Nature's Keepers: The Remarkable Story of How the Nature Conservancy Became the Largest Environmental Group in the World

by Bill Birchard

With more than $3.7 billion in assets and annual revenue of $800 million, the Nature Conservancy has generated staggering growth that would be the envy of any business.

Incorporated in 1951 by a small circle of concerned ecologists, the Conservancy has grown financially into the world's largest environmental organization. It has one million members--up from 500,000 in 1990--and 3,500 employees operating in 50 states and 28 countries across the world.

Nature's Keepers offers readers an inspirational leadership tale and management chronicle, as it goes behind the scenes and details the inner workings of the Nature Conservancy. Highlighting the efforts of nine extraordinary leaders, Nature's Keepers examines the organization's culture and management, strategy and decisions, and courageous and ingenious individuals who have dedicated their lives to conservation.

Author Bill Birchard reveals how the Conservancy's sometimes controversial business practices--entrepreneurial approaches to preserving ecosystems while meeting human needs--have earned the praise of management gurus such as Peter Drucker. The Conservancy's way of operating, though not free of failings, is both widely emulated in the nonprofit community and greatly respected by business scholars and CEOs nationwide.

Genres: Nature, Environment, Business, History

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 18, 2005

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A glowing review of the Nature Conservancy's growing pains through the heroic stories of a few select leaders. This is not a dirt-digging piece on the missteps of a awkwardly capitalistic, globalizing mega-organization. In fact Birchard, like the Conservancy, chooses to focus on the forward progress of the organization rather than to dwell on the specifics of controversial subjects, like those exposed in the Washington Post articles mentioned in Chapter 1 and discussed in Chapter 10. In this way, the book succeeds in serving as a bulleted list of management techniques for an evolving non-profit. However, a reader interested in a balanced look at particular eras of the Nature Conservancy or the globalization of the conservation movement may choose to look elsewhere.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bill Birchard, freelance writer and journalist, http://www.mv.com/ipusers/whb/ examines the non-profit organization, The Nature Conservancy http://www.nature.org/ culture and management beginning with its humble beginnings in 1951 to surmount obstacles and crises and evolve into its respected position today as the leading international organization dedicated to preserving the diversity of life on Earth - - more than $3.7 billion in assets, annual revenue of $860 million, and about one million members. Read an online interview of Bill Birchard http://www.tompeters.com/cool_friends... from the Tom Peters! Company. (lj)

[LInda L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book to make everyone connected with it so proud -- I've been a member for many years now, and I still marvel at the accomplishments of this organization. If I had a lot of money, I would certainly leave it to them -- due to my circumstances, they'll only get a modest amount. I first heard of them at a meeting where someone gave a speech about it -- and that was back in the 80s. I've been a member ever since. If you're at all interested in preserving our world the way it should be -- this is the organization for you. And this book is their story.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author looks at the growth of the Nature Conservancy by examining nine highly influential people in the organization. He takes a business management approach and looks at the way these people handled challenges.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great merging of the history of an organization and leadership lessons. I enjoyed both.