Amid stories of habitat loss, endangered wildlife, lacklustre government policies, and communities struggling in the face of climate change, it’s not always easy to feel hopeful. But this Earth Day 2026, we’re determined to find hope: And we’ve found it in the grassroots actions and first-hand experiences of these incredible stewards of our planet.
“Progress does not happen in silence. It happens when people show up.” These are the words written across the Earth Day website this year.
And this is what Earth Day is all about: Action. You might be one person, making lifestyle changes to consume fewer products and eat homegrown, or you’re part of a community protecting habitat—a wetland area in your local park or a mangrove system along your coastline. Perhaps you’re in the field, a researcher or scientist dedicated to finding solutions for better air or cleaner water. It all counts.
There’s never been a greater need to do better. Right now, there’s an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic floating in our oceans (and more microplastics in the ocean than stars in the Milky Way). One million plastic bottles are purchased every minute across the world—where there’s safe, clean drinking water, there’s really no excuse. But the reality is, not everywhere does have safe, clean drinking water and that in itself is a crisis that needs a solution.
We’re also in the middle of the largest mass species extinction event—some scientists believe we’re losing 10,000 times more species a year than the normal rate. Reasons include human consumption, urbanization, population growth, and greater trade. Habitats are at risk, too. Forest cover across the world is shrinking by an average of 4.7 million hectares per year.
In a world that seems increasingly fragile, we need to feel we can make a difference, to change the trajectory, and do better. And there are many people doing exactly that, in big and small ways, so that’s what we want to highlight and celebrate this Earth Day: Hope.
We asked a variety people, from a youth activist in Uzbekistan committed to cleaner drinking water to Nepal’s first female nature guide fighting for rhino conservation: What do you feel hopeful about? And this is what they told us.
Avery Tilley, National Geographic Young Explorer and in his final year of a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine program
“In southeast Madagascar, we’re working to conserve Phelsuma antanosy, a critically endangered gecko found in a handful of fragmented forest patches. Our work focuses on restoring native habitat and translocating individuals into protected areas, but what makes it effective is that it is locally led, built with and supported by Malagasy communities whose knowledge and stewardship shape how conservation is done on the ground. With their leadership and support, this species has a real chance of recovery.
I’ve seen the same model in my work with gray wolves in the Midwest, where tribal-led wildlife health initiatives prioritize both population sustainability and cultural responsibility to individual animals. These approaches do not separate science from community; they integrate veterinary science and conservation with Indigenous knowledge to guide decision making in ways that are both biologically effective and culturally grounded.
That is where real progress happens. Conservation is not just a technical problem, it is a governance and relationship problem. When solutions are led by Indigenous peoples and local communities, they are more durable, more ethical, and ultimately more successful. That isn’t just hopeful; it’s already working.”
Avery Tilley’s work is focused on conservation medicine, wildlife disease, and Indigenous stewardship. A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, he is the Chair of the Native Peoples Wildlife Management Working Group, and uses film, writing, and public speaking to elevate Indigenous voices in conservation.
Find out more about Avery Tilley’s work as a National Geographic Young Explorer
Read Avery’s feature—What does a tiny gecko reveal about Madagascar’s fragile future?—on Adventure.com
Holly Budge — How Many Elephants & World Female Ranger Week founder
“One of the simplest solutions I have ever encountered is also one of the most powerful. In Tanzania, elephants raiding crops has long been a source of conflict between local communities and wildlife. Farmers lose their livelihoods overnight. Fatalities have occurred on both sides.
But working with our partner Wild Survivors, we have set up the How Many Elephants Beehive Fence Project, installing beehive fences on the borders of smallholder farms and elephant corridors in the Ngorongoro-Serengeti ecosystem, and the results have been extraordinary.
Elephants have a natural aversion to bees, so a fence strung with active beehives creates a natural, non-lethal barrier that protects both crops and animals. We have seen a 91 percent reduction in crop raiding in that area, since the beehives have been in place. No poison. No snares. Just bees. Plus, local women are trained in beekeeping and sustainable agriculture to earn an income and lead their communities in environmental protection.
