Russell E. Train Education for Nature

Today’s conservation challenges are more complex than ever before and require advanced skills and knowledge to tackle. Through EFN, WWF is building the next generation of conservation leaders who are committed to addressing these challenges and protecting the world’s most biologically diverse places. With funding from WWF, conservationists can pursue graduate studies, attend short-term training courses, and build institutional capacity to train local communities.

To date, the program has invested more than $22 million to support over 2,800 individuals and organizations from 57 countries around the world. These individuals and organizations play a key role in not only protecting species and habitats, but also leading research, communicating science, changing policy, and mentoring the next generation of conservationists in their countries.

To address the complex demands that forests face, WWF supports locally-based organizations in some of the world’s most biodiverse forests to conduct reforestation and restoration activities. Relying primarily on native tree species, funded projects have planted over 2 million trees on more than 1,000 hectares of degraded tropical forests and wetlands and trained 17,000+ community members. Additionally, in partnership with leading training providers, WWF also brings together current and past grant recipients to participate in a five-day practitioner workshop to build skills, share best practices, and strengthen the restoration alumni network. 

EFN alumni are tackling critical environmental challenges while also making the conservation community more diverse and impactful than ever before. WWF is committed to ensuring alumni continue to advance in their careers and become a voice for conservation by providing ongoing support for education, training, and research opportunities.

EFN also works to establish a professional network for alumni through our LinkedIn and Facebook pages. These platforms provide program news and information about upcoming grant opportunities, conferences, and training courses for conservationists worldwide. These groups are open to all alumni to connect to others in their field, country, or region. We encourage alumni to join and stay connected.

Russell E. Train, renowned conservationist and EFN’s namesake, passed away in 2012. Supporters from around the globe sent meaningful and generous donations toward continuing his legacy of building conservation capacity worldwide. These memorial contributions are being used to support the Russell E. Train Legacy Program.

In 2017, Aileen Bowdoin Train passed away peacefully in her home. She was an early champion of conservation who dedicated her life to the protection of wildlife and wild places around the world. Both Mr. and Mrs. Train shared a profound commitment to building local conservation leadership and institutions throughout the world.

Contributions may be made to the Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program.