Policy Leadership

Conservation policy for birds, people, and the planet.
91做厙 leadership team members with partners Fundaci籀n Cosmos and CAF at Humedal R穩o Maipo natural sanctuary in Chile. Photo: Sydney Walsh/91做厙

Supporting conservation leadership throughout the hemisphere.

91做厙s policy work is grounded in science, powered by community engagement, and focused on solutions that meet the urgency of our times and help bend the bird curve, meaning to reverse the massive decline of birds across the hemisphere. Through our Healthy Birds, Healthy Planet policy agenda, we drive durable outcomes that protect birds and their habitats, build climate resilience, and strengthen communities across the Americas.

A Trusted Leader 

91做厙 is a trusted nonpartisan leader in science-based conservation. We work with decisionmakers from domestic and international governments, Indigenous partners, and local communities to create solutions that last. With decades of experience in renewable energy, habitat restoration and land protection, working lands management, and environmental policymaking, and backed by the latest science and innovative tools, 91做厙 addresses the most urgent challenges of our time: biodiversity loss, habitat degradation, and climate change.

Through a powerful network of more than 500 community and campus chapters, 61 91做厙 Centers and Sanctuaries, dozens of partners and1.9 million members and supporters, 91做厙 mobilizes tens of thousands of supporters who speak up for conservation across every U.S. state and territory and stretching across the hemisphere. Our local everywhere network, combined with deep policy expertise, drives bipartisan legislation, international and regional pledges, and hands-on conservation efforts that deliver real benefits for birds and communities. Guided by science, community impacts, and collaboration, 91做厙 is advancing a future where birds, people, and the planet can thrive together.

Habitats for Birds and People

Safeguarding the places birds and people depend on

Birds are vanishing at an alarming rate, and habitat loss is the leading cause. From boreal forests and grasslands to wetlands and coastal marshes, the ecosystems birds rely on are under increasing pressure from development, degradation, and climate change. 91做厙 is working to protect and restore 300 million acres of climate-resilient habitat across the Americas.

Guided by science and powered by partnerships, we drive policies that create connected landscapes where birds can thrive now and in a changing climate. Our efforts span from Alaskas Arctic coast to the mangrove forests of Colombia and include bold, place-based initiatives like Everglades restoration, sagebrush protection, and urban canopy expansion. By conserving habitat, we not only protect birds but also enhance clean air, water, and climate resilience for communities.

Habitat Conservation in Action
A flock of about 60 Sanderlingssmall shorebirdsfly in a group above a crashing wave.
Coasts and Oceans
Grasslands, Aridlands, and Forests
Rivers, Lakes, and Wetlands
Habitat Conservation News

Climate Solutions

Knowing that climate issues are bird issues

There is no path to stabilizing the climate without addressing biodiversity loss and dramatically changing how we produce electricity. 91做厙 believes that renewable energy and natural climate solutions have important roles to play in mitigating the impact of climate changethe single greatest threat to birds and other species.

91做厙 supports common-sense solutions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon storage, including by conserving and restoring forests, wetlands, and grasslands that provide important habitat for birds and serve as natural solutions for storing carbon, and investing in responsibly sited clean energy. We also are working with partners to bring nature-based solutions and bird-friendly practices to these landscapes to achieve conservation and sustainable-development impacts at a significant scale.

Advancing Climate Solutions
A male House Finch perches on a row of solar panels.
Birds and Clean Energy
Natural Climate Solutions
Our Climate Strategy
30x30 Building Blocks: Indigenous Protected Areas
Learn more about practical, action-oriented options for reaching the 30x30 target through a variety of approaches that deliver benefits for biodiversity, communities, and the climate.
Climate Solutions News

Conservation Financing

Investing in the Future of Birds, Nature, and Communities

Conservation is essential, but it requires sustained investment. 91做厙 is leading the charge to close the conservation funding gap by advocating for robust public funding and unlocking private capital for bird and habitat protection. From Capitol Hill to local legislatures in the U.S. and with international leaders across the hemisphere, we work to ensure that conservation programs have the resources they need to deliver impact.

Through our and strategic partnerships, were securing increased funding for national priorities like the Migratory Bird Joint Ventures, watershed restoration programs, and Tribal wildlife grants; which are pivotal for restoring critical habitat, strengthening watersheds, empowering Tribal stewardship, and advancing conservation across the hemisphere. We also support innovative state-level initiatives and development financing in Latin America and the Caribbean. By putting financial resources behind our values, we ensure long-term protection for birds and the places they call home.

