Conservation International

Conservation International (CI) is an American nonprofit environmental organization headquartered in Crystal City, Virginia. Founded in 1987 by Spencer Beebe and Peter Seligmann, it works internationally on biodiversity conservation and the links between ecosystems and human well-being, with programs that include climate and marine initiatives and work with governments, communities and other partners. In 1987, CI helped negotiate a debt-for-nature swap with Bolivia -- the first of its kind. It adopted biodiversity hotspots as a framework for setting conservation priorities in 1989, and created the Rapid Assessment Program in 1990 to carry out time-limited biodiversity surveys intended to inform conservation decisions. CI has also been involved in conservation finance and multilateral initiatives, including participation in the 2000 launch of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and the creation of the Global Conservation Fund. Its public communications have included the celebrity-narrated campaign Nature Is Speaking (2014). Conservation International operates primarily through Conservation International Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and works through country programs and affiliated entities in multiple regions. In fiscal year 2024, the foundation reported US$271 million in revenue and US$298 million in expenses, and CI reported more than 1,600 employees in 2025. The organization has faced criticism over aspects of project implementation and its engagement with corporate partners.