Stories
Caring, Sharing, and the Role of Nature in Human Happiness
Celebrating the International Day of Happiness 2025 and the Connection Between Nature, Well-Being, and Community March 20th marks the International Day of Happiness, a global celebration of what truly matters in life—well-being, connection, and joy. Since its inception, this day has emphasized...
New Publication: The Routledge Handbook of Cultural Ecosystem Services
Exciting news! The Routledge Handbook of Cultural Ecosystem Services is now available for preorder, and we are honored to have contributed to this important volume. This comprehensive book explores how cultural and spiritual connections to nature shape conservation, community well-being, and...
When Conservation Success Creates New Challenges: Measuring Well-Being in Rwanda
Photo Courtesy Beth Allgood, Rwanda 2024 The dramatic increase of the mountain gorilla population in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is one of conservation's greatest success stories. With the population growing from 400 to over 1,000 individuals, this achievement brings new challenges as the...
Celebrating World Wildlife Day with OneNature
Today, on World Wildlife Day 2025, we take a moment to celebrate the incredible diversity of life on our planet and the deep connections between people and nature. At OneNature, we believe that true conservation starts with well-being—both human and ecological. Wildlife is more than just part of...
Wings and Well-Being: Understanding the Vital Role of Birds in Our Lives
By Luce Burnford, OneNature Research Intern Hello! My name is Luce Burnford, the author of Wings and Well-being. This research paper has been my senior-year project in high school in Maryland. Alongside writing, I enjoy painting, birdwatching, horseback riding, rock climbing, and playing guitar....
Why Conservation Needs to Include Well-Being: Insights from Laos
Picture Courtesy Association Anoulak Traditional conservation metrics often focus on wildlife populations, habitat protection, and economic outcomes. But what about the human communities who live alongside wildlife and depend on these natural resources? At OneNature, we believe that truly...
Bridging the Gap: The Wild Happiness Capacity Building Model & Certification
Global communities that have relied on some level of U.S. support are facing an uncertain future. The pause and potential withdrawal of long-term funding through USAID programs leave a significant gap—one that threatens the resilience of local ecosystems, economies, and well-being. At OneNature,...
In a world in crisis – how do we find hope and resilience?
Note from OneNature Founder: It has been a week of upheaval in the global conservation and development space. We are so lucky to have a guest post this week from Clara Schoeder who recently interviewed me for her book. Her forthcoming book, “Re-Nature: A path to healing yourself and our planet”...
The Ocean’s Hidden Architects: Reflections on Coral Reefs, Conservation, and Community Well-being
Written By Freya Matza with Images Courtesy of Louis Matza Hi there, I’m Freya—a high school junior, lifelong nature lover, and proud OneNature intern. Over the past several months, I’ve immersed myself in researching how corals contribute to our well-being and have supported OneNature’s social...
Reflections on ACES 2024: A Celebration of Ecosystem Services and Collaboration
In December, OneNature had the privilege of participating in the 2024 A Community on Ecosystem Services (ACES) conference, a dynamic gathering of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers dedicated to understanding and enhancing the benefits ecosystems provide to humanity. This year’s...
Bridging Well-Being and Conservation: Insights from Columbia University’s Capstone Project
At OneNature, our mission is to place well-being at the heart of conservation efforts. This fall, we had the privilege of collaborating with graduate students from Columbia University’s Master of Science in Sustainability Management program on a groundbreaking capstone project that enhances our...
Wishing You a Happy Holiday Season! 🎄
Happy Holidays from OneNature! Thank you for your incredible support throughout 2024. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to continue our mission of fostering harmony between people, wildlife, and nature. As we close out the year, we invite you to support our vision by making a tax-deductible...
Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Connection, Community, and Conservation
As 2024 comes to a close, we pause to reflect on the incredible year we’ve had at OneNature. This year was marked by deep connections—among people, wildlife, and nature—with research and projects that put community well-being at the heart of conservation. From Rwanda to Texas, from global...
Bringing Well-Being to Conservation: Work with OneNature
Enhance Your Conservation Impact with OneNature At OneNature, we know that the key to successful conservation is the well-being of the communities involved. By integrating community well-being into conservation projects, we empower communities to actively protect wildlife and nature while creating...
Gratitude in Action: A Thanksgiving Message from OneNature
As the season of gratitude approaches, we at OneNature want to take a moment to reflect on the journey we've shared with you this past year. In a world where conservation efforts can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, your support has been a source of inspiration and hope. At OneNature, our...