Strengthening the people and institutions that make conservation work.
Human Nature partners with government agencies, civil society organizations, academic institutions, communities, and practitioners in the U.S. and internationally to strengthen governance, management, and institutional capacity for conserving natural and cultural heritage. Drawing on decades of science-informed field experience across protected areas, working landscapes and seascapes, and urban and transboundary contexts, our work spans the full range of cultural, organizational, and geographic settings where conservation happens.
Assessment, Strategy, and Planning
Helping clients assess conditions, clarify direction, and develop adaptive, actionable strategies.
Governance and Implementation Support
Strengthening governance, operational systems, and partnerships to achieve results.
Capacity Development and Learning
Advancing technical knowledge, workforce capability, and institutional resilience.
How We Work
Human Nature operates at the intersection of science, governance, and practice — integrating ecological, cultural, social, and economic perspectives to support real-world decision-making. We work alongside partners to co-produce solutions that are practical, implementable, and lasting — assembling the right expertise for each engagement.
Representative Experience
• Conducting system-level assessments of protected area governance, management effectiveness, and capacity needs across national and international contexts • Developing and applying assessment methods for visitor use, resource conditions, and stakeholder values at coastal and marine protected areas • Advising protected area systems and conservation agencies on governance, coordination, and institutional effectiveness • Designing and establishing multi-sector partnership platforms for conservation governance and research • Facilitating transboundary knowledge exchange, study tours, and institutional partnerships • Supporting natural and cultural heritage management across diverse governance settings, including World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves
Photo credits – (top) view of savannah from atop a granite kopje, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania © TFish; (bottom) nature-based tourism, Heyburn State Park, Idaho, U.S. © TFish.