E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation

11/20/2025

This installment of Places for a Half-Earth Future highlights Tajikistan and the elusive striped hyena. Written by Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent, the story looks at the efforts of the Tajikistan Nature Foundation to track, monitor, and preserve one of central Asia’s rarest mammals. Don’t miss the rare camera trap footage in the last slide!​

You can read the full Places for a Half-Earth Future story on our website: https://eowilsonfoundation.org/news-posts/places-for-a-half-earth-future-in-search-of-one-of-central-asias-rarest-mammals-in-tajikistan/

Photo Credits:​
1. By S.MORE via iNaturalist​
2. Half-Earth Project Map​
3. Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent​
4. Half-Earth Project Map – Discover Stories​
5. Tajikistan Nature Foundation

11/07/2025

Half-Earth Day didn’t just spark conversations about mentorship; it was a platform for mentorship to grow in real time. ​

Throughout the hands-on workshops, engaging talks and panels, and awe-inspiring evening program, we heard how mentorship has guided careers, sparked collaboration, and built bridges across disciplines. The day was filled with joy and optimism, and participants left feeling inspired and hopeful for what lies ahead.​

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to Half-Earth Day. We’re incredibly grateful to the speakers, panelists, and performers who traveled from all over the world to share their experiences and wisdom. Half-Earth Day also wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, who helped make bring it to life: ADM, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, National Audubon Society, Syngenta, Esri, Resource Management Service (RMS) and Rivers Agency. ​

Stay tuned to revisit the conversations and wisdom shared throughout Half-Earth Day 2025. We’ve received many questions about recordings from the day’s sessions—we'll update you as soon as they are available. In the meantime, explore more from the event on our website: https://eowilsonfoundation.org/programs/outreach/half-earth-day/. ​

Images 1, 2, 4-8: Norvell's Photography ​
Images 3, 9, 10: Pawinski Photography

11/04/2025

11/03/2025

10/30/2025

"Young people give me hope. They are more fearless, more connected to the Earth, and more capable of changing power than we ever were. We just need to get out of their way — and help them lead us toward a world where people and nature can thrive together.” - Harrison Ford

Yesterday, we honored Harrison Ford with the inaugural E.O. Wilson Legacy Award for Transformative Conservation Leadership. This award recognizes his decades of impassioned environmental advocacy engaging the public and inspiring real action to advance conservation efforts.​

Designed by renowned sculptor Heidi Wastweet, the bronze medal reflects E.O. Wilson’s call to protect Half-Earth. A thumbprint symbolizes humanity’s impact on nature, a great blue heron represents resilience and wisdom, and three leaf-cutter ants pay tribute to E.O. Wilson’s groundbreaking studies of ants. This award will be presented each year at Half-Earth Day, celebrating those who carry forward his legacy of scientific curiosity, passion for biodiversity, and action for all species.​
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Harrison Ford received the award at the Field Museum during the memorable Half-Earth Day evening ceremony, following a day of TED-style talks from conservation leaders, hands-on workshops, and special performances. Keep an eye out for more about

10/30/2025

Half-Earth Day is a global moment of collaboration and shared purpose. In a recent interview, Paula Ehrlich, President and CEO of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, sat down with the Pier Giovanni Capellino, President of the Fondazione Capellino in Italy, for an in-depth conversation about biodiversity conservation, the Half-Earth Project, and E.O. Wilson’s enduring legacy in science. The full interview will be live November 1st—stay tuned.

10/29/2025

How well are countries and regions protecting species? The 2025 Species Protection Report provides the latest global analysis of progress toward protecting and stewarding biodiversity.

Now expanded to include tree species alongside land and marine vertebrates, roughly 92k species have been assessed to better identify the species and regions in most need of conservation action. Here’s a glimpse of some of the incredible species featured in the report, along with a map of the National Tree SPI. You can view the whole report on our website: https://eowilsonfoundation.org/which-half/national-report-cards/the-species-protection-report-2025/

This report was produced by the Half-Earth Project, a collaborative initiative of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, in partnership with Map of Life at the Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Vizzuality, and Esri.

