Western Kgalagadi Conservation Corridor, a wildlife corridor project involving Conservation International. Reports said the issue was being reviewed by a court, which had ordered a halt to relocations. A government official said residents were not being forced to move and that relocations only involved families who had requested help.

In December 2021, Sapiens magazine reported similar issues in Peru. At the Alto Mayo Conservation Initiative, Conservation International helped sell carbon credits—money earned by preserving forests—to the Disney Company to offset emissions from cruise ships. About half of the local farming families agreed to protect the forest in exchange for economic programs funded by CI. However, some families wanted to expand their farms and log in the forest, leading to violence against park rangers and threats of evictions. Members of a local farming group said 50 homes were destroyed in 2021, but the Peruvian government said no homes were currently occupied. Conservation International said the demolitions were not funded by carbon credit money.

Notable people

• Johan Rockström – Chief scientist.
• Lü Zhi – Conservation biologist; worked with Conservation International starting in 2002.
• Melanie Stiassny – Ichthyologist; was director of Conservation International's Center for Applied Biodiversity Science.
• Russell Mittermeier – Primatologist; was President of Conservation International.
• Anthony Rylands – Primatologist; senior research scientist at Conservation International.
• Gerald R. Allen – Ichthyologist; was science team leader in Conservation International's Coral Reef Conservation Program (1997–2003) and was director of a marine rapid-assessment program (2004–2005).