Our Work
Our land work aims to explore, understand and conserve terrestrial and freshwater systems around the world. Across topics like terrestrial geosciences, terrestrial/freshwater ecology, climate science, conservation technology, community-based conservation and related fields — our goal is to inspire and empower others to better understand and protect our lands, lakes and rivers.
partnered with Rolex to study climate change and high mountain water towers and the impacts on water resources for the billion people who live downstream
expeditions completed and 6,000 kilometers explored to better understand the threats facing the Okavango
kilometers trekked to help create and protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor
Featured Programs
Okavango Wilderness Project
The Okavango Delta is one of the most biodiverse places in Africa. While it is mostly protected in Botswana, the greater Okavango Basin, which includes its source rivers and lakes in Angola and Namibia, is not. These source waters are under increasing threats from deforestation, uncontrolled fire, the rising commercial bushmeat trade and unchecked development.
In the Field
Our Land Explorers
From freshwater oases to the deserts of Africa and every mountain in between, our Explorers protect, study and document thousands of square kilometers across a diversity of landscapes. Their work helps foster critical solutions to the ongoing threats facing our land and wildlife. Explorer-led programs also have dedicated teams focused on robust efforts to improve our understanding of the impacts of climate change. Our land Explorers teach us how to connect with our world, how to sustain balance with the land and how our whole world is tied together by these delicate, living connections.
Read more stories of impact from some of our Land Explorers on nationalgeographic.com.
Explorer's Perspective
Making a Difference
“We, all 7 billion of us, must never forget that we are a biological species forever bound to this particular biological world. Like the waves connected to the ocean, we cannot exist apart from it.”
Join Us
Help Protect and Preserve Our Land
Plant Seeds of Curiosity in the Next Generation
We've made available land resources for educators and learners in our Resource Library. We've provided lessons, articles, maps, videos and so much more, to inspire our mission to preserve and protect the wonder of our world.
Support Our Work
As a global community, we have a duty to protect our Earth's land and water. When people understand our world and have a deep, emotional connection to its natural and cultural wonders, they’ll take action. Will you help protect it?