Wetland Conservation Grants

Wetland conservation grants are supporting locally focused research that connects ecosystem protection with community resilience. The National Geographic Society launched the first Blue Boundaries grants with support from the Chubb Charitable Foundation, funding projects across the Lower Mekong Basin, Mississippi River watershed, and wetlands of Southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. The six-year program combines field science with storytelling to examine biodiversity, carbon balance, water quality, and ecosystem resilience.

Projects range from community-led stingray monitoring in the Mekong to research examining whether Mississippi wetlands release more warming gases when affected by agricultural runoff. The program creates opportunities for conservation organizations, researchers, and local communities to develop evidence-based strategies for protecting natural resources. Its phased approach also provides a framework for directing philanthropic funding toward measurable environmental research while generating insights that can guide future conservation planning and resource management.