On September 12, 2024, Panama established the Saboga National Wildlife Refuge, protecting critical sea turtle habitats in the Pearl Islands. This initiative aligns with Panama’s “Rights of Nature” law, championed by marine biologist Callie Veelenturf, advancing legal protections for nature and endangered species in the region.

“Indigenous knowledge and leadership are at the heart of addressing the biodiversity and climate crisis,” said Erik Stegman, CEO of Native Americans in Philanthropy. “Our Collaborative with the Biodiversity Funders Group demonstrates the power of public-private solutions, leveraging $1.6 million in private funding to unlock over $51 million in public resources for groundbreaking Tribal conservation projects. We’re grateful to our partners in philanthropy and government for working together to remove barriers and develop new models for investment in Tribally-led environmental conservation.”

Renu Mittal is a program officer with the Walton Family Foundation Environment Program’s oceans initiative. Renu’s work supports communities in Chile, Mexico, Peru, Indonesia, and the United States in striving to make fishing the sustainability success story of the 21st century. Read Renu’s article about Elsa Vega, a Peruvian woman who went from fish processor to boat owner to industry leader and activist, all while breaking barriers for women in a male-dominated realm.

Oak Foundation recently announced comprehensive scoping studies that explore opportunities that exist for philanthropic partnership in the Global South. These studies offer a treasure trove of information, including detailed philanthropic landscape analyses, profiles of prospective partners, and essential principles and practices for effective support.

Leah Penniman is interviewed on The Heinz Endowments’ “We Can Be” podcast. “We Can Be” explores candid conversations about the big issues of the day with some of the most accomplished, caring and action-oriented individuals in the social change arena.

This year marks a momentous milestone for The Kresge Foundation: our Centennial — a century dedicated to fostering opportunities across the United States and the world.

The U.S. National Science Foundation and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation are investing $16 million across 10 projects that will conduct basic science with direct conservation applications to benefit species and ecosystems.

On August 9, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published “Constructing Valid Geospatial Tools for Environmental Justice,” supported by the Bezos Earth Fund and developed by the Committee on Utilizing Advanced Environmental Health and Geospatial Data and Technologies to Inform Community Investment. 

Savanna Ferguson, Executive Director of Climate Breakthrough and Nancy Lindborg, President and CEO of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation discuss philanthropy and overcoming structural issues to create greater impacts.

Last summer, the Lenfest Ocean Program held an open call inviting projects to include Indigenous Knowledge in ocean and coastal decision-making. From this, they are supporting new Indigenous-led initiatives across the US and Canada. Learn more about the projects on their website and stay tuned as for highlights from their journeys and insights.