WOMEN IN NATURE NETWORK
A Global Network of Women in Conservation
The Women in Nature Network (WiNN) was founded in 2013 by 12 leading women conservationists and has grown to become a global community of over 1,000 women working to protect and restore nature. Our members range from women revitalizing ecosystems at the community level to leaders of international conservation organizations. Women offer some of the most powerful and creative solutions to the pressing challenges of conservation, species and habitat loss, and climate change. Our goal is to foster a global community that connects, supports, and empowers them as conservation stewards through our networking, mentorship, and educational programs.
Photo: Women in Ghana plant sustainable crops. Photo: Hamish John Appleby/Climate Visuals
Women around the world are innovating intelligent and effective solutions to our climate crisis and working passionately to protect and restore rivers, rainforests, coral reefs, oceans, and endangered species. Too often, however, their work is vastly under resourced, and they work in isolation. And, despite having vital knowledge that can help solve the immense challenges we face today, their voices are missing from critical decisions about conservation. Data repeatedly shows that conservation, climate, and communities all benefit in profound ways when women have the chance to lead and when their knowledge and solutions are included in decision-making about conservation issues. That’s why we work to encourage the leadership and confidence of women working all over the world by connecting them together to share knowledge and support each other through our programs.
Our Why
The women of WiNN can be found around the globe. They range from university students just beginning their careers to accomplished conservationists and CEOs who lead major initiatives for organizations like Conservation International, the IUCN, the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature, and the Smithsonian. WiNN members have been honored with Whitley awards and recognized as National Geographic Fellows and U.N. Champions of the Earth.
Winn welcomes any woman working in conservation to join our collective. Our goal is to create a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive community where any current or aspiring conservationist can connect with other women to expand her knowledge and resource base. Working together, women can vastly scale the collective impact we can make to restore our world. Countries with current chapters are highlighted below. Learn more about our individual chapters in Africa here, across North America here, throughout South America here, and throughout Asia and Oceania here.
Who We Are
Educator Cristel Jacques teaches students about mangroves in the Seychelles. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
WiNN Around the World
“To divert us from our current trajectory toward a planet on fire, a sixth mass extinction, more pandemics, and an unlivable planet, we need a superbloom – an infusion of sustenance to women. Because supporting women....and, critically, women-designed and women-led projects addressing biodiversity loss and climate change, has staggering ripple effects and ever growing benefits for women, their communities, nations and the world at large”
Join Us
Become part of the WiNN community! Join a chapter, attend our annual global networking event, and learn in our weekly webinars. Keep up-to-date on the powerful work our members and other women are doing around the world by signing up for our WiNN News here.
Funding is vital to support our grant program which supports conservationists and community based organizations around the globe. WiNN is proud to be a fiscal partner of Re:Wild, as well as a program supported by Re:wild’s Women Rewilding Initiative. WiNN members combine their unique knowledge, skills, and talents to conserve biodiversity anan organization that brings together Indigenous peoples, local communities, leaders, NGOs, governments, companies, and the public to protect habitats around the world. Donations to WiNN are processed through Re:Wild and are vital to helping us support more women working around the globe to restore our planet.
Banner Photo: Pemba Island, Kenya @Roshni Lodhia