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Life on a Sustainable Planet

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The Climate Crunch - Why Every Fall Feels Like a Race to Save the Planet

Every autumn, climate conferences ignite efforts in the fight against climate change. How do these gatherings inspire reflection and drive action?

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Six Animals the Smithsonian Has Helped Save From Extinction

For more than a century, the Institution has placed a scientific focus on studying and conserving threatened species

Even tiny organisms can have a large effect.

Meet Some Small Creatures That Have Big Impacts on Our Ecosystems

Protecting the little guys can lead to huge benefits for our planet.

5 Creative Approaches to Science and Sustainability

Earth Month (aka April) is ending, but we're staying inspired with these science and sustainability success stories from across the Smithsonian

How to Celebrate Earth Day Every Day

The greenest day of the year is almost here, but our planet could still use some help long after the sun sets on Earth Day

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Stars, Seas and Other Scientific Successes

We recap five of our favorite optimistic stories from March, featuring everything from a historic agreement to protect our oceans to a small island working together to save confused puffins

A view of an island with a wave revealing a coral reef underwater. Photo courtesy of Ishan on Unsplash.

Science from Sea to Sky

February was full of stories exploring Smithsonian research from the deepest to highest points on our planet.

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Bunnies, Bears and Other Stories to Beat the January Blues

Five recent scientific success stories to cheer you up on a dreary day ⛅️

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Five Things That Made Us Optimistic in 2022

Before welcoming 2023, we're looking back at just a few #EarthOptimism highlights from 2022!

Five Spooky Species That Science Brought Back From the Brink

Need some last-minute Halloween costume inspo? These five species narrowly escaped the greatest horror story of our time: extinction.

Illustrator Max Jake Palomino imagines a

Exploring the Social Side of Conservation

A case study demonstrates how incorporating social science into conservation actions can produce more effective, equitable, and lasting change.

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How Conservation Promotes the Synergies of Sustainability

Smithsonian Working Land and Seascapes’ new study unveils conservation’s ability to advance progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals

People wander a livestock market near the Masai Mara, chatting and examining the sheep and goats. Photo courtesy of Cindy Obath

Bringing the Masai Mara to the National Mall

Kenya's Masai Mara ecosystem is an ancient landscape grappling with very modern challenges. Conservationist Cindy Obath discusses plans to better represent the daily reality of local communities during the Earth Optimism × Folklife Festival.

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Bandicoots, Jaguars, and Half-Earth in This Week's Earth Optimism

These stories celebrate success, uncover a spark of hope, share a new idea, or might just make you feel good about Planet Earth.

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Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day With These Indigenous-Focused Conservation Reads

On this Indigenous Peoples' Day, find time to learn about their rich connection and contributions to our planet's wellbeing.

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A Different Kind of Podcast: The Possibilists From Pelecanus and Earth Optimism

Earth Optimism has partnered with Pelecanus on a podcast that highlights stories from interdisciplinary facets of the conservation community on the idea of possibilism. Here, Taylor Parker, who protects and restores habitats as a conservation social scientist and co-founder of Pelecanus, introduces his organization and the creation of The Possibilists.

Paine uses her background in social work and sustainable development to develop solutions that work for both people and the planet.

Empowering Pastoralists and Hunter-Gatherers for Conservation in Tanzania

Paine Makko is the executive director of the Ujamaa Community Resource Team (UCRT) and a committed advocate for Indigenous Peoples in Tanzania. UCRT is a non-profit environmental and social justice organization that aims to empower Indigenous communities and secure their rights to land and sustainability. Makko combines both her experience as a pastoralist and her educational background in social work and sustainable development to develop solutions that work for both people and the planet. In addition to supporting Indigenous groups as a whole, Makko is also passionate about female empowerment in conservation and Indigenous spaces.

Vatosoa is an award-winning advocate for protecting Madagascar's coastlines and their wealth of resources for the local communities.

Meet the Community-led Conservation Advocate Working to Protect Madagascar's Coasts

Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy is a passionate advocate for conservation and sustainability along Madagascar’s coastline communities. After working on small-scale fisheries research supported by the United Nations Nippon Foundation, Rakotondrazafy joined the Madagascar Locally Managed Marine Area Network (MIHARI), an organization that aims to represent marginalized fishing populations and work with them to create locally managed marine areas (LMMAs). Through these LMMAs, local communities can manage and protect both their own fishery practices and biodiversity by combining their traditional knowledge with the support of conservation practitioners.

Sahara Conservation Fund ecological monitoring member Habib Ali (next to vehicle) engaging in typical day-to-day monitoring of reintroduced oryx. Photo credit: Tim Wacher, Zoological Society of London.

Continuing Conservation on a Planet on Lockdown

In this multi-part series, the Smithsonian's Conservation Commons takes a look at how capacity building and local community involvement are key to continuing conservation during the current pandemic.

The first #BlackBirdersWeek celebrates Black birders and nature enthusiasts while inspiring more conservation-curious to join their community.

#BlackBirdersWeek: Celebrating and Encouraging Diversity in Conservation

The first #BlackBirdersWeek celebrates Black birders and nature enthusiasts while inspiring more conservation-curious to join their community.

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