Select Areas of Focus for Financing
Americas Flyways Initiative
A person holds a female cardinal in one hand and attaches a metal band on her leg with the other.
Why Federal Funding for Bird Science Matters
Conserva Aves
Sandhill_Cranes_Alaska_Minden
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act
Securing Support for Conservation

Bird Conservation

Partnering to support sustained action

For more than a century, foundational bird protection policies have anchored conservation progress in the United States and across the Americas, helping species recover and safeguarding the ecosystems both birds and people depend on. As birds face accelerating threats from habitat loss, a shifting climate, and planned development that doesnt consider environmental impacts. 91做厙 works to defend, strengthen, and modernize these laws. This ensures these bedrock protections remain durable, effective and responsive in a rapidly changing world.

Grounded in science and advanced through a nonpartisan, diplomatic approach, we partner with lawmakers, agencies, Indigenous groups, states, and local communities to defend long-standing protections while driving innovation in how conservation is implemented.

Our focus is on building a coordinated, hemispheric approach that supports strategic and sustained action across flyways; advancing practical solutions that reduce preventable threats and increase bird survival; and embedding climate resilience into habitat conservation at scale. From supporting community-led stewardship in cities and towns to promoting effective frameworks that align conservation efforts across borders, 91做厙 works to ensure bird protections remain robust, well-resources, and capable of meeting todays conservation challenges across the Americas.

Protecting Birds Through Proven Policy
Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Sandhill_Cranes_Alaska_Minden
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act
Three Whooping Cranes fly through the air.
Protecting Our National Wildlife Refuges
New Legislation Offers Vital Support for Habitat Conservation in Cities and Towns

International Policy

Driving Global Action for Birds and the Planet

At 91做厙, we believe that birds are powerful indicators of the health of our planet and our stewardship of nature. Our global conservation efforts span the Americas and beyond, reaching from boreal Canada to the tropical forests of Latin America and the Caribbean. By employing a hemispheric mindset, we protect migratory pathways, restore vital habitats, and tackle the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.

We connect partners, influence policy, and catalyze on-the-ground action across continents. From safeguarding high-priority sites for thousands of migratory and endemic birds, to advancing nature-based climate solutions and engaging local communities, our international work reflects one truth: whats good for birds is good for the planet. With science guiding our hemispheric approach, were building a future where nature and people thrive together.

91做厙 on the Global Stage
91做厙 and Global Policy
91做厙 Latin America and Caribbean
Canada
News from the Hemisphere
Policy News Around 91做厙
A diverse group of about 25 people pose in front of the California State Capitol building
Advocacy in Action: 91做厙 California Relaunches Advocacy Day
September 15, 2026 — Speaking up for the birds and communities of the desert, coasts, and urban centers
State Policy,NationalImpact
September 10, 2026 — 91做厙 Delivers Conservation Wins Across the Country
Congressional Leaders Get Firsthand Look at Forest Conservation
August 20, 2026 — 91做厙 hosts tours highlighting the importance of forest conservation for landowners, birds, and local communities.
Eastern Bluebird perched on a leafy branch, brown background
Missouri Renews Its Commitment to the Lands and Waters That Sustain Us
August 12, 2026 — An overwhelming 82% of voters approved continued funding for state parks, historic sites, and vital soil and water conservation efforts across the state.
A Dusky Grouse perches on a wooden fence in front of a beautiful mountainous landscape.
Love Our Public Lands? That Means Maintaining Them
August 06, 2026 — Bills prioritizing upkeep at national parks, national monuments and other federal lands are making their way through Congress.
WhatHave We Done for Our Refuges Lately?
August 05, 2026 — Maintaining this vital part of our public lands network requires ongoing commitment.
Eastern Screech-Owl. Photo: Matt Cuda/91做厙 Photography Awards
Big Wins for Birds this Legislative Session in Raleigh
July 31, 2026 — 91做厙 advocates took more than 2,000 actions for birds this year and mobilized in-person for Advocacy Day. Heres everything we accomplished together.
A Bald Eagle stands on a rocky hillside in the rain.
Conserving Habitat Has Always Been Central to the Endangered Species Act
July 23, 2026 — Understanding recent changes to a longstanding definition is important because of what they could mean for habitat conservation and bird recovery
Building Relationships and Driving Record Postcard Turnout
July 18, 2026 — As stated in 91做厙's Flight Plan, public policy and funding have a catalytic effect on protecting bird habitat and addressing climate change.
People standing in front of a federal building
91做厙 Flocks to Washington, D.C.
July 14, 2026 — We're grateful as always for the bipartisan commitment of Florida's delegation to this critical work.