A guide to real solutions for biodiversity loss

Earth Month Is the Moment to Choose the Future We Want 

If you’re looking for ways to support conservation this Earth Month, you’re in luck. You’re reading one of the best environmental blogs on the internet: the Island Conservation Journal! We’re a trusted source for all the environmental news you need when you’re looking for real, concrete hope. In this article, we’re sharing easy, practical ways individuals like you can help prevent—and even reverse—biodiversity loss. 

How to Support Conservation During Earth Month: 7 Actions That Really Matter 

1. Learn From Trusted Environmental Blogs and Science Communicators 

If you’re reading this, you already have this one down! Following trusted environmental blogs and science communicators is one of the most powerful ways to stay informed about conservation science, Indigenous stewardship, biodiversity recovery, and climate resilience. The best sources translate complex research into stories that help people understand what’s at stake and what solutions actually work. From explaining how biodiversity hotspots function to breaking down the science behind environmental DNA, high‑quality environmental blogs help readers see the bigger picture and stay connected to the latest breakthroughs. 

Island Conservation is just one of many of these trusted sources! When you follow organizations committed to rigorous science and community partnership, you’re taking back your attention, boosting the reach of important stories, and showing algorithms that conservation stories are worth reading. (And you’re learning stuff, too!) We’ve collected a list of other great blogs to read here.  

2. Share Conservation Success Stories During Earth Month 

Earth Month is the perfect time to spread hope. When you share real conservation wins, you help people see that biodiversity recovery is happening right now, in places where species were once disappearing. You can be the spark that inspires your friends, family, and community to care a little more, learn a little deeper, or take their own first step toward protecting the planet! 

And to make it easy, we’ve put together some ready-to-share success stories for you: 

• Pinzón Giant Tortoise hatchlings surviving on their island home for the first time in 150+ years 

• 5000% regrowth of native Pisonia forest on Palmyra Atoll after invasive rats were removed 

• Sooty Terns returning to Bikar Atoll within a single year of restoration 

And if you follow Island Conservation on social media, your feed will be full of uplifting, repostable good news from around the world! 

3. Support Successful, Solution-Oriented Conservation Strategies 

One of the most meaningful ways to make an impact during Earth Month is to support organizations working with holistic restoration—a solution-oriented approach that recognizes that everything in an ecosystem is connected. Effective conservation focuses on the actions proven to reverse biodiversity loss, especially on islands where recovery can be fast and dramatic. These strategies include: 

• Removing invasive species that destabilize ecosystems 

• Strengthening biosecurity to prevent future threats 

• Supporting Indigenous and local leadership 

• Accelerating recovery through techniques like reintroductions and social attraction  

Real-world examples from Island Conservation’s holistic restoration work: 

• Polynesian Storm-Petrels returned to Kamaka Island after 100+ years thanks to invasive species removal and social attraction tools 

• Audubon’s Shearwater nested on Desecheo Island for the first time ever once invasive mammals were removed 

• Peruvian Diving-Petrels returned to Pajaros Uno after decades of absence, leading to an IUCN downlisting to Near Threatened 

Supporting these solution-oriented, science-backed methods ensures that you’re helping fuel conservation strategies that actually work, helping nature recover faster than most people realize. 

4. Donate Strategically to High-Impact Conservation Efforts 

Earth Month is when many people decide where to give, but choosing wisely matters. This is the perfect time to donate to the most high-impact conservation organizations you can find. When you invest in organizations doing science-based, repeatedly successful work, your donation fuels solutions that actually help the planet. 

Quick tip: How to evaluate conservation organizations before you give 

Look for groups that demonstrate: 

• Science-based methods grounded in peer-reviewed research 

• Transparent reporting on outcomes and finances 

• Community-led decision-making and Indigenous partnership 

• Long-term monitoring to track recovery 

• Cost-effectiveness and efficient use of donor dollars 

Not to brag, but Island Conservation meets all of these standards—and more. We put 76% of our budget directly into conservation efforts in the field—an impressive percentage, over ten points more than the recommended 65%. According to Charity Navigator, Island Conservation holds a 97% Four-Star rating, with perfect scores in program expense ratio, fundraising efficiency, financial health, and accountability. That means your Earth Month donation goes directly toward restoring islands, protecting threatened species, and delivering measurable, science-backed results for nature and people. 

6. Get Educated & Advocate for Biodiversity Friendly Policies

Understanding how ecosystems function—and how policy decisions influence their future—can empower people to engage thoughtfully in conversations about conservation. When communities have access to clear, science‑based information, they are better equipped to participate in public dialogue, ask informed questions, and consider environmental issues as part of their civic life.

Below are examples of conservation approaches that researchers, practitioners, and communities often discuss when exploring ways to support biodiversity and climate resilience.

Examples of biodiversity-friendly policies:

• Marine protected areas (MPAs) that safeguard fish populations, coral reefs, and migratory species. Read our overview of what makes MPAs the most effective here! 

• Indigenous-led conservation models demonstrate how traditional knowledge guides long-term stewardship. 

• Consider ecosystem protection, climate resilience, and science-based environmental policy when evaluating environmental issues. 

At Island Conservation, we walk the walk. A real example of our work includes helping co-implement Rapa Nui’s Marine Protected Area, where we support implementation with Indigenous leadership at the center, blending science with cultural stewardship. We’ve also helped strengthen marine protection across the Galápagos and Cocos Island, safeguarding critical swimways for sharks, turtles, and other migratory species! 

When you stay informed and speak up, you help create the political will needed to protect biodiversity at scale—and Earth Month is the perfect time to start. 

7. Reduce Personal Impacts That Drive Biodiversity Loss 

Small choices add up, especially during Earth Month. The way we shop, travel, and care for our pets can support healthy ecosystems or unintentionally harm them. By making a few intentional shifts, you can meaningfully reduce pressures on biodiversity while modeling conservation-minded habits for the people around you. 

Easy, practical steps you can take: 

• Choose sustainable consumption — buy less, choose durable goods, and support companies with strong environmental commitments. Hint—you can buy Island Conservation merch here! 

• Travel responsibly — stay on marked trails, avoid disturbing wildlife, and support local, conservation-minded businesses wherever you are. 

• Practice pet stewardship — prevent invasive species spread by never releasing pets into the wild, and keep cats indoors, especially during April when millions of migratory birds are moving through North America. 

These small, everyday actions help protect ecosystems, reduce threats to wildlife, and reinforce the conservation values Earth Month is all about. 

Earth Month: The Perfect Time to Take Action 

Earth Month is when global attention is highest. By taking any of these simple, practical actions, your effort can compound into real change as millions of people choose to join you. Environmental recovery really is possible, and islands prove it every year through rapid, measurable recovery. The next decade will determine the future of countless species and ecosystems, which makes your choices right now more powerful than ever! 

Learn. Share. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. And follow Island Conservation for ongoing stories of recovery, resilience, and Indigenous-led stewardship. Together, we can help nature, oceans, and people thrive for generations to come!