What gives me hope is that solutions like this are community-led, proven, and scalable. In June, through World Female Ranger Week, more than 6,000 female rangers across the globe will connect online to share knowledge and best practices on cutting-edge conservation projects like this.”
Holly has raised over £650,000 for conservation, her impactful work has been praised by Sir David Attenborough, and she was recently named Thought Leader of the Year (non-profit), listed in the Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise, and serves as a UN Women UK Delegate.
Find out more about How Many Elephants and World Female Ranger Week
Read Holly’s features on Adventure.com
Doma Paudel, Nepal’s first certified female nature guide
“I am in the middle of a training week for young women from across Nepal, and I have already seen something that fills me with hope. One participant traveled for nearly six days to be here—three days on foot through the Himalayas, then two-and-a-half days by bus—all because she wanted to learn how to protect wildlife in her community.
Human-wildlife conflict is part of daily life in the regions these women come from. But rather than accepting it as inevitable, they are here to build skills, share knowledge, and find solutions. They range in age from 19 to 45. They come from different backgrounds and different landscapes.
And from the very first day, there has been an instant and powerful connection between them. When women on the frontline of conservation find each other, something shifts. That is where hope lives.”
Doma Paudel tragically lost her mother to a rhino attack, an event which inspired her to become Nepal’s first female nature guide and fight to save Nepalese rhinos from near extinction, double Nepal’s tiger population, and teach Nepalese communities how to coexist with wildlife. Doma has been recognized in the World Female Ranger Awards for her pioneering conservation, community empowerment, and ethical eco-tourism over more than two decades. Her grassroots anti-poaching work contributed to Zero Rhino Poaching in Chitwan since 2011.
Find out more about Doma Paudel and her company Nepal Dynamic Eco Tours
Read more about the World Female Ranger Awards
Bosco Atukwatse, Field Coordinator, Kyambura Lion Monitoring Project (KLMP) with the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust
“With roosts of thousands of bats, multi-species interactions and unseen viruses, the python cave reminds us that the greatest threats to our future are not always distant: They are right beside us.
We’ve been observing multiple predator species preying on a confirmed Marburg virus reservoir: The Egyptian fruit bats. These findings offer valuable insights into whether viruses can cross species boundaries and potentially infect humans.
But this work is not done by scientists alone. It is made possible by the local communities who walk these paths, share their knowledge and stand as guardians of the land. If we choose to understand these hidden worlds instead of ignoring them, we give ourselves a chance not just to protect wildlife, but to protect our own lives. That is where hope begins.”
Bosco Atukwatse holds a Diploma in Wildlife and Natural Resource Management from the Uganda Wildlife Research and Training Institute. He is part of a team of ecologists whose recent research highlights important ecological interactions that may inform understanding of how viruses could leap across species. Their paper will be published in ‘Current Biology’.
Find out more about Bosco Atukwatse and his work
Dr. Krithi Karanth, CEO Centre for Wildlife Studies, India
“What gives me hope is the growing recognition that conservation cannot be separated from people’s lives. In countries like India, where people and wildlife are deeply intertwined, solutions that work on the ground are those that address both ecological and human realities together.
At the Centre for Wildlife Studies, this is reflected in our award-winning programs such as Wild Seve, which supports communities in navigating human–wildlife interactions; Wild Shaale, which builds awareness among younger generations; Wild Surakshe, which focuses on safety and public health; Wild Carbon, which connects conservation with climate action; and our work on Wildlife Hunting and Trade, which addresses critical threats to species.
There is also a broader shift underway, with more people acknowledging that conservation is linked to development, public health, and long-term human wellbeing. I am particularly encouraged by the interest among young people and the potential for stronger collaboration across sectors. If science and policy are connected to stakeholders and institutions, we can create more practical and lasting pathways for conservation.”
