We’re continuing our series highlighting the incredible postdoctoral fellows advancing interdisciplinary science across TNC initiatives. Today, we’re thrilled to introduce Helen Cheng, who joins the Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP) Innovation Hub, a partnership between The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Doris Duke Foundation driving actionable research for a nature‑positive future. As a SNAPP Innovation Hub Fellow, Helen will lead qualitative research to communicate the socioeconomic value of conservation in the U.S., helping translate complex science into insights that motivate action across diverse stakeholders. She’ll collaborate closely with our Quantitative Fellow, Jahnelle Howe, and PIs Philip Loring, Becky Chaplin-Kramer (WWF), and Danielle I. (UMN). Helen is an interdisciplinary scientist whose work centers on coastal social‑ecological systems, and how people build resilience in the face of environmental change. She holds a Ph.D. in Marine and Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Sustainability from Northeastern University. Her doctoral research examined how climate change is reshaping the American lobster industry in the Gulf of Maine, using field surveys and mixed‑method approaches to understand fishers’ knowledge, observations, and needs for adaptive management. Deeply committed to community engagement, Helen has designed and led participatory science and education programs focused on ecology and climate adaptation. While working in coastal resilience in New York City, she created a community science initiative that trained residents to document and report neighborhood flooding, ensuring that lived experience directly informed adaptation and planning. Helen has worked across local, state, and federal policy levels, always with a focus on connecting science to decision‑making and empowering communities with credible, inclusive research. She is passionate about fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice in science, and has mentored students from a wide range of backgrounds. Outside of work, Helen loves cooking and baking, exploring new places and cultures, and taking long walks in nature, especially near the water, where she finds calm, clarity, and inspiration. We’re excited to welcome Helen to the SNAPP Innovation Hub and can’t wait to see the impact of her work. Stay tuned for more introductions to the brilliant fellows powering this initiative!
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TNC’s One Conservancy Science Program (OCSP) integrates and connects our nearly 1,000 science staff across 80 countries to optimize science and innovation, amplify the power of our research, and build capacity and connections that accelerate us toward our 2030 goals. We include a wide range of expertise including Conservation Economics and Governance Science, Climate Science, Spatial Conservation Science, and Social Sciences. We study topics ranging from large global conservation frameworks to local impacts of climate change on communities. We look forward to showcasing why TNC is a science-based organization and sharing our work with the public.
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The Nature Conservancy Science reposted this
Visit The Nature Conservancy stall at CIFOR-ICRAF co-organized Treesscapes 2026. Listen to Sushil Saigal discuss our work on #Agrofrestry in #Punjab and #Madhya Pradesh and talk to Sanjana Anand and Sunpreet Kaur on the roles of markets and public incentives in supporting smallholders. Anjali Acharya, Ph.D Manoj Singh Chetali Chauhan Eshita Gupta Chandan Singha Helena Cardenas Dr. Sudipto Chatterjee Susan Cook-Patton, Ph.D. Jeff Vincent Joe Fargione Dr Chandrashekhar Biradar The Nature Conservancy Science https://lnkd.in/ePDBtJah
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Urban trees do so much more than make our neighborhoods look good, they keep communities cooler, healthier, and more resilient as our climate changes. But new research from work in Chicago, IL and Durham, NC shows that neighborhoods undergoing rapid change, like gentrification, often experience noticeable differences in the number, diversity, and overall health of their street trees. In some areas, more than one-third of trees showed signs of high stress. These patterns aren’t the same everywhere, but one thing is clear: City policies, community organizations, and local residents all have a critical role to play in growing and caring for urban forests. When these partners work together, we can ensure that expanding tree canopy isn’t just an environmental goal, it’s a lasting investment in healthier, more equitable, and more vibrant city landscapes. Read more about the findings and what they mean for the future of urban forests here https://nature.ly/4qnMCoB
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We’re excited to kick off a series spotlighting postdoctoral fellows working across TNC initiatives, starting with the Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP) Innovation Hub, a partnership between The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Doris Duke Foundation advancing actionable, interdisciplinary science for a nature‑positive future in the United States. Meet Jahnelle Howe, Ph.D., a tropical marine ecologist and marine biogeochemist whose work bridges cutting‑edge science with real‑world conservation impact. As a SNAPP Innovation Hub Fellow, Jahnelle will develop socioeconomic valuations of conserved areas across the U.S., collaborating closely with PIs Philip Loring (TNC), Becky Chaplin-Kramer (WWF), and Danielle I. (UMN). Originally from Montserrat, Jahnelle brings deep expertise across blue carbon science, coastal resilience, and ecosystem restoration. Her NOAA-supported research spans coral contamination, mangrove blue carbon dynamics, hurricane impacts, and heavy‑metal pollution. She has also contributed to advancing equitable carbon markets, advising on carbon crediting protocols aligned with IPCC and Verra standards. Jahnelle’s passion for coastal resilience is rooted in her Caribbean upbringing, where the coast is a lifeline for communities, culture, and survival. She brings strong skills in remote sensing, environmental data science, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to ensuring science informs conservation and climate adaptation. Outside the lab, you can find Jahnelle cooking, reading, crafting poetry and short stories, or spending time with her family, especially her father, her best friend and biggest inspiration. We’re thrilled to have Jahnelle bring her expertise, heart, and vision to the SNAPP Innovation Hub. Stay tuned as we introduce more brilliant early‑career researchers advancing solutions for people and nature!
