GC Supports Thermal Imaging to Prevent Fires in the Guanacaste Conservation Area
Response efforts to forest fires were intensified during the first quarter of 2026, which began with significant challenges due to the high number of incidents reported. Personnel carried out prevention, monitoring, and control actions to reduce the environmental impact on protected areas and surrounding communities.
The dry season saw a continuation of the prioritization of wildfire response and prevention efforts. Twenty forest fires were put out by authorities, who also conducted 138 preventative operations and field engineering monitoring actions to safeguard ecosystems that were at risk of fire. These endeavors highlight the significance of merging quick reaction to emergencies with plans for prevention in the long run.
As a result of Global Conservation's funding, the Guanacaste Conservation Area's operational and technical capacities have been significantly enhanced. The long-term preservation of important habitats and animals, better field operations, protection of biodiversity, prevention of wildfires, and institutional cooperation are all directly impacted by this partnership. One of the most significant protected areas on Earth cannot be effectively conserved without ongoing global assistance.
Overall, the indicators for the first quarter of 2026 show that management is actively working to maintain biodiversity, reduce environmental threats, increase legal enforcement, and secure Costa Rica's natural heritage for the future.
During the second quarter of 2026, Global Conservation in Mexico has worked alongside our partners CONANP, CONAPESCA, and SEMAR to deploy two Marine Monitor systems. And park rangers alongside fisheries officers have been working closely together to carry out marine and land patrols along the marine protected area.
The Sumatran orangutan population is steadily decreasing. The population has fallen by 19.5% since 2011, according to recent survey results published in a respected scientific journal. The current population stands at 11,694 individuals. At the same time, there are only an estimated 716 remaining Tapanuli orangutans, making their population a critically endangered species.
To help secure the future of this unique place, Global Conservation signed an agreement with the Myanmar Ministry of the Environment in 2018. This year, the Myanmar Department of Forestry will begin to deploy Global Park Defense in AKNP, and Global Conservation will work to have AKNP listed as a Natural and Cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In order to stop illicit palm oil plants and timber extraction, Global Conservation is supporting the construction of new guard posts, restoring forests through the Squa nursery program, and advancing law enforcement partnerships.
Successful arrests have marked a significant milestone in protecting Komodo NP. Intelligence-led enforcement efforts and collaboration with governmental agencies reflect a long-term commitment to dismantling the poaching network and bringing all perpetrators to justice.
Saving the Last Koalas is one of twelve films and a lever for a National Campaign to both Protect the GKNP and Stop all native logging in Australia.
A Royal Bengal tiger was photographed during a camera-trap survey conducted recently in the sanctuary with technical support from Bengaluru-based Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE).
Through enhanced patrols, technology deployment, expanded partnerships, key species protection, and community empowerment, multiple initiatives continued to support sustainable marine conservation across East Kalimantan and Maluku.
The Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) program in Arunachal Pradesh—part of the wider Himalayan Initiative—works across one of the most irreplaceable and least-protected biodiversity regions on earth.
The Ann Cottrell Free Animal Reporting Award Goes to
ABC News Live with Global Conservation for Last Lands: South Africa
Funded by Global Conservation, For the Oceans Foundation has announced the successful completion of the first phase of the “Peace for the Pacific” Expedition, a scientific, monitoring, and marine documentation mission that covered more than 600 nautical miles throughout Costa Rica’s Eastern Tropical Pacific. PftP was developed by For the Oceans Foundation within the framework of the One Ocean Worldwide Coalition (OOWC).
Global Conservation and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund Announce Historic $2 Million Grant for Wildlife Recovery of Lions, Rhinos, Elephants, Hippos, Hyenas, and Giraffes in Uganda’s National Parks