Dr. Krithi Karanth is the recipient of the 2026 Esmond B. Martin Royal Geographical Society Prize. She’s also the CEO at the Centre for Wildlife Studies, which provides specialized education and conducts science and outreach that advances wildlife conservation.
Find about more about the Centre for Wildlife Studies in India.
Justin Francis OBE, co-founder and executive chair of Responsible Travel
“Despite the environment being in much worse shape overall than in 1970, when Earth Day began, there are still some successes to celebrate. We have better air and water quality, along with improved environmental awareness and governance.
A major success has been the expansion of protected areas—from just a few percent in 1970 to around 16–18 percent today. Responsible tourism has played an important role in this. For example, community wildlife conservancies in Kenya, on land owned by Indigenous people, are now larger than all the National Parks combined.
I’m especially excited about tourism and multiple land uses—this is the only way we’re going to solve problems faster than they are being created. In these conservancies, our travelers enjoy safaris; communities gain employment, earn lease fees, and graze their cattle (which is culturally as well as economically important); and soils are restored to sequester carbon and support wildlife.”
Justin Francis OBE has been a passionate advocate for more responsible tourism for over 25 years and founded Responsible Travel, the world’s first and largest responsible tourism company in 2000. An advisor on nature to the UK government, he is also a board director Saruni Basecamp, a safari company in Kenya that works with Maasai and Samburu families. In 2024, he was awarded an OBE for services to nature and the environment.
Find out more about Responsible Travel
Jorge Marín aka George of the Cloudforest, Costan Rican guide and tourism business owner
“What gives me hope today is not a single innovation, but a change that we are experiencing in Monteverde. It’s a profound transition, moving from sustainability as a concept to regeneration as a daily practice.
Monteverde is a land of entrepreneurs, and our family—my wife, son, brother, cousins—is part of the 90 percent of local businesses that give life to the area. With years of heritage and passion, we’ve built a comprehensive project for our visitors, from guided adventures and traditional gastronomy, to crafts with their own stamp. We not only offer services; we share our lifestyle and knowledge through our operator, restaurant and consultancy.
Beyond simply conserving what remains, we aim to actively restore the relationships between land, community, and those who visit. Through our experiences and in the restaurant, we work to reconnect guests with the origin of what they consume—from locally grown food to the knowledge that sustains this territory. We collaborate closely with producers, design menus based on what the land can truly offer in each moment, and transform organic waste into inputs that return to the soil, closing natural cycles.
Even in its imperfection, this model shows tourism can evolve: The visitor is no longer an observer, but becomes part of a living system. In a place like Monteverde, this approach proves we can move beyond minimizing impact and instead actively regenerate ecosystems and culture.”
Jorge Marín operates an ecotourism tour business in the popular cloudforest region of Monteverde. He is also part of the family-owned and -run Sensoria restaurant in Monteverde
Find out more about George of the Cloudforest and the family-owned and -run Sensoria restaurant in Monteverde
Priyanka Surio, data and informatics expert and sustainable travel author
“Ecovillages represent an innovative, community-based solution to sustainable living around the world. There give opportunities to travel to, visit, and even live longer-term as a contributing member of the community.
They provide a living laboratory to experiment with regeneration for the collective benefit of people, creatures, and planet. Despite the divisions we face globally and the despair of climate impacts that often feel too big to tackle, ecovillages offer a container of hope and the opportunity to contribute small meaningful actions.
Regenerative projects differ based on the purpose and location of the ecovillage, but may include natural habitat and wildlife conservation, food production, sharing resources such as a collective bank account or investment fund to support different livelihoods, creating trust and unity between fellow ecovillagers around a common purpose, and participating in storytelling to integrate different types of knowledge (ancestral and modern).
There are now over 1,250 ecovillages worldwide, mapped by the Gen Ecovillage network with details on how you can visit or become a member. Travel opportunities include the regenerative travel caravan I participated in, which included a group of 30 people from around the world traveling by bus across India’s most prominent ecovillages and organic farms. Also, the clean beach pirates sailing expeditions, an eco-social adventure across the Ionian Sea of Greece, dedicated to coastal conservation while fostering community through music, yoga, educational workshops, and sailing skills development.”
