• in Mongolia

    Nomadic Nature Trunks are an important tool for supporting community-based conservation and building lasting conservation constituencies among Mongolia's dispersed herder communities.
    Read the story  

  • In Kenyan Coast

    Communities along Kenya's coast are actively managing a system of fisheries closures, called tengefu, to build sustainable management systems for their fisheries.
    Read the story  

  • A 10-year participatory process provides a starting point for effective natural resource governance and improved human wellbeing.
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  • By implementing their land management plan, the Tacana people have dramatically reduced deforestation within their territory.
    Read the story  

  • The Tacana Indigenous People's Council established Matusha Aid'a to manage and benefit from the sustainable harvest and sale of caiman
    Read the story  

  • Cultivating shade-grown cacao is an economic and environmental win-win
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  • Conditional cash payments reduce poverty and deforestation

    Conditional cash payments reduce poverty and deforestation

    In Guatemala

    When communities comply with conservation practices in exchange for development assistance people and the forest benefit.
    Read the story  
  • WCS helped communities successfully re-route a superhighway

    WCS helped communities successfully re-route a superhighway

    In Nigeria

    By moving a road, at no additional cost, communities protected traditional lands, and conserved endangered gorilla habitat.
    Read the story  
  • Nine traditional communities have decided to protect their forests

    Nine traditional communities have decided to protect their forests

    In Papua New Guinea

    On Manus Island 67 clans worked with WCS to halt deforestation on their lands
    Read the story  
  • Recognizing Community Rights Supports Wellbeing and Conservation

    Recognizing Community Rights Supports Wellbeing and Conservation

    In Cambodia

    Read the story  
  • Locally Managed Marine Areas Protect Increased Fish Biomass and Secure Livelihoods

    Locally Managed Marine Areas Protect Increased Fish Biomass and Secure Livelihoods

    In Madagascar

    Creation and community management of 26 Locally Managed Marine Protected Areas, in Madagascar’s Antongil Bay, have empowered local communities to manage fisheries resources.
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  • Helping farmers raise yields and incomes, adapt to climate change while saving forests

    Helping farmers raise yields and incomes, adapt to climate change while saving forests

    In Uganda

    Community savings groups are self-financing climate-smart agriculture, increasing crop production, and reducing forest clearing.
    Read the story  
  • Conditional cash payments reduce poverty and deforestation
  • WCS helped communities successfully re-route a superhighway
  • Nine traditional communities have decided to protect their forests
  • Recognizing Community Rights Supports Wellbeing and Conservation
  • Locally Managed Marine Areas Protect Increased Fish Biomass and Secure Livelihoods
  • Helping farmers raise yields and incomes, adapt to climate change while saving forests

Respecting Rights


Effective and durable conservation requires formal recognition of the authority of local communities to manage their lands and waters for their own benefit. WCS works with local communities to secure the rights that confer such authority and exercise them effectively.

© 2021 Wildlife Conservation Society

WCS, the "W" logo, WE STAND FOR WILDLIFE, I STAND FOR WILDLIFE, and STAND FOR WILDLIFE are service marks of Wildlife Conservation Society.

Contact Information
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