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Seagrass meadows quietly power our oceans, supporting marine life, storing carbon, and buffering our coastlines. Yet bringing these ecosystems back to health is more complex than simply fixing damaged seafloors or improving water quality. A new study highlights a lesser-known challenge: the animals that live in these habitats can unintentionally stall recovery. Researchers looked at how stingray feeding pits and ghost shrimp burrows create bare patches that linger long after the initial disturbance is gone. To test a low-tech solution, the team installed biodegradable bamboo stakes to discourage stingrays from digging. After a year, stingray activity dropped and seagrass began to regrow, proof that small, nature-based interventions can make a meaningful difference. But not all obstacles were solved. Ghost shrimp continued to stir up the sediment, burying new shoots under layers of sand. Their constant churning shows that restoration must consider the full web of interactions happening below the surface. This research highlights how successful seagrass recovery isn’t just about repairing the environment; it’s about understanding the dynamic communities that shape it. With this knowledge, we can design smarter restoration strategies and give these critical ecosystems the best chance to thrive. Read the full study here https://nature.ly/3NUGC9b
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The Nature Conservancy Science reposted this
Don't forget to register! On February 19 we join Walking Mountains in welcoming TNC Chief Scientist Dr. Katherine Hayhoe for a conversation about climate change and the power of collective action. Dr. Hayhoe will share what climate science tells us about the changes happening in the places we love, why behavioral science helps us understand the barriers to progress, and how connecting through shared values can turn concern into meaningful action. Join us at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards for this special evening. Register here: https://nature.ly/49XNKdr
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Beavers might just be one of nature’s most underrated climate resilience engineers 🦫. A new review shows that beaver-related restoration (BRR), whether through reintroducing beavers or constructing structures that mimic their dams, delivers meaningful benefits for streams and riparian landscapes. BRR can cool water during the summer, increase water storage across a watershed, reconnect floodplains, and create diverse habitats that support a wide range of species. These changes also help landscapes better withstand wildfires and other climate extremes by slowing and spreading water more naturally. The study identifies a need for more large-scale research to clarify where BRR can have the greatest effect and to further quantify its ecological and climate resilience benefits. The findings reinforce how nature-based approaches can strengthen ecosystems by working with, rather than against, natural processes that have shaped landscapes for millennia. Read the full study here to learn more about this work https://nature.ly/3YWA7oI
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The Nature Conservancy Science reposted this
By ski and snowmobile, researchers in Washington and beyond are traveling to remote sites to understand how dry forest restoration impacts snow and water supply. What they’re finding is informing forest restoration across the West. Learn what the snow science is revealing: https://nature.ly/4sB8H5r 📷 : Hannah Letinich
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Cheatgrass has transformed landscapes across western North America, but new research is giving us a clearer, and far more actionable, picture of why this invader has been so successful. By sequencing hundreds of genotypes and running controlled experiments, scientists uncovered a mosaic of about 19 locally adapted cheatgrass genotypes, each thriving under different regional conditions. Even more striking, patterns from cheatgrass’s native range accurately predict where it performs well in North America. That means its spread isn’t random, certain genotypes arrived already suited for the conditions they encountered. This clarity is powerful. By understanding the genomic and ecological patterns behind invasion success, scientists open the door to better forecasting, more targeted management, and strategies that protect ecosystems before damage escalates. Instead of seeing invasions as unstoppable, this work shows how knowledge can turn complexity into opportunity, guiding smarter decisions and supporting more resilient landscapes. Learn more about this work here https://nature.ly/45k1mNM
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The Nature Conservancy Science reposted this
AI is reshaping what’s possible for people and nature — and today, I’m excited to share a new piece my colleague Juan M. Lavista Ferres and I co‑authored for the World Economic Forum about how we can harness this power for nature and food security. Across the world, communities are feeling the strain of climate change, biodiversity loss and food system instability. From tuna fisheries in the Pacific to smallholder farms across Africa, the pressures on our natural systems are mounting — and with them, the risks to livelihoods, cultural heritage and global supply chains. But there is real reason for optimism. AI is giving us unprecedented visibility into the health of ecosystems and the food systems we all depend on. With the right guardrails, AI can help governments, industry and communities. Read more in our new blog post ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dj3vWgJC 📷 Jason Houston
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