Photo 1. The Species Protection Report – 2025. Photo Credit: © Tz-Hsuan Tseng

Photo 2. Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Merops oreobates (55 SPS). Photo Credit: © Tz-Hsuan Tseng

Photo 3. Hooded Butterflyfish, Chaetodon larvatus (39 SPS). Photo Credit: © mirecca via AdobeStock

Photo 4. Patagonian Mara, Dolichotis patagonum (33 SPS): Photo Credit: © marcos2005 via iNaturalist

Photo 5. Natal Midlands Dwarf Chameleon, Bradypodion thamnobates (4 SPS). Photo Credit: © Gus Benson via iNaturalist

Photo 6. Olive Malle, Eucalyptus olivine (74 SPS). Photo Credit: © Dean Nicolle via iNaturalist

Photo 7. National Tree SPI Map.

10/28/2025

Can storytelling help save the planet?

Join National Geographic photographer, filmmaker and Vital Impacts founder Ami Vitale as she delves into the transformative power of visual storytelling in conservation. Inspired by the legacy of E.O. Wilson, who believed that understanding and connection could inspire humans to protect the natural world, Ami demonstrates how powerful images can spark empathy and amplify the planet’s most urgent stories. She will also announce next year’s Vital Impacts winner of the E.O. Wilson Environmental Grant, honoring his enduring vision.

Ami’s presentation, “Wild Hope: Stories that Drive Change,” will take place at 1:20 PM (CDT) on Half-Earth Day, held on October 29 at Chicago’s Field Museum. Register for free on the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation website: https://eowilsonfoundation.org/programs/outreach/half-earth-day/



All photos by Ami Vitale.

10/27/2025

What if we could set aside half the Earth for birds and nature?

This week, Audubon CEO Dr. Elizabeth Gray will deliver the Half-Earth Day keynote, exploring how her own career fighting climate change has been shaped by mentorship and the importance of investing in the next generation.

Join us for the talk at the Field Museum in Chicago on Wednesday, October 29, 4:30-4:55PM CDT. Register at https://eowilsonfoundation.org/programs/outreach/half-earth-day/



​Slide 1: Snow Geese. 📷: Roger van Gelder/Audubon Photography Awards
Slide 2: Snow Geese. 📷: Matthew Knutson/Audubon Photography Awards

10/26/2025

Harrison Ford is a tireless voice in conservation. His commitment to the environment was shaped, in part, by his friend and mentor E.O. Wilson. Through his own advocacy—and as a steadfast supporter of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation—Harrison Ford continues to amplify E.O. Wilson’s vision of protecting the planet’s biodiversity.

At this year’s Half-Earth Day, Harrison Ford will receive the E.O. Wilson Legacy Award for Transformative Conservation Leadership and share his perspective on mentorship as a force for biodiversity conservation.​

Join us at Chicago's Field Museum October 29 to hear Harrison Ford speak at Half-Earth Day. Tickets to the evening program are $15 and available on our website: https://eowilsonfoundation.org/programs/outreach/half-earth-day/
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10/24/2025

Half-Earth Day 2025 is just around the corner. Here’s everything you need to know about our annual event celebrating biodiversity conservation:​

Half-Earth Day is an annual global event spotlighting biodiversity conservation. The event is a core initiative of the Half-Earth Project — hence the name Half-Earth Day.​

The Half-Earth Project's goal: preserve life by protecting half of Earth’s lands and seas. Half-Earth Day unites scientists, Indigenous and community leaders, business executives, educators & activists to inspire action across disciplines. ​

Half-Earth Day is both a conversation and call to action to safeguard Earth’s biodiversity. Each year has a theme — in 2025 it’s “From Wisdom to Action: Mentorship as a Force for Biodiversity.” At this year's event, Harrison Ford will receive an award for his conservation advocacy, and David Willard will receive an award for his research that is helping save Chicago’s birds.​

Register for Half-Earth Day: https://eowilsonfoundation.org/programs/outreach/half-earth-day/