At the Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), we have always believed that the most enduring solutions for wildlife come from the ground up. Conservation impact is rarely about the size of an organization’s budget; it is about the depth of a commitment at the local level and the strength of a community.
In 2025, five of our close partners—Proyecto Washu, the African Marine Conservation Organization (AMCO), MareCet, the Small Mammal Conservation Organization (SMACON), and Alianza Gato Andino (AGA)—have proven that “small” organizations are often the ones making the biggest waves. From the peaks of the Andes to the depths of the Gulf of Guinea, here is how these grassroots champions have helped transform the future for endangered species in 2025. With your support, their potential impact in 2026 and beyond is even greater!
Proyecto Washu: Expanding the Safe Haven for Spider Monkeys
In the fragmented forests of the Ecuadorian Chocó, every acre of habitat is a lifeline for the Critically Endangered brown-headed spider monkey. This year, Proyecto Washu achieved a historic milestone: the acquisition of 576 additional acres of primary forest, expanding a private forest reserve to more than 1,000 acres, effectively securing a vital biological corridor that prevents the isolation of monkey populations. But Proyecto Washu’s 2025 impact goes beyond habitat protection – by integrating sustainable cocoa farming and community-led development into their model, Proyecto Washu has turned local farmers into the primary guardians of the forest, proving that human prosperity and primate protection are two sides of the same coin. Moving forward, with the support of $50,000, Proyecto Washu will be able to establish a long-term rehabilitation and release center for spider monkeys rescued from the wildlife trade.
African Marine Conservation Organization: A New Era for Africa’s Manatees
In 2025, African Marine Conservation Organization (AMCO)’s innovative Siren App continues to turn local fishers into citizen scientists. This year, the app facilitated the first-ever recording of an Atlantic nurse shark along the Cameroonian coast, providing critical data to help regulate artisanal fishing. Moving forward in 2026, AMCO hopes to break ground on Africa’s first manatee rehabilitation center. This facility will provide life-saving care for injured and stranded African manatees—a species often overlooked in global conservation efforts. To contribute to this center and AMCO’s ongoing conservation work, they are seeking $30,000 during this year-end giving season.
Support African Marine Conservation Organization
MareCet: Bridging the Gap Between Fishers and Dolphins
In Malaysia, MareCet is rewriting the narrative of human-wildlife conflict in our oceans. By deploying acoustic pingers and training fishing communities across Peninsular Malaysia in safe release techniques, MareCet has significantly reduced the accidental bycatch of Irrawaddy dolphins and the elusive dugong. This “net positive” work has successfully demonstrated that when fishers are empowered as stakeholders rather than restricted as outsiders, marine mammals can thrive alongside local livelihoods. At this time, MareCet is seeking $25,000 in support to expand their marine education and outreach programs to harness the power of knowledge in raising Malaysia’s next generation of environmental stewards and champions.
SMACON: Cultivating the Next Generation of Champions
The Small Mammal Conservation Organization (SMACON) knows that saving the world’s most vulnerable bats requires local expertise. In 2025, SMACON launched the West Africa Mammal Fellowship, a flagship program designed to provide mentorship and resources to post-graduate students across the region. By building the capacity of these conservation champions, SMACON is ensuring that regions like Nigeria’s Afi forest—a biodiversity hotspot for small mammals—have a dedicated, permanent force of local conservationists to lead the way for decades to come. SMACON is seeking support to establish their ranger station for forest and cave habitat protection with a year-end goal of $120,000.
Support Small Mammal Conservation Organization
Alianza Gato Andino (AGA): Protecting the Sacred Spirit of the Andes
High in the mountains of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru, the Andean cat remains one of the rarest felids on Earth. In 2025, Alianza Gato Andino (AGA) deepened its CATcrafts program, providing local women with sustainable income through traditional weaving, which in turn reduces the community’s reliance on activities that threaten the Andean cat’s habitat. Their 2025 impact is a beautiful reminder that conservation is most effective when it honors the culture and heritage of the people who live alongside wildlife. AGA is hoping to raise $40,000 to expand their CATcrafts in 2026 and beyond!
These stories are proof that when we invest in local community-based conservation organizations, we aren’t just saving a single species—we are strengthening entire ecosystems and communities. WCN’s donation model allows 100% of any donation designated for a specific species to go directly to partners in the field, with zero overhead taken out by WCN. As we look towards 2026, these organizations in WCN’s Partner Network remind us that no impact is too small to change the world.