10 Animal Conservation Nonprofits to Know About

Presumably, those who are taking the time to peruse the webpages of One Green Planet are the very type of people who are likely to care about animals. And, there is no better way to show that care than by helping to conserve wild places for them to live and by protecting them from abuse.

In order to do that, it’s good for us to know about the different organizations out there doing amazing work. Most of us are familiar with mega-stars like the WWF (World Wildlife Fund), The Nature Conservancy, and The Sierra Club.  But, there are many other nonprofits out there working on behalf of animals.

With that in mind, we’ve come up with a few more to know about, possibly support, and definitely celebrate. These are some of the best animal Conservation projects going.

1. Coral Reef Alliance

The Coral Reef Alliance works on micro and macro levels to protect coral reefs by addressing the most direct threats to these fragile ecosystems. Coral reefs, of course, are home to thousands of species of animals. CRA also uses up-to-date science to help lessen the damaging effects of Climate change on reefs.

2. Ocean Blue Project

The Ocean Blue Project works locally to clean the oceans, beaches, and rivers around the world. They also try to prevent pollutants from reaching our waterways to being with. They have been part of removing a million pounds of plastic from the oceans. Removing plastic from the ocean, of course, saves coastal birds and marine animals.

3. The National Audubon Society

No group looks after birds the way The National Audubon Society does. They work at over 1,000 coastal sites, have put 1.9 million acres of farmland under bird-friendly management, and have planted 400,000 native plants to Support avian species. Their efforts are bird-centric, but lots of other animals benefit as well.

4. Re:Wild

The crux of the Re:Wild mission is that we don’t need to reinvent the planet and find new solutions; rather, we need to protect still existing and restore depleted wilderness. Re:Wild focuses on the earth’s most biodiverse landscapes, and they have already protected over 180 million acres, home to over 16,000 species of animals.

5. PADI AWARE Foundation

A smart move by the scuba folk, PADI AWARE Foundation has been an instrumental partner in helping local organizations with global ocean Conservation. They’ve been protecting shark and ray species, removing trash from the seas, and educating new divers about acting on behalf of the oceans they hope to enjoy.

6. Defenders of Wildlife

With over 75 years of activism now, Defenders of Wildlife is a US-based Conservation project that really puts work into protecting wild spaces in North America. This includes conserving healthy lands and waters, as well as recognizing how ecosystems rely on the collective plants and animals that create our environment.

7. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

So often looked at as the mouthpiece for vegans, PETA often gets forgotten as an actual animal Conservation project. PETA, of course, has been instrumental in fighting on behalf of domesticated animals, but they also do a lot to help protect wild animals, especially saving them from being killed when human and animal habitats create troublesome encounters.

8. PAWS

Based in Washington state, PAWS has been around since the 1960s, and it has helped hundreds of thousands of animals in that time. The organization spends considerable time working on behalf of cats and dogs, but they put in just as much work caring for injured, sick, and orphaned wild animals. They also do educational outreach regarding the humane treatment of animals.

9. National Wildlife Federation

Established in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation is the USA’s oldest and largest Conservation nonprofit. NWF collaborates in 52 US states and territories, categorized into seven regions, to aid in local efforts to make sure wildlife thrives in the changing world. They call on people from all walks of life to join the effort.

10. National Parks Conservation Association

In action for over 100 years now, NPCA has been the people’s voice for protecting and preserving the United States’ national parks. They have community organizers, staff lobbyists, and policy experts at work to keep our public parklands safe for people to enjoy and animals to inhabit.

Bonus: Panthera

Hey, when there is an extra Conservation nonprofit dangling at the bottom of the list when the article is supposedly done, it’s hard to leave them off. Panthera is a beautiful group that was founded in 2006. They work worldwide to protect the planet’s 40 species of wild cats, including their habitats.

There are hundreds more animal Conservation nonprofits out there in the ether, but this list is a grand place to start. Undoubtedly, these projects will lead to the discovery of more, and hopefully, that will to more and more of us championing these causes and loving animals all the more.

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