The Nature Conservancy

The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Our vision is a world where the diversity of life thrives, and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives.

We achieve this mission and vision through:

  1. The dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, including more than 600 scientists, all of whom impact conservation in 72 countries.
  2. With the help of our many partners, from individuals and governments to local nonprofits and corporations.
  3. By using a non-confrontational, collaborative approach based on five unique core values.

The Nature Conservancy has been a supporter and Development Partner to the CTI-CFF since before its inception in 2009. TNC works in three of the Coral Triangle Countries – Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands – and support regional-level efforts and initiatives in support of all six. We have had strong country programs in each of these places for over 20 years, and excellent relationships with communities, businesses and government in each one. We have worked extensively on marine spatial planning and the establishment of Marine Protected Area networks across the Coral Triangle which integrate biodiversity, fisheries and climate change objectives, including for example, in the Lesser Sunda Ecoregion in Indonesia. We played a guiding role in the development of the Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area System (CTMPAS). We have also worked extensively in PNG and Solomon Islands in particular to support the development and implementation of integrated, participatory Ridges to Reefs plans which bring together local knowledge and the best available science to enable the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources.

We have a particularly strong focus on gender, supporting the CTI to become a more gender-responsive and inclusive framework and platform for action. In addition to supporting the development and recognition of women’s groups at the local level, in 2014 co-founded the CTI region-wide Women Leaders’ Forum (WLF).

Contact Details

Laura Whitford

  • Director of Development Policy and Partnerships
  • lwhitford@tnc.org
  • www.nature.org