Island Conservation

Island Conservation Restoring islands for nature and people worldwide.
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05/30/2026

Field work isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, but when it is, we can’t help but stop and admire them! Grateful for a global team that takes the time to truly immerse themselves in the beautiful places they get to protect.

05/28/2026

This is our ‘why’ — For nature, oceans, and PEOPLE.

05/26/2026

What in-between moments look like with our field team! Expert level coconut opening in-progress … 👀

05/23/2026

Islands are home to nearly 31% of all plant species, 41% of all endangered land species, and account for roughly 75% of all known animal extinctions. We’ve seen what’s possible when we take action to holistically restore islands. Species bounce back, extinctions are prevented, and biodiversity once at risk of being lost is now thriving.

Our work is local by design. We partner directly with island communities, Indigenous peoples, and local governments to remove primary threats and restore native habitat — island by island, species by species. And the results reverberate globally. Each restored island becomes a refuge, a reservoir of biodiversity that supports ecosystem resilience far beyond its shoreline.

What if the secret to protecting coral reefs was bird p**p?When we restore islands, one of the many benefits is that sea...
05/21/2026

What if the secret to protecting coral reefs was bird p**p?

When we restore islands, one of the many benefits is that seabirds come back. And as we know, everything is connected. So what does that mean for the coral reef ecosystems that surround islands?

Research shows that islands with thriving seabird populations have:

🐠 50% more fish biomass (more & larger fish)
💪 Recover from bleaching 4x faster
💧 Are more resilient to warming waters
🪸 And grow 4x faster

Seabirds are connector species, meaning they act as a bridge between two ecosystems. They hunt out at sea and bring nutrients (like nitrogen) back to the land and surrounding reef through their guano (p**p). On islands, this link is essential, and is a reason that seabirds are the key drivers of a healthy ecosystem.

In recent op-ed in the , he shares that to protect coral reefs we need to take action, one action being to “protect the species that are critical to reefs.”

Enter the seabird, and the islands they call home.

7 out of 10 coral reef hotspots around the globe belong to island territories, making islands the single most important place to focus reef protection efforts. And if healthy seabird populations can help protect those reefs, we should start by restoring the habitats seabirds depend on.

Field Notes: A story on Niulakita by Cozette RomeroAs growing environmental pressures threaten an island community’s liv...
05/20/2026

Field Notes: A story on Niulakita by Cozette Romero

As growing environmental pressures threaten an island community’s livelihood, collaboration and culture help protect it.

Read more about the work being done on Niulakita at the link in our bio.

05/18/2026

Two peas in a pod. Or should we say two Flamingos in a Flamboyance 🦩🦩

Though often referred to as a flock, did you know a collective group of Flamingos is called a Flamboyance?
These unique birds lay just one egg a year, with the chicks starting out as a grey color. They only later develop their iconic pink coloring when their diet changes, from a fluid called crop milk to brine shrimp and blue-green algae. In fact, their bills are designed to separate mud from food!

What else do you want to learn about Flamingos? Ask in the comments!

05/15/2026

With World Ocean’s Day less than one month away, we can’t help but notice the incredible creatures that our Ocean gives life to! This sea cucumber was spotted by our team carrying out boots on the ground work in Tofua, Tonga.

We think it’s likely a Snake Sea Cucumber (Synapta maculata). Typically found in shallow tropical Indo-Pacific waters, it’s among the longest sea cucumbers in the world, and can reach up to 3 meters (10 ft)!

It has 15 tentacles that surround the mouth for feeding, and they have anchor-shaped ossicles (microscopic, chalky, spike-like structures that support the body). These ossicles help give these long animals shape, allow them to move across the sea floor, and are adhesive.

Our work to restore these places means that even the smallest (and longest) of creatures living just offshore can flourish too.

Do you think it’s a Snake Sea Cucumber? Or something else? Let us know in the comments below!

Hey there! If you’re new here, allow us to introduce ourselves.We’re Island Conservation, a global team and network of s...
05/14/2026

Hey there! If you’re new here, allow us to introduce ourselves.

We’re Island Conservation, a global team and network of scientists, ambassadors, animal enthusiasts, artists, and ocean lovers on a mission to restore islands for nature and people worldwide. Our goal is to create a world filled with vibrant biodiversity, resilient oceans, and thriving island communities.

From our world’s highest peaks to the deepest depths of the ocean, everything is connected, and we have the opportunity to play a role in keeping that connection alive on islands throughout the world. Our incredible team collaborates with local communities to help achieve their vision of what a healthier island looks like. And the results from this work? Well, they are like no other. They’re long-lasting, tangible (with some transformations happening almost overnight), and extend far beyond the coastline. When islands thrive, so does our planet.

Our quirks? We’re bird nerds, we will talk your ears off about guano, nutrient cycles, climate and island community resilience, and much more. We love community-centered solutions, hearing stories from around the world, and a coconut water after a long day in the field. We believe that a healthy ocean starts with healthy islands. And we know that there is in fact hope for our planet, because we see it every day through our work.

Follow along on our mission to restore islands for nature and people worldwide.

Looking ahead: Sonsorol State, Palau.In 2018, the Sonsorol community made a request to address the primary threats facin...
05/13/2026

Looking ahead: Sonsorol State, Palau.

In 2018, the Sonsorol community made a request to address the primary threats facing their islands, particularly on Merir, Sonsorol, and Fanna. Now, we’re planning a restoration together with the local community, and in partnership with the state government and local partners.

We’re looking to achieve their vision for a healthier island. This restoration will reconnect vital nutrient cycles, boosting health for the surrounding marine ecosystem, provide better nesting conditions for seabirds, and improve security for crops such as coconuts that the community depends on.

The project is set to begin this month!

Learn more at the link: https://www.islandconservation.org/sonsorol-community-wellbeing/
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About the partnership:

The project is being implemented by Island Conservation in close collaboration with the Sonsorol State Government and the Sonsorol community, with support from the Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) through the Predator Free Pacific programme.

Predator Free Pacific is one of six invasive species management programmes under the PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience project, led by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), and funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the United Kingdom International Development.

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