Places

Eastern Africa, Madagascar, & Western Indian Ocean

East Africa encompasses a stunning range of landscapes—from savannah grasslands and miombo woodlands to tropical forests, harboring some of Africa’s most iconic species, including lions, elephants, giraffes, African wild dogs, chimpanzees, and gorillas. Madagascar, the world’s fifth largest island, hosts more unique species—including the charismatic lemur family of primates—than the entire African continent, with approximately 80% found nowhere else on the planet. The Western Indian Ocean’s seascapes—coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass beds—form an intricate web that sustains not only key marine species such as sea turtles, whales and dolphins, sharks, and countless varieties of fish but also millions of people who depend on coastal resources for food and livelihoods. Critically, the Western Indian Ocean’s contains coral reefs that scientists believe may be among the most resilient to climate change.

People and nature are strongly intertwined in the region, with more than half of its populations living in rural areas within or adjacent to landscapes with high biodiversity. East Africa’s astonishingly productive habitats hold global conservation significance while simultaneously supporting local communities who play a crucial role in managing and sustaining these vital ecosystems.

• Among all continents, Africa is experiencing the fastest rate of population and economic growth. Maintaining robust populations of many of the world’s most iconic species over vast landscapes threatened by fragmentation due to human settlements, unregulated development and farming.
• Climate change impacts—including increased temperatures, higher frequency of droughts and floods, more powerful cyclones, warmer ocean waters leading to coral bleaching—are affecting human and ecosystem health alike.
• Over-exploitation of resources and habitat loss due to wildlife crime and poor land governance.
• In the Western Indian Ocean, overfishing, illegal use of destructive fishing gears, pollution, and industrial and coastal development.

Protect and sustainably manage ecologically intact landscapes across East Africa, Madagascar and the Western Indian Ocean for the benefit of people and wildlife.

Our core strategies:

1. Apply our strong scientific and research expertise to design, implement, and improve conservation strategies.
2. Partner with African governments and stakeholders to manage and increase the size of terrestrial and marine protected areas.
3. Collaborate with communities to sustainably manage natural resources and improve community well-being.
4. Support national governments in addressing wildlife crime, reducing other drivers of biodiversity loss, and enhancing sustainable development.
5. Anchor our landscapes and seascapes in sustainable funding for effective ecosystem management over the long term.
6. Invest in nature-based solutions to protect, restore, and build resilient ecosystems.