Views of the New York City skyline from Central Park, New York.
New York City skyline Views of the New York City skyline from Central Park, New York. © Mat Rick

Our Priorities

Build Healthy Cities

Cities are growing—fast. By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas.

An increasing urban population means that cities are expanding their footprint at an alarming rate. It also means fewer people have access to nature’s benefits. Even in cities, we depend on natural habitat for food, clean water, clean air and our physical & mental health. With smart planning, science-based solutions & strong partnerships, we can make the green cities of tomorrow resilient, healthy & equitable.

How We’re Building Sustainable Cities

Children gather during a gardening activity at the Sinolink Primary School in Shenzhen, China. November 2017. The Sinolink Primary School in Shenzhen has implemented a number of sponge city features including permeable surfaces in their sports grounds and entrance walking areas, added rain barrels, and started a 'young naturalists' class that also teaches students about rainwater management and related gardening. The school is located in Luohu district, Shenzhen, China. TNC's Build Healthy Cities Program.
Include Nature We are helping integrate urban forests, rain gardens, parks and wetlands into sustainable city planning to bring nature’s benefits to urban residents. © Theodore Kaye
In coordination with generous sponsorships from UPS, The Nature Conservancy, Brown-Forman, and Brightside planted trees for a community-wide planting day.
Green City Growth We promote green city designs like permeable surfaces & rain gardens that can manage stormwater while providing health benefits and reducing pollution in our rivers. © Devan King/The Nature Conservancy
On the Yangtze at various spots in Chongqing. The Yangtze River flows across China and empties into the East China Sea near the historic city of Shanghai.
Plan for Climate Change We work with cities from New Orleans to Beijing to use nature as the first line of defense against the effects of climate change, like low air quality & urban heat-islands. © Kevin Arnold
Akshay Arora at Union Square Farmer's Market.
Get Outside People in cities are increasingly disconnected from nature. We are facilitating access & engagement to build a movement to increase physical, emotional & spiritual health. © Kevin Arnold
× Children gather during a gardening activity at the Sinolink Primary School in Shenzhen, China. November 2017. The Sinolink Primary School in Shenzhen has implemented a number of sponge city features including permeable surfaces in their sports grounds and entrance walking areas, added rain barrels, and started a 'young naturalists' class that also teaches students about rainwater management and related gardening. The school is located in Luohu district, Shenzhen, China. TNC's Build Healthy Cities Program.
× In coordination with generous sponsorships from UPS, The Nature Conservancy, Brown-Forman, and Brightside planted trees for a community-wide planting day.
× On the Yangtze at various spots in Chongqing. The Yangtze River flows across China and empties into the East China Sea near the historic city of Shanghai.
× Akshay Arora at Union Square Farmer's Market.
View of the Second Street Bridge (George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge) over the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky.
Bridge in Louisville, Kentucky View of the Second Street Bridge (George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge) over the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky. © Devan King/The Nature Conservancy
A leopard at night on a hill overlooking Mumbai.

Feature

Nature in the Urban Century

Booming cities raise the stakes for biodiversity—here’s how smart urban planning can serve people and nature.

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An employee waters the gardens on the rooftop of the Tencent Binhai towers in Shenzhen, China.
Rooftop Garden in China An employee waters the gardens on the rooftop of the Tencent Binhai towers in Shenzhen, China. © Theodore Kaye
young adults standing together in a line near trees

Partnerships

Youth Engagement

The Youth Engagement team at The Nature Conservancy works to expand the current conservation movement by ensuring that young people from all backgrounds get the opportunity to gain necessary skills to become a force for nature.

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Building Healthy Cities

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Discover our other priorities and find ways you can help transform the future of the world.

In addition to helping create healthy cities, The Nature Conservancy is listening to science to address today’s most urgent challenges.