November 3, 2026
PRESS RELEASE: New Study Reveals 300-Fold Recovery of Peruvian Diving-petrel Following Island Restoration in Chile
A 300x increase in population for the once-Endangered Peruvian Diving-petrel!
What does real, tangible impact look like?
We’re a small but mighty team working to transform ecosystems that are on the brink of collapse. We know the power of our approach and have witnessed islands rebound as a result. With every project we take on, we track recovery from start to finish and then some. But our impact goes beyond numbers; it’s about lasting change for nature and people worldwide.
The impacts of island restoration extend far beyond the coastlines of our project sites. We see enhanced community wellbeing, improved ocean health, thriving island biodiversity, increased resiliency to climate change, and millions of carbon sequestered from the atmosphere.
Keep scrolling to see our impact stories.
Restored islands produce outsized benefits.
Here are a few of our latest success stories
Swipe to check out our impact and success stories
On Palmyra Atoll, USA we saw a 5000% increase in native trees after the removal of introduced, damaging invasive species. The resurgence of native plants allowed for thriving seabird populations to return, spreading their guano and providing the stepping stones for reduced erosion, larger fish populations, and increased coral health.
The residents of Ulithi Atoll wasted no time in revitalizing the agricultural potential on the gardening island of Loosiep once restored. Crops such as bananas, sweet potatoes, and breadfruit have been planted, restoring a vital source of food.
On Pajaros Uno Island, Chile, Peruvian Diving-Petrels returned to the island for the first time in over forty years. Connector species, like seabirds, play a vital role in island health by providing essential nutrients.
Formerly known as Rat Island, native Aleut people successfully petitioned to restore Hawadax Island to it’s original name. Now, the island is a nesting ground for the Tufted Puffin – a seabird which had previously not been seen there for almost 200 years.
This was an Extinct-in-the-Wild Pinzon Giant Tortoise. Within a year of removing invasive rats, baby tortoises were being born and thriving. Today the tortoise has been downlisted. In addition to the tortoise recovering, we also documented the return of a gecko thought to be extinct and an endemic snail species that was never before recorded!
When we remove invasive species and revive native vegetation, seabird populations can flourish once again. The increase in nitrogen from seabird guano bolsters coral growth rates and enhances reef fish biomass.
Lush, biodiverse island ecosystems can capture millions of metric tons of carbon per year in the form of plants, animals, and soils. Our projects focus on holistic restoration, resulting in restored ecosystems that act as natural carbon sinks.
When we focus on holistic restoration, we see multiple spillover benefits for nature and people around the world. Check out some of our favorite success stories over the last 30 years.
Salestine Soholfal
Ulithi Atoll Community Member
Check out our most recent success stories.
November 3, 2026
A 300x increase in population for the once-Endangered Peruvian Diving-petrel!
September 17, 2026
On the island of Robinson Crusoe in Chile, a greenhouse feeds both a community and an islander-led conservation movement!
July 28, 2026
Happy World Nature Conservation Day! Read Penny Becker's article published by the Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research.
July 9, 2026
Senior Major Gifts Officer Jen Sachs shares her experience on one of Island Conservation's exciting restoration projects in the US Virgin Islands!
July 2, 2026
Invasive species have caused over $12 billion in damages to island ecosystems, creating an urgent need for strengthened biosecurity measures!
June 23, 2026
The Island-Ocean Connection Challenge announced four new restoration projects—Lehua, Tavolara, Grand Rouveau, and Zembra—at London Climate Week, expanding its global effort to restore 40 island-ocean ecosystems by 2030!
June 8, 2026
A world-first controlled experiment shows connection between seabird activity and marine health on Ulong Island!
April 14, 2026
A historic moment: Wake Atoll is restored and thriving!
February 20, 2026
For the first time in more than 180 years, giant tortoises are once again walking the landscapes of Floreana Island!
December 16, 2025
Read the full ecological story of Floreana Island in the Galápagos from the early settlements to today.
October 29, 2025
Astounding evidence of recovery on Ulong Island in Palau after just one year!
October 26, 2025
A new study shows the power of seabirds to drive entire ecosystems by circulating nutrients between land and sea!
September 30, 2025
Astonishing results from our work to restore sites in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, boosting climate resilience and ocean health!
September 12, 2025
How can you make the maximum impact on the planet with your donation? Some conservation actions are most cost-effective than others!
September 4, 2025
Incredible collaboration and success in the Juan Fernández Archipelago, with thousands of threatened trees benefiting from bold conservation action!
Learn more about the spillover benefits of island restoration.
August 25, 2026
A new study reveals the role fungi play in the restoration and recovery of rare, resilient atoll ecosystems!
July 2, 2026
Invasive species have caused over $12 billion in damages to island ecosystems, creating an urgent need for strengthened biosecurity measures!
June 8, 2026
A world-first controlled experiment shows connection between seabird activity and marine health on Ulong Island!
January 22, 2026
Our Senior Director of Impact & Innovation, David Will, explains the importance of the Circular Seabird Economy for nutrient transfer!
December 4, 2025
A new study reveals how seabirds, connector species between land and sea, play a huge role in the health of coral reefs!
November 25, 2025
A new scientific paper is changing the way we understand Rapa Nui (Easter Island)'s ecological history!
October 26, 2025
A new study shows the power of seabirds to drive entire ecosystems by circulating nutrients between land and sea!
August 28, 2025
A new paper reveals the benefits of holistic restoration on Australia's Lord Howe Island!
August 14, 2025
A new scientific paper reveals how seabird-derived nutrients can rebalance the relationship between turf algae and herbivorous fish, ultimately helping coral reefs thrive!
July 22, 2025
A species once thought extinct just made its comeback. A study published in PLOS ONE confirms the Leaf-toed Gecko has been rediscovered on Rábida Island in the Galápagos.
January 13, 2025
How do islands support the world's plant biodiversity? A new study in Nature reveals just how important islands are for plants around the world.
December 9, 2024
Groundbreaking research has the potential to transform the way we monitor invasive species on islands!
October 3, 2024
Island Conservation and partners have published a new paper quantifying ecosystem resilience on restored islands!
September 5, 2024
With sea levels on the rise, how are the coastlines of islands transforming? Read on to find out how dynamic islands really are!
August 6, 2024
New research shows the vital link between island restoration, healthy seabird populations, and resilient, thriving coral reefs!
In recent years, we launched our Drone Program which has already resulted in new levels of efficiency and scalability for our projects.
We utilized the power of drones to increase our number of projects by 67%, are employing them in species monitoring, and are now working to see how we can pair them with cutting-edge imaging to classify animals more efficiently.