Publications

Global ecosystems are under threat from the rapid expansion of linear infrastructure (LI)‚ – roads, railroads, power lines, fences, pipelines, and canals. LI development can obstruct wildlife movement, fragment habitats, deplete natural resources, and lead to land-use conversion, impacting communities and the ecosystems they rely on.

The effects of past LI development practices that overlooked natural resource safeguards are now being intensified by climate change. Given the long life expectancy of most LI (25 to 100 years), policy, planning, financing, and project development must adhere to the mitigation hierarchy‚ – a four-step framework to avoid, manage, and reduce negative environmental impacts and protect and promote biodiversity and ecosystem health. This will ensure safeguards and mitigation measures are incorporated in infrastructure projects right from the planning stages.

The goal of infrastructure development processes should be to ensure that ecosystems and their services continue to flourish for countries to meet their climate and biodiversity goals. Strengthening natural resource safeguards will also enhance the long-term sustainability and resilience of LI, supporting thriving communities and conserving abundant biodiversity across the world.

WWF and the Center for Large Landscape Conservation (CLLC) have put together a compendium of best practices and associated resources to provide guidance on safeguarding nature and building climate resilience while developing LI projects. This report is a compilation of more than 170 papers, reports, and guidelines presenting the essential and globally accepted best practices and resources. The report serves as a resource for a broad group of LI practitioners, including environmental planners, conservationists, government agencies, engineering firms and consultancies, financiers of LI projects, and community-based organizations. It supports users in assessing, informing, and benchmarking their LI practices and planning and design procedures.

The shortlisted 10 best practices and their supporting information are assessed across four thematic areas‚ – ecosystems and their services, biodiversity, ecological connectivity, and climate resilience‚ – throughout the infrastructure life cycle.

Nature plays a vital role in the lives of people across the United States, shaping health, well-being, and cultural identity. It is important to understand Americans' view on nature because these perspectives shape how people value, prioritize and act on environmental issues. WWF's Connected by Nature report, conducted by GlobeScan on behalf of WWF, explores American's relationship with nature. Americans' connections with nature are deeply personal, rooted in family traditions, community identity, and national pride. These insights provide a foundation for action allowing organizations and decision-makers to inspire collective action, build public will, and create lasting change for both people and nature, ensuring nature remains a priority for future generations.

A guide created for educators, parents, partners, and whomever would like to reduce food waste in K-12 schools.

This report examines the links between illegal gold mining and associated crimes in the Brazilian Amazon. Data reveal that a significant portion of Brazil‚'s gold exports lack proper documentation, origin records, or permits, undermining regulatory systems and increasing risks to importing countries. This illicit trade also drives serious environmental and social damage, especially in the Amazon. The analysis highlights connections between illegal mining camps ('garimpos') and crimes including environmental violations, corruption, money laundering, and illegal mercury trade.

A resource guide by educators, for educators using the Mill Food Recycler as a teaching tool in classrooms

Greenprints for the Future

Student Project Plan activity

Grades 6-12

Greenprints for the Future

Student Project Plan activity

Grades K-5

This PDF introduces WWF’s Blue Peace Framework, an environmental peacebuilding approach that leverages marine conservation to prevent conflict, strengthen cooperation, and promote long-term human and ecological security in fragile and conflict-affected ocean regions. Learn more about our peace and security work.

Youth are frequently overlooked in disaster management processes despite bringing valuable perspectives, technological skills, and innovative ideas. In nature-based flood risk management, their involvement is particularly important, yet few efforts currently focus on youth engagement for reducing flood risk. Including younger generations is essential not only because they represent future leadership but also because they bring their own experience, knowledge, ideas, and enthusiasm to problem-solving, ensuring that critical lessons are preserved and transferred across generations.

This case study examines the Flood Green Guide Youth Champions program, which exemplifies how co-creation strategies can effectively engage youth in disaster risk management. By involving young people from the project's inception, the program promotes agency and leadership while working toward more inclusive climate adaptation and risk reduction approaches. The case study demonstrates how youth can be equipped to become community change agents and advocates for nature-based flood management solutions, offering a replicable model for other projects seeking to develop shared visions with underrepresented groups while addressing the specific barriers that prevent youth participation in disaster risk management processes.

Learn more about the pilot program here.