What We Do


The members of the Nature Needs Half movement activate and continually energize collaborative actions that result in 50% of the planet protected as soon as possible and an end to the sixth mass extinction.

Still mountain lake in winter. Photo by Joel & Jasmin Forestbird.
We recognize that we are not the only movement working on protecting half, and we celebrate this fact!

When conservationists combine strengths to overcome difficulties, nature wins

Nature Needs Half was formally launched in 2009, the first network to come together around the goal of building respect for nature internationally and protecting half the planet. But other groups are also working for half at the regional and local level. Long-standing national level efforts for the protection of half include the Canadian Boreal Initiative (2004), Bhutan (2005), Brazilian Amazon (2006), a host of urban planning initiatives in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Canada’s Victoria province).

We urge other groups and individuals to continue to work towards this goal, whether or not they officially adopt Nature Needs Half as their mantra.

Nature needs champions more than ever, and the Nature Needs Half Network is proud to be an international force championing greater respect for our wild planet. But we know we aren't the only ones! To be most effective, we must work together across organizations and unite the collective talents of many individuals and groups, directing them towards the unprecedented task of saving Earth’s biosphere.

Yes, I want to collaborate for nature!
Kyoto, Japan. Photo by Matt Palmer.

50% by 2050

Why 2020?

We can stop the sixth mass extinction if we protect approximately 50% of the 846 ecoregions that provide habitat for all of Earth's biodiversity. That means finding leaders and organizations around the world willing to align exisiting efforts around protecting and interconnecting nature in the region.

Learn More

Accomplishments

Leaders Believe in Half

Nature Needs Half, launched in 2009, has successfully placed the protection of 50% of nature at the forefront of priorities in the conservation sector and within inter-governmental institutions, including parts of the United Nations. Now we are extending our outreach and inviting the public to include the protection of nature in their top priorities.

Read more in The Guardian
Half Is Possible

In 2016 Eric Dinerstein, a core leader in the Nature Needs Half movement, in collaboration with numerous other researchers, published research in BioScience concluding that protecting half is still possible and showcases a potential for achieving half. This paper is a crucial component for strengthening buy-in for Nature Needs Half objectives.

Read the BioScience Article
Building Momentum in Critical Regions

The work of Nature Needs Half leaders has catalyzed support for the protection of half in China and India. We are continually cultivating new leaders to spark national and local initiatives for half on achievable scales.

Increased Public Awareness & Support

When Nature Needs Half was first launched in 2009, many agreed with its science-based objectives but few would support it publicly. Now, growing recognition that nature has needs is sweeping conservation and spilling over into other sectors of society.