Half-Earth Project

HALF-EARTH IS THE HOPEFUL SOLUTION TO BIODIVERSITY EXTINCTION.

Why does protecting half the earth save biodiversity?

Because large areas harbor many more ecosystems and species composing them at a sustainable level.

The mission of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation is to reimagine the way we care for our planet.

The Half-Earth Project inspires informed collective action to save the biosphere.

The Half-Earth proposal offers [a solution] commensurate with the magnitude of the problem: …only by setting aside half the planet in reserve, or more, can we save the living part of the environment and achieve the stabilization required for our own survival.

– E.O. Wilson (1929-2021)

Save the date for Half-Earth Day 2022!

October 13, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Now is the moment to reimagine the way we care for our planet. Join us for a live event in Washington, DC on October 13 at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History for Half-Earth Day 2022, featuring Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee Nation, Jeff Corwin, renowned biologist and TV host, and Scott Miller, Director, Research Management and Innovation, Smithsonian Institution, internationally recognized for his work on entomology, science and research policy, and other special guests. The day will feature keynotes and plenary discussions as we address the biodiversity extinction crisis with the hopeful solution of Half-Earth.

Learn More

Protecting Nature’s Threatened Biodiversity –

A MAHB Dialogue with Paula Ehrlich

The President & CEO of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation and co-founder of the Half-Earth Project sat down with the Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere program at Stanford University to discuss the biodiversity crisis and the ambition of the Half-Earth Project to solve it.

Legislation would create an annual fund of more than $1.3 billion

> Provide Tribes critical funding for wildlife conservation
> Protect threatened and endangered species
> Make wildlife conservation more effective and cost-efficient
> Address climate change by building more resilient ecosystems
> Boost the outdoor economy

PLACES AND VOICES: REFLECTIONS OF FAITH ON 30X30

Gary Nabhan
Ruah Swennerfelt
James Lockman
with Paula J. Ehrlich

In a special episode of Places and Voices, we honor the birthday of the late E.O. Wilson (1929–2021) with an exploration of the voices of conservationists engaging from their faith, and indigenous knowledge and native wisdom, informing ecological restoration and species protection in the US.

View the discussion.

Learn more about the series.

The Science of the Half-Earth Project

The innovative science and research developed and in-part, funded by the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation is having a significant impact on our goal to preserve global biodiversity. High-quality science is critical, for example, to informing global initiatives like protecting 30% of land and seas by 2030 (30×30) on the way to Half-Earth, or the America The Beautiful Plan to protect biodiversity and address climate change in the US.

Explore the science of the Half-Earth Project.

Explore the Half-Earth Project Map.

Rep. Beyer introduces Half-Earth Resolution

On the birthday of the late E.O. Wilson (1929 – 2021), legislation introduced by Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) in the US House of Congress honored E.O. Wilson’s dream of setting aside half the Earth’s land and seas for the conservation of species and the principles of Half-Earth.

Whereas the late E.O. Wilson has estimated that protecting half of the Earth’s land and seas would be sufficient to preserve 85 percent of the planet’s species, and with it, global biodiversity;

Learn more.

Revisit Half-Earth Day 2021!

Last October, E.O. Wilson (1929–2021) and Sir David Attenborough met in a once-in-a-lifetime discussion on Half-Earth Day 2021, moderated by Sir Tim Smit at the Royal Geographical Society in London. The panel was supported by the James M. and Catherine D. Stone Distinguished Lectureship in Biodiversity, Mishcon de Reya, Eden Project, and Half-Earth Day 2021 presenting sponsor, CBRE. Throughout the day presenters and panelists included distinguished scientists, conservationists, educators, and business leaders, discussing the path to Half-Earth, and saving global biodiversity, including Johan Rockstöm, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, and Rezan Al Mubarak.

Every Half-Earth Day 2021 panel, session and plenary are available to view on the Half-Earth Day 2021 Showcase.

Statement on Biden-Harris Administration Executive Order on Climate Crisis

“We applaud the Biden-Harris Administration’s pledge to put America on the path to ‘conserve 30 percent of its ocean of our lands and oceans by 2030.’ Conservation areas are key to safeguarding species and to ensure future generations can benefit from biodiversity’s many contributions to functioning ecosystems and human well-being. The Half-Earth Project® recognizes the need for a much expanded and carefully selected network of lands, waters, and ocean prioritized for conservation to achieve this goal.”

Read full statement

Dr. Paula J. Ehrlich, DVM, PhD, President & CEO, E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, Half-Earth Project® Lead

On Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and the Half-Earth Project

We commit to prioritizing listening and taking clear steps externally and internally to combat racism and oppression of all types. We commit to working toward justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in our leadership, our programs, our strategic planning, our operations, our communications and our fundraising. We commit to creating a culture at the foundation that educates staff and stakeholders on the issues of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion and holds opportunity for traditionally excluded groups to join in processes, activities and decision-making. We welcome and encourage feedback along the way.

We commit to understanding that this body of work IS our work if we are to achieve the goal of Half-Earth and benefit all people and species.

Read the full statement

Honoring Indigenous Communities

“The Half-Earth Project honors the wisdom of the traditional owners of the lands and waters we aim to protect and their ancient ways of seeing and experiencing nature. In the spirit of the oral tradition of the Blackfoot, we aim to honor ‘the flash of the firefly in the night, the breath of the buffalo in the wintertime, and the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.’ We aim to restore and protect life. We thank our Indigenous communities for their historic stewardship of life, their critical role in reaffirming and repairing our relationship with it and their present and future partnership.” – Paula Ehrlich, President & CEO of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation and Lead of the Half-Earth Project

View full statement at left. Seek out the Indigenous history of the place where you live at https://native-land.ca/.

We Must Act Now.

Before we’ve lost irreplaceable species and ecosystems forever.

Donate

Take Pledge

Ways to Give

Join us and stay up-to-date on progress toward this grand goal.