Donate to support the protection and restoration of habitats

Current estimates show that approximately 25 percent of all land on earth currently exists in a degraded condition. This has a significant impact on soil, food production, wildlife habitat and water quality. Restoring degraded land is essential to ending the climate crisis as it will soak up large amounts of atmospheric carbon and help protect precious wildlife habitat.

There are many organisations that are involved in land restoration that will meaningfully regenerate these landscapes and protect its threatened species. Providing financial support to them is something you can do right now.

Here are a few options from different parts of the world you can choose from:

• International
• Australia
• UK
• US

International

Purchase onsets that support restoration projects. Onsets are carbon credits that create a net reduction in greenhouse gases. Organisations, such as Gold Standard and the Carbon Fund, provide verified onsets via their financial support of projects that improve carbon levels in the soil through regenerative agriculture and reforestation. Examples include:

• A community reforestation project in Timor Lest, near Indonesia.
• Reforesting 25,000 acres of abandoned pastureland in Panama.
• The Purus project and the Russas-Valparaiso project reforest portions of the Amazon in Brazil, restoring habitat for native wildlife species.
• The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley Reforestation Initiative aims to reforest at least one million acres throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois.

You can also make donations to these organisations who are focussed on regeneration of different habitats:

• Conservation International, a global conservation organisation that combines fieldwork with policy, science, and finance.
• The Nature Conservancy, global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive.
• Rainforest Alliance, builds alliances of people in over 60 countries to conserve forests and support sustainable livelihoods.
• Regeneration International, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the implementation of regenerative agriculture around the world.
• One Percent for the Planet, a global philanthropic network of businesses, individuals, and organisations.

Australia

• The Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor in Australia, in which 30 million native trees have been planted across almost 14,000 hectares.
• ​​Landcare Australia, an organisation of volunteers who work to protect, restore, and maintain natural landscapes on behalf of local communities.
• World Wildlife Fund Australia (WWF-Australia)’s mission is to halt the decline of threatened plants and animals and to support their recovery. They currently have a number of campaigns that you can donate directly to.
• The Nature Conservancy Australia focusses on conserving Australia’s natural landscapes and crucial wildlife habitat. Your gift could help to ensure the survival of a threatened species through projects such as land purchase for conservation and bringing marine ecosystems to life.
• Greening Australia is committed to restoring Australia’s diverse landscapes and protecting biodiversity. Funds are focussed on restoring degraded land, protecting endangered species and sequestering carbon emissions.
• Bush Heritage Australia buys and manages land for conservation, and also partners with Aboriginal people, and the agricultural sector to achieve conservation outcomes. Your donations help fund critical revegetation projects, supporting fire-preparation and supporting feral animal management.
• Odonata is a not-for-profit supporting biodiversity impact solutions by creating, supporting, nurturing and empowering businesses and entrepreneurs to move towards a more environmentally sustainable world. Money donated to Odonata helps protect Australia’s threatened species.
• Carbon Positive is an Australian charity that has been restoring degraded lands through ecologically sensitive planting for the last 21 years. They plant where where they can guarantee that the trees are native, biodiverse, and monitored. The trees they plant are protected for up to 100 years, so your donation will contribute to an enduring legacy.

UK

• Restore Our Planet supports projects in the U.K. and other locations around the world.
• JUST ONE Tree supports reforestation projects around the globe with the goal of making it super simple to plant trees.
• Tree for Cities are working at a national and international scale to improve lives by planting trees in cities. £6 will plant 1 tree in an urban woodland.
• The Woodland Trust is the UK's largest woodland conservation charity with a vision to make the UK rich in woods and trees.

US

• Kiss the Ground, an educational nonprofit focused on carbon sequestration in soils, regenerative agriculture, and healthy food.
• Xerces Society, a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to protecting and restoring pollinators and their habitat.
• Ducks Unlimited, a conservation organisation that protects, restores, and manages wetlands for waterfowl.
• The Wetlands Initiative, restores wetlands, employing collaboration and science to improve water quality, habitat for plants and wildlife.
• The Nature Conservancy, a leading conservation organisation in the United States and around the world, TNC works with public and private partners to ensure our lands and waters are protected for future generations.
• American Forests create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to large natural landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife.

Know of any other resources? Share your ideas.

Donating to support habitat regeneration and protection is part of a larger collective response about restoring and regenerating habitats. Click here to read more.