Photo: White-crested helmetshrike in Côte d’Ivoire - photo: Bruno D\'Amicis
Photo: white-crested helmetshrike in the Côte d’Ivoire - photo: Bruno D\'Amicis
Birds, women and conservation: Discover our project AfricElle
Birds, women and conservation: Discover our project AfricElle
Photo: © slowmotiongli - stock.adobe.com
Photo: © slowmotiongli - stock.adobe.com
Wild, beautiful and endangered
Wild, beautiful and endangered
Photo: Canva
Photo: Canva
White Stork Census photo competition: Our winning pictures
White Stork Census photo competition: Our winning pictures

Living and breathing nature conservation in Germany and worldwide

Founded in 1899, NABU (The Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union) is Germany’s oldest and largest environmental association. With more than 960,000 members and 70,000 active volunteers, NABU works tirelessly to protect species, habitats and climate, at home and worldwide. Our projects around the globe empower strong local partners to take action for nature conservation and against the climate and biodiversity crises.

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Latest News

World's rarest stork nests in Hutan Harapan

A sensational, hopeful discovery for science and conservation! A Storm's stork nest, complete with chick, has been found in NABU's project forest Hutan Harapan. Storm's storks are endangered: Sumatra's population has dwindled to between 50 and 100 individuals.

What is paludiculture?

Most peatlands in Europe are used for forestry and agriculture. They emit a lot of CO₂. By harmonising nature conservation, agricultural and economical efforts, we can turn these areas back into natural climate protectors. To achieve this, wet farming is key.

Young scientists probing wetlands - photo: Tom Barrett / Broads Authority

Seeking signs in the rainforest

The rainforest is bursting with life. To protect this wealth of species, one must first understand it. To that end, we spend a day accompanying the research team in the Indonesian forest protection project “Hutan Harapan”.

Storks in the spotlight

Do you know how many white storks are currently nesting? Let's find out! Every ten years, the white stork census records the species' global population. NABU coordinated the eighth census and has updates on interim results, as well as a look behind the scenes.

More snow leopards in Kyrgyzstan

Good news: A new study demonstrates the encouraging upward trend of the snow leopard population in Kyrgyzstan since 2000. The local NABU branch played a key role in this conservation success story.

Women power for Lake Tana

What do cake trays and filing folders have to do with Ethiopia’s largest freshwater lake? Plenty! Sustainable jobs in the region help to secure Lake Tana's future. Selam Desta and Amasaya Getahun work in the new paper recycling centre near the city of Gondar.

NABU joins Global Mangrove Alliance

Mangroves provide vital ecosystem services and are indispensable allies in the climate crisis. However, they are being destroyed at alarming rates. To protect them, NABU joined the Global Mangrove Alliance, an international network for mangrove conservation.

Snow Leopard Award: Call for participation

Are you involved in snow leopard conservation? Apply for NABU's "Snow Leopard Award 2025" or nominate someone who has made a significant impact. The winner gets €5,000 for a joint conservation project. Apply by 14th September 2025!

Good grounds for nature conservation

What are the sources of money for conservation on private land? In Germany, mainly public funding. Other models exist in the USA and South Africa. The project “Good grounds for nature conservation” asks how to implement tax relief for voluntary conservation.

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Explore our international projects

Six countries in Africa:
AfricElle

Women play a decisive role in the fight against the climate crisis. The project AfricElle helps over 20,000 women throughout six African countries to conduct nature- and climate-friendly farming operations, strengthening both their economic opportunities and their impact as defenders of nature.

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Indonesia:
Hutan Harapan

Hutan Harapan is a tropical lowland forest in Sumatra, Indonesia. It is one of the last refuges for endangered species and provides countless ecosystem services. Together with local communities and indigenous groups, NABU protects and restores the forest and researches its biodiversity.

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Five countries in Europe:
LIFE Multi Peat

What Europe needs? Wet peatlands! NABU coordinates the international project LIFE Multi Peat that aims to rewet and manage degraded peatlands covering an area of 689 hectare. The project is being implemented in Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland and Germany.

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Ethiopia:
Green Change

The project Green Change strengthens the resilience of people and nature in the face of the growing climate crisis. Our work in the Yayu Biosphere Reserve supports sustainable land use, the cultivation of old varieties and the empowerment of women and youth through generated income.

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Central Asia:
Protecting snow leopards

Snow leopards are among the most endangered big cats on earth. Only 4,000 to 6,400 animals now live in the wild. NABU has been committed to the survival of snow leopards in Kyrgyzstan since 1999 and is now working all across Central Asia to protect snow leopards and their
habitat.

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Indonesia:
Mangrove conservation

Mangroves and their ecosystem services are indispensable for Indonesia's coastal communities. However, the country experiences alarming rates of mangrove loss. In Sulawesi, NABU and its BirdLife partner support mangrove conservation and identifies areas suitable for restoration.

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Armenia:
Creative Mountains

The mountains of Armenia belong to the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot and are unique in both natural and cultural heritage. With the project "Creative Mountains", NABU and its partners seek to promote conservation and sustainable development in local communities.

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Finland, Latvia, Germany:
LIFE Peat Carbon

Through peatland restoration, the project aims to reduce CO₂ emissions in project sites by the equivalent of 37.117 tons of CO₂ per year in Latvia and 3.500 tons of CO₂ equivalent per year in Finland. NABU is supporting the project with its expertise in peatland restoration and communications.

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Kyrgyzstan: Reintroduction of the goitered gazelle

The goitered gazelle inhabits Asian steppes and semi-deserts from the Arabian Peninsula to northern China. The little gazelle was once at home in Kyrgyzstan too, but has become locally extinct. Now it is the time to change that: NABU is supporting this project to reintroduce this species.

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Armenia:
Clean Future

How can we incorporate environmental protection in our lives? The project Clean Future in Armenia pursues this question and answers it with collaborative action. To mobilise Armenian civil society intergenerationally for the reduction of pollution – this is the goal of the project. For a cleaner and healthier future!

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More about our projects

Hutan Harapan - Discover the Forest of Hope

International Strategy 2030

ʻWe are what we do – also internationallyʼ: Our International Strategy 2030 sets the course for our nature conservation projects and programmes worldwide. It offers guidance for NABU staff, volunteers and partners, who are constantly searching for effective answers to the most urgent questions of our time. We will tackle the challenges we face and take action against the climate and biodiversity crisis.

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