What does conservation look like when it’s rooted locally?
Around the world, local leaders are protecting the ecosystems their communities depend on and the wildlife they refuse to let disappear. And when these leaders have the recognition, networks, and resources they need, extraordinary things begin to happen.
Our 2026 Mid-Year Impact Report shows what becomes possible when local action leads.
Prefer our printable report format? Download the full PDF.
How women brought water home in Rwanda—and helped gorillas thrive
When local leaders solve community challenges, conservation becomes stronger—and lasts.
At the edge of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, families have long faced limited access to water. For many, daily life meant walking for hours into the park—critical habitat for endangered mountain gorillas.
But local leaders saw another way. The women-led cooperative Imbereheza Gahunga, founded by Athanasie Mukabizimungu, began organizing their community around a simple but powerful idea: bring water closer to home. Working together, they built household rainwater harvest tanks—creating reliable water sources while reducing pressure on wildlife habitat.
Athanasie Mukabizimungu (second from right), beside a rainwater harvest tank in Rwanda.
Today, 1,158 water tanks—and counting—serve over 6,500 community members and help mountain gorillas thrive.
Family well-being
Improved food security, health, and time for education
Financial resilience
New income pathways beyond reliance on the park
Gender equality
Women increasingly shaping household decisions
Mountain gorillas
The only great ape population on the rise
A juvenile mountain gorilla in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
More Allies in Action
From coasts to forests, our allies deliver lasting results for people and nature.
Protecting Nesting Leatherbacks
In Costa Rica, the Latin American Sea Turtles Association is safeguarding critical nesting areas for an endangered population of leatherback sea turtles. Their community-centered work offers hope for this at-risk species.
Community-based Primate Conservation
In eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Primate Expertise’s Ape Trees® project restores habitat for Grauer’s gorillas, chimpanzees, blue monkeys, and other wildlife. Grown from seeds collected from ape dung, these trees also benefit more than 5,400 people.
Trees for Elephants and People
In Cambodia’s Prey Lang Forest, we found that over 80% of the plants Asian elephants eat are also valued by Indigenous Kuy communities. Local partners are now planting these native species to restore habitat for wildlife and people.
Local Action. Global Impact.
Across high-biodiversity land and seascapes, our allies are protecting wildlife, restoring habitat, and enhancing sustainable livelihoods.
Together, we’re reshaping how conservation works.
Join us in supporting local conservation action around the world.
Across more than 6 million acres globally, Wild Earth Allies builds long-term partnerships rooted in local values, knowledge, and practices.
Photos courtesy of Primal, Allison Shelley, LAST
