At The Nature Conservancy (TNC), community and collaboration is at the heart of our efforts to protect the planet. With nearly 6,000 people working in every US state and 80 more countries to address the biodiversity and climate crises, TNC is increasingly taking a “One Conservancy” approach. Rather than working in isolation, our experts are collaborating across programs and borders to advance and scale the highest-impact work around the world, including:

· supporting Mongolia in its efforts to protect 30% of its country including one of the world’s most intact and connected temperate grasslands — one of the least protected ecosystems on earth;

· facilitating the refinancing of national debt to free up funds for conservation of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems in the Ecuadorian Amazon — representing the largest amount raised for conservation in any debt conversion;

· leading a multi-sector coalition including Micronesia and Walmart to address unsustainable and illegal tuna fishing by advancing on-the-water electronic monitoring;

· developing best practices for selective logging in the Republic of the Congo that allows forest managers to maintain timber harvests while cutting carbon emissions by up to 50 percent; and

· helping black rhinos return to Kenya through the Loisaba Conservancy and buffalo to the Kalispel Tribe from the Niobrara Valley Preserve in Nebraska and the Medano Zapato Ranch in Colorado.

Nowhere is this effective collaboration more evident than in our science program. It’s powered by over 1,000 scientists and science staff who, together, join forces with another thousand universities, colleges, and research institutions around the world. More than 60 different disciplines are represented, from social and behavioral science to ocean modeling and conservation ecology. And every day, our TNC scientists are partnering with local organizations and communities to study and implement ways to protect nature, tackle climate change, and provide the food, water, and resources people need to thrive in harmony with nature.

Science is crucial to what we do. If you ask anyone about The Nature Conservancy, you’ll hear we are a “science-based organization.” That means that our actions and decisions are grounded in rigorous scientific research and data. Our science provides the evidence and insights we need to ensure the strategies we develop to tackle the biodiversity, climate and conservation crises are effective, ensuring people and nature can continue to thrive together.

Last November, I was thrilled to attend TNC’s One Conservancy Science Gathering in Mexico City. This remarkable event brought together over 500 science and conservation staff from 32 countries and 75 different teams with over 215 individual presentations. It was a week filled with inspiring panels and presentations on topics from indigenous knowledge and climate resilience to the latest technology in bioacoustics or spatial mapping. Sessions on agriculture, forests, freshwater, and nature-based solutions offered a unique opportunity for scientists to share, innovate, and leverage what they’d been learning locally to a global scale.

Science matters to TNC because it ensures that our efforts are effective and impactful. It allows us to understand the complexities of ecosystems and communities, the threats they face, and the best ways to protect them. Through science, TNC can make informed decisions that lead to sustainable and long-lasting outcomes. To me, the Science Gathering exemplified this commitment to science and showcased the collaborative, interdisciplinary, and innovative spirit that drives our work.

Four plenary speakers headlined the event, each bringing unique insights. Dr. Gerardo Ceballos, a renowned biodiversity scientist, provided a sobering analysis of the current biodiversity crisis and the urgent need for conservation action. Environmental justice researcher Dr. Kyle Whyte spoke about how collective memory can drive conservation efforts and inspire action. Xiye Bastida, a climate justice activist from Mexico City, emphasized the importance of indigenous leadership and youth activism in the fight against climate change. And finally, Dr. Ellen Stofan from the Smithsonian Institution highlighted the critical steps needed to achieve sustainability and protect our planet’s future.

The Gathering also included colleagues from nearly three dozen environmental, academic, and research institutions, including Chief Scientists from other national and global environmental organizations. This kind of knowledge-sharing and collaboration is crucial to achieving our collective vision of a livable climate, healthy communities, and thriving nature.

Amidst all the data, charts, and science, one surprising theme stood out the most: love. From the opening plenary speakers to the closing ceremony, scientist after scientist shared about the love of place, people, and nature that drives our work. As TNC Chief Scientist, Katharine Hayhoe, explained: “When each of us are able to connect all we know — and all we’re worried about — in our heads to why we care, in our hearts, it gives us the truly renewable energy we need to continue our fight to address the world’s most pressing problems.”

Science powers our conservation and climate actions, but it is our relationships and experiences with nature that power our science. As we enter 2025, we will need both science and a love for the world around us to power our efforts to create a healthier, safer planet for our children, our grandchildren, and generations to come. I invite you to join us.

Dr. Bill Frist is a physician, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader, global board chair of The Nature Conservancy, and advocate for health and environmental sustainability. Follow for updates at: