Programs

About Our Programs

In a world that has lost more than three billion birds over the past 50 years, the cranes—one of the most threatened families of birds on earth—offer a powerful beacon of hope. Our bold and ambitious strategy is to ensure that all 15 crane species are stable or increasing across their ranges. Drawing from five decades of science-based conservation success, we are scaling up our long-term programs for highly threatened crane species in Africa, Asia, and North America, while continuing to monitor and support species that are less at-risk.

A Vision for More Than Cranes

While cranes remain our flagship species, the scope of our mission extends far beyond their protection. Cranes serve as powerful ambassadors for whole ecosystems, helping to safeguard millions of hectares of wetlands, grasslands, and agricultural lands that are home to countless other plant and animal species.

These protected landscapes also provide essential ecosystem services—clean water, fisheries, grazing lands, flood control, carbon sequestration, and ecotourism—that benefit local communities and strengthen national economies.

Cranes play a critical role in promoting community resilience amidst rapidly shifting political, climatic, economic, and social pressures. Our work advances nature-based solutions that link biodiversity conservation with poverty alleviation, food security, access to clean water, regenerative agriculture, and climate mitigation. Through these integrated efforts, our work directly supports the commitments of governments to fulfill the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Global Biodiversity Framework, Paris Climate Accord, and other international conservation agreements.