1. Digital MRV (Measurement–Reporting–Verification) System

• What it is: AI-powered monitoring platform combining drones, satellite imagery, and blockchain verification.
• Why it matters: Ensures transparency, traceability, and credibility of every planted tree.
• Transferability: Can be adapted to monitor other nature-based solutions (wetlands, grasslands, mangroves, etc.).

2. Blockchain-Verified Tree Registry & Certificates

• What it is: Each planted tree is assigned a digital ID and certificate stored on blockchain.
• Why it matters: Builds trust with funders, companies, and individuals by proving tree ownership and survival.
• Transferability: Applicable to carbon markets, biodiversity credits, or ecosystem services accounting.

3. Youth Volunteer Engagement Model

• What it is: Mobilization of students and local youth (e.g., “Green Volunteers”) for tree planting, maintenance, and awareness-building.
• Why it matters: Builds long-term stewardship and community ownership of restored areas.
• Transferability: Can be replicated for climate education, waste management, or community energy projects.

4. Corporate Partnership & CSR Integration

• What it is: Businesses (telecom, finance, events, resorts, etc.) co-finance tree groves as part of CSR/ESG strategies.
• Why it matters: Provides sustainable funding for reforestation while aligning with companies’ branding and SDG goals.
• Transferability: Can be applied to other green initiatives (renewables, circular economy, eco-labels).

5. Three-Year Maintenance & Survival Guarantee

• What it is: Each planting project includes watering, fencing, and maintenance for at least 3 years.
• Why it matters: Addresses high mortality rates in tree planting, ensuring long-term carbon sequestration.
• Transferability: Maintenance-first approach can be adopted in agriculture, conservation, or infrastructure projects.

6. Community Education & Reward System

• What it is: Local residents and households (e.g., ger districts) participate and receive recognition, small rewards, or utility discounts.
• Why it matters: Incentivizes grassroots climate action and strengthens community buy-in.
• Transferability: Rewards model can support recycling, clean cooking, or water conservation programs.

Establishing several multi-year partnerships has exponentially increased Nature Lab’s reach since 2020. Content partnerships extend the reach of Nature Lab’s resources, while marquee collaborations offer both reach and opportunities for co-creation, resulting in compelling conservation-focused educational resources for young people. 

Nature Lab partners with a number of education-focused learning platforms such as: Kahoot!, PBS Learning Media, Google Arts & Culture, Share My Lesson, Subject to Climate, Mizzen Education, and CLEAN (Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network). Nature Lab has also partnered with companies such as Viacom, TedEd, and Netflix, which have supported the growth and reach of the platform. 

Nature Lab has developed partnerships in several ways, through external outreach initiatives and through TNC’s name and network as one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. 

The remote format of the externship program is key to its global accessibility and flexibility. By offering a fully virtual experience, the program supports participants from across time zones and life circumstances, including students who are currently enrolled in school or balancing other responsibilities. All resources are digital and freely available, enabling externs to engage with the content and complete their work on a schedule that fits their lives over the eight-week program. This structure also fosters a strong sense of community as externs stay connected through platforms like Slack, where they exchange ideas, seek advice, and collaborate on projects in real time. The digital nature of the program has not only removed geographic barriers but also created a dynamic, supportive environment where young people from around the world can learn, grow, and lead together.

The externship program is made possible by the joint collaboration between the National Geographic Society (the Society) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), uniting the strengths of two globally respected organizations to support the next generation of conservation leaders. The Society brings deep expertise in storytelling, exploration, and education, while TNC contributes extensive field-based conservation knowledge and extensive reach as the largest global environmental nonprofit. Together, their partnership creates a meaningful opportunity for young adults to engage with real-world environmental challenges, develop professional skills, and access mentorship from conservation experts like National Geographic Explorers and TNC Scientists—advancing shared goals around youth empowerment, equity, and environmental stewardship.

Nature Lab’s curriculum includes a collection of virtual field trips, teaching guides for educators, and seasonal activity guides for families with children ages 5 to 11. Virtual field trips allow students to explore diverse ecosystems—such as forests, wetlands, oceans, and urban environments—through high quality videos and structured learning experiences. Each virtual field trip is accompanied by a teaching guide with activities that encourage observation, inquiry, and provide connections to real-world environmental issues.

Nature Lab’s teaching guides provide ready-to-use lesson plans and student resources that bring nature-based learning into classrooms, supporting a wide range of environmental science topics. These materials are designed to help students build critical thinking skills, deepen their understanding of environmental science topics, and recognize their role in protecting the planet.

In addition, seasonal activity guides empower families to connect with nature through simple, locally relevant experiences that foster curiosity, creativity, and environmental awareness in everyday life. Together, these resources aim to make nature education accessible to all learners and support the development of the next generation of environmental stewards.

Establishing several multi-year partnerships has exponentially increased Nature Lab’s reach since 2020. Content partnerships extend the reach of Nature Lab’s resources, while marquee collaborations offer both reach and opportunities for co-creation, resulting in compelling conservation-focused educational resources for young people. 

Nature Lab partners with a number of education-focused learning platforms such as: Kahoot!, PBS Learning Media, Google Arts & Culture, Share My Lesson, Subject to Climate, Mizzen Education, and CLEAN (Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network). Nature Lab has also partnered with companies such as Viacom, TedEd, and Netflix, which have supported the growth and reach of the platform. 

Nature Lab has developed partnerships in several ways, through external outreach initiatives and through TNC’s name and network as one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. 

It is understood that effective conservation necessitates continuous knowledge exchange, unwavering policy advocacy, and the smart integration of modern technology.