Of Indian-Hungarian-American heritage, Priyanka has been a full-time nomad for five years across 50+ countries who’s worked remotely from Accra, Ghana to Mongolia, and works with Indigenous communities on climate action. She’s interviewed 100+ travelers on sustainable and regenerative travel habits and wrote ‘Sustainable Nomad: Field Guide’ and ‘Third Culture Kids of the World: Exploring Sustainable Travel Mindsets’.
Find out more about the Gen Ecovillage network
Professor Alexandre Antonelli, Executive Director of Science, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
“Despite the scale of the biodiversity crisis, I see extraordinary reasons for hope every day. Around the world, communities, scientists and policymakers are coming together to restore ecosystems, protect species and rethink our relationship with nature.
At Kew, our teams are working closely with partners to safeguard some of the world’s most threatened habitats, while new research on plant and fungal traits is revealing how species support resilient, carbon‑storing ecosystems. Advances in genomics, spatial data and machine learning are transforming how we map risk and guide conservation, and rapid species discovery is helping us understand and protect biodiversity before it disappears.
Crucially, our collaborations—from local community projects to global policy frameworks—ensure this science is translated into action. On the ground, partnerships like our work in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest show that when science, policy and local leadership align, recovery is possible. Earth Day reminds us that by deepening our understanding of the natural world and acting decisively to protect it, we can still secure a thriving planet for generations to come.”
A recipient of the 2026 Esmond B. Martin Royal Geographical Society Prize, Professor Antonelli leads the work of around 500 scientists working in more than 100 countries and is responsible for the world’s largest collections of plants and fungi. An active researcher, his work focuses on the diversity, distribution, evolution, conservation and sustainable use of species.
Find out more about the science research carried out Kew Gardens
Dr Susanne Etti, General Manager Climate at Intrepid Travel, PhD in Natural Science
“As someone deeply shaped by time in nature, I’ve come to understand that leadership in this area isn’t about waiting for perfect conditions; It’s about acting while the world is still catching up.
Growing up in Germany, my family were passionate hikers and skiers, and that meant spending a lot of time in mountain environments. Even as a teenager, I began to notice subtle changes like glaciers receding and snow seasons shifting. It was subtle then, but enough to spark a real awareness of human impact on nature. Fast‑forward to now, and the impacts of climate change aren’t subtle anymore. They’re real, frequent and increasingly intense.
That awareness has shaped how I show up in my work today. At the heart of every decision I make is a simple question: Does this reduce real-world emissions? If the answer is no, it’s an invitation to rethink, to adapt and to move in a better direction. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about being willing to change course when the evidence demands it. And this responsibility doesn’t belong to a select few—it belongs to all of us. Every action we take has the potential to create a ripple effect, and when those ripples connect, they become waves of meaningful change.
There’s hope in this shared responsibility. The idea that each of us can contribute—and that our individual choices can influence systems—is powerful. It starts with the questions we ask, in design, in sourcing and in storytelling. Choosing lower-carbon materials, supporting suppliers who prioritize sustainability and being honest about both progress and challenges all help shift the narrative. It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress, shared openly and authentically.
What all of this points to is a simple truth: Meaningful change doesn’t come from one single solution. It comes from many small, consistent actions, taken together.”
As well as leading Intrepid’s climate performance, reporting, risk management and decarbonization initiatives, she champions a culture of climate consciousness throughout the organization and helping drive the travel sector toward a lower-carbon future.
Find out more about Dr Susanne Etti’s work
Gulnaz Jadigerova, Youth Climate Advocate in Uzbekistan
“In Karakalpakstan, the drinking water crisis is inseparable from the legacy of the Aral Sea—once the world’s fourth-largest lake, now reduced to less than 10 percent of its original volume. This has led to the collapse of the fishing industry and left millions exposed to polluted water, high salinity, and toxic dust storms rising from the dried seabed. Climate change has further exacerbated these challenges.
