Biodiversity is a term used to describe the diversity of life on Earth. Ecosystems are made up of species, each with its own niche and role within the functioning ecoystem. Fungi, bacteria, fish, and amphibians are all critical players in this web of life. Wildlife species—such as lions, elephants, orcas, and wolves—are not only important to protect in their own right, but also because they have vital roles in these broader ecosystems. They are often umbrella species with geographic ranges that overlap many regions of the world where biodiversity is at great risk. They are also often outstanding flagship species for conservation. They are charismatic and can help stimulate awareness, action and funding.

Yet very little funding goes towards women working to protect wildlife species since the vast majority of funding to women is directed towards sustainable agriculture. While agriculture is an important reason for biodiversity loss; it is not the only one. Women play a critical role in food production, but we are also scientists, rangers, researchers and advocates, and we play critical roles in decreasing negative interactions between humans and wildlife. Because sustainable agriculture is already receiving funding, we aim to support biodiversity conservation where very few funds are directed at present. We fund projects that support the protection and recovery of species with a focus on healthy, thriving ecosystems.

Carbon Stocks is a fancy term for the amount of carbon stored in a forest or other ecosystem. Trees and other vegetation store carbon in their branches, trunks, and roots, and also transfer carbon to the soils around them (dead trees and branches on the forest floor also store carbon). Protecting existing forests, and in particular “primary” or “old growth” forests, is one of the best ways to address climate change because an old growth forest has been drawing down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it for centuries, so has already accumulated a lot of carbon (i.e. it has a “high carbon stock”). In contrast, a young, newly planted or regrowth forest is just beginning to absorb carbon, so it stores very little (i.e., it has a low carbon stock). Old-growth forests are also strong and resilient, whereas young forests are much more vulnerable to threats (e.g., drought, fire, storms, insect outbreaks, etc.). The carbon stored in old-growth forests is also much more secure (i.e., at much lower risk of being emitted into the atmosphere) than carbon in a young or degraded forest or a plantation. Forests in good ecological condition (in technical jargon, forests with “high ecological integrity”) have higher biodiversity than degraded forests, plantations, or younger forests, which also means they provide more ecosystem services for people (cleaner freshwater, freshwater regulation, medicinal plants, food, erosion control, pollination, etc.).

For these reasons, we focus on the areas of the planet where forests are still in good ecological condition, protecting old-growth forests rather than planting or restoring new areas. Tree-planting, especially strategically, to connect forest patches or to provide a buffer to older forests, is important, yet many organizations have a focus on tree-planting and re:wildling. Our focus is on keeping existing old forests standing.

In our work supporting women protecting forests, we prioritize work with Indigenous peoples, local communities and local conservation leaders.

Rivers are the lifeblood of life on our planet, providing fresh water for drinking and crop irrigation, bringing nutrients to soils, and buffering rising sea levels due to climate change. Free-flowing rivers are critical to regulating natural carbon cycles and influencing weather patterns. Yet dams, pollution, deforestation and other land-use changes, threaten these vital systems. Only one-third of the world’s rivers today remain free-flowing. We therefore work to support women and their organizations protecting priority freshwater ecosystems across the planet.

The ocean covers 70% of our Planet. It harbors an incredible diversity of species. It is critical for absorbing carbon, and it produces about 70% of the oxygen we breathe. Unfortunately, ocean ecosystems worldwide are under threat from global warming, pollution, overfishing, and other human causes. About 90% of big fish populations in the ocean have already been depleted, and 50% of coral reefs have been destroyed. We aim to work with women protecting oceans and their ecosystems across the planet

Studies have demonstrated that women suffer disproportionately from feelings of isolation and loneliness. In addition, a plethora of examples throughout history demonstrate that women stand up to patriarchal values more effectively when working together. Women are more likely to speak out when there is more than one-third women's representation in the room, and women benefit exponentially from mentorship by other women.

Across the world, there are existing networks of women protecting nature. These networks act like the mycorrhizal fungi under the earth of forests, sending nutrients to each tree to sustain it and connect it with others. Similarly, each of these women’s networks has its own extensive regional and/or global web of support, cultivated over many years, to buoy women working on the front lines of climate change at the grassroots level. We therefore send funding to these existing networks to extend their reach and to bolster their support to women.

Achieving gender equality, supporting women’s rights, and biodiversity conservation and climate change are intertwined goals that cannot be disentangled, yet funding for these is often allocated separately, and the movements are siloed. Achieving women’s rights and protecting nature require systemic change. We therefore get to the root causes of gender inequality and nature’s destruction and degradation and invest our resources there. Increased years of education, greater women’s land ownership, and greater access to sexual and reproductive health services are all correlated with better outcomes for both nature and the climate. We therefore support women conservation organizations addressing the roots of inequality.

Stories shape how people understand the world—and how they care for it. For generations, however, many of the stories about our planet have been told without the voices of the women who live closest to nature and depend on it most deeply. We support women telling stories about the Earth because their perspectives are essential to understanding both the challenges facing our planet and the solutions that can sustain it.

Across cultures and landscapes, women are farmers, forest guardians, water protectors, scientists, and community leaders. Their lived experiences reveal intimate knowledge of ecosystems, resilience in the face of environmental change, and innovative ways of caring for land and life. When women share their stories, they illuminate connections between people and nature that are often overlooked and inspire others to see the Earth not as a resource to be exploited, but as a living system to be nurtured. Storytelling also has the power to shift narratives, elevate overlooked leaders, and spark collective action.

By supporting women storytellers—from grassroots activists to artists and conservation leaders—we help bring forward voices that can move hearts, inform decisions, and cultivate a deeper sense of responsibility for our shared home.

We prioritize Indigenous women implementing projects imagined, designed and led by them. Indigenous people make up 6% of the world’s population, but their lands are home to more than one-third of the world’s intact forest landscapes. About 60% of all terrestrial mammals have more than 10% of their ranges in Indigenous Peoples’ lands. Indigenous lands are among the best-protected on the planet, offering the same or better protection than IUCN-protected areas I-IV. Indigenous women face unique challenges, including high rates of violence and disproportionate impacts from poverty and lack of access to resources. Despite these challenges, Indigenous women are at the forefront of protecting their lands, nature and cultures. We prioritize our funding for Indigenous women-led projects and organizations.

Mining can affect the safety and health of women. For example, transient male workers can bring “increased alcohol, sex workers, and violence” into a community. When mining impacts the environment, it makes it more difficult for women to provide food and clean water to their families, roles that fall to women in most countries of the world. Mining toxins can affect maternal health and cause birth defects and miscarriages. In addition, women rarely receive the compensation and benefits that men do from mining, which can increase women’s dependence on men and reinforce patriarchal systems. Women are rarely consulted when companies negotiate access to land, compensation, or benefits. We therefore work with women saying “no” to mining, or working to decrease the negative impacts of mining on the environment and their communities. We are especially focused on supporting Indigenous women whose lands are threatened by mining.

The Women & Peace funding priority supports initiatives at the intersection of women’s leadership, environmental protection, and conflict resolution. Around the world, growing pressures on land, water, forests, and wildlife are intensifying conflicts—both between people and nature and among communities competing for scarce resources. Women are often at the forefront of navigating these tensions. As farmers, resource managers, caregivers, and community leaders, they hold deep knowledge of local landscapes and play critical roles in building dialogue and cooperation. Yet their leadership in peacebuilding and environmental decision-making is frequently overlooked. The Women & Peace priority invests in women peace-builders who are working to resolve conflicts over nature, reduce negative human–wildlife interactions, and foster coexistence between communities and the ecosystems they depend on.