What gives me hope is the scale of youth-led climate and environmental action emerging across Uzbekistan; I supported youth with UNICEF and governmental agencies through grassroots networks of young climate champions and platforms such as the National Conference of Youth on Climate Change.
There’s a growing shift toward practical solutions: Local climate action, clean-ups, community-based water filtration, awareness campaigns on safe water use, planting drought-resilient trees, protecting biodiversity, and youth advocacy pushing for transparent data and investment in resilient infrastructure. Increasingly, youth engagement is also shaping climate policy, with perspectives and recommendations of young climate leaders being reflected in Uzbekistan’s Nationally Determined Contribution of Uzbekistan, a critical step toward more inclusive and representative decision-making.
The challenges remain systemic and long-term. But when young people in frontline regions move from awareness to implementation, organizing, innovating, and holding institutions accountable, solutions become grounded in lived reality. In a place shaped by irreversible environmental loss, hope is not about expecting restoration, but about building resilience. It lives in communities that have learned to value every drop of water, to genuinely care for one another, and to turn adversity into policy and collective action.”
Gulnaz Jadigerova is also an MA student in Social Change, Environment and Sustainability at the University of Manchester and a former Youth Climate Action Consultant for UNICEF Uzbekistan.
Find out more about Uzbekistan’s Youth Climate Actions Network
Zach Plopper, Senior Environmental Director, Surfrider Foundation
“In 1990, I rode my first wave along the shores of Southern California. I had no idea it would spark a lifelong commitment to protecting and enjoying our ocean, waves, and beaches.
While today’s threats to our coasts are unprecedented, the past wasn’t always better—the waters I surfed as a child had been stripped of much of their marine life after decades of overfishing. Today, they are thriving ecosystems once again, thanks to a network of marine protected areas along our coast.
This year, the Surfrider Foundation, where I work as Senior Environmental Director, achieved its 1,000th victory to protect our ocean. This milestone, 36 years after that first wave, reflects decades of grassroots action. This Earth Day, I reflect on these wins and every wave in between—each one strengthening my belief that we can all leave our ocean better than we found it.”
Surfrider Foundation is a US non-profit environmental organization that is dedicated to protecting and preserving the world’s oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.
Find out more about the work undertaken by the Surfrider Foundation
Shakira Mobarak, The Datai Pledge Coordinator and Pillar Leader of Youth For The Future in Langkawi, Malaysia
“What gives me hope is the way The Datai Pledge brings together individuals who are deeply passionate about their respective fields, each leading a pillar with genuine purpose and commitment. From marine conservation to wildlife protection, sustainable food systems to community engagement, every effort is driven by people who truly care about the future of our environment.
Within the Youth for the Future pillar, our collaboration with Green Growth Asia Foundation (GGAF), particularly through the Eco-Schools Programme, is especially meaningful. By equipping the next generation with knowledge, awareness, and a strong sense of responsibility, we are nurturing future stewards of the environment.
It’s this powerful combination of passionate leadership and youth empowerment that gives me confidence we are not only preserving what we have, but shaping a more conscious and sustainable future for students in Langkawi.”
The Datai Pledge is a series of sustainability initiatives relating to the resort’s business operations, the land, sea, and youth. These four elements correspond to the four pillars of The Datai Pledge: Pure for the Future, Wildlife for the Future, Fish for the Future; and Youth for the Future, respectively.
Find out more about The Datai Pledge
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London-born-and-bred with a Ugandan-Indian heritage, Meera Dattani is Adventure.com's executive editor and an award-winning freelance travel journalist. Her stories center on food and cultural heritage, wildlife and conservation, and soft adventure, often through a lens of decolonizing and modernizing travel writing. Her work has been published in National Geographic Traveller, BBC Travel, Condé Nast Traveller, Olive magazine and many others.
