The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) provides financial support to protect wildlife and wild places around the globe. Since its founding, DWCF has awarded nearly $20 million to support conservation programs in 112 countries.
Nature Conservation
Building on a long legacy of nature conservation, Disney is actively involved in protecting habitats around the world, and helping the planet and the creatures who call it home. We connect kids to nature to ignite their imagination and develop lifelong conservation values – a stewardship ethic that they can carry with them through adulthood. The Disney approach to ecosystem and wildlife conservation encompasses a number of key strategies such as providing financial support to animal and conservation projects through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund; protecting ecosystems in collaboration with leading nonprofit organizations; sharing our technical expertise to address conservation issues; and creating opportunities for children and families to experience nature.
Our Current Initiatives
Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund
The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF), founded in 1995, is a key pillar in Disney’s efforts to protect the planet for future generations and help kids develop lifelong conservation values. The DWCF grants program provides financial support for the study of wildlife, the protection of habitats and the development of community conservation and education programs in critical ecosystems around the world. In addition, the DWCF has expanded its focus to provide special grants that help connect kids and nature through exploration and discovery. DWCF also facilitates collaboration with nonprofit organizations to protect the planet for future generations, including conservation programs connected to Disneynature films. To date, the DWCF has awarded more than $20 million to projects in 112 countries. Learn more.
Disneynature
Disneynature was launched in April 2008. Its mission is to bring the world’s top nature filmmakers together to share a wide variety of wildlife stories on the big screen in order to engage, inspire and educate theatrical audiences everywhere. The first four Disneynature films, “Earth,” “Oceans,” “African Cats” and “Chimpanzee,” are four of the top five highest overall grossing feature-length nature films to date, with “Chimpanzee” garnering a record-breaking opening weekend for the genre. Disney’s commitment to conservation is a key pillar of the label and Disneynature films empower the audience to help make a difference. Through donations tied to opening-week attendance for all four films, Disneynature, through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, has planted three million trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, established 40,000 acres of marine protected area in The Bahamas, protected 65,000 acres of savanna in Kenya, protected nearly 130,000 acres of wild chimpanzee habitat, educated 60,000 school children about chimpanzee conservation and cared for chimpanzees. Learn more.
Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
The Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team connects Walt Disney Parks and Resorts guests and cast members with animals, plants and nature and inspires them to positively impact the environment. Team members are responsible for animal care and health, science, and education programs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Seas with Nemo & Friends and The Tri-Circle D Ranch at Walt Disney World Resort; Disney Cruise Line’s private island in The Bahamas Castaway Cay; and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, in Ko Olina, Hawaii. Our Animal Programs team participates in cooperative breeding programs with other zoological facilities at our theme parks, and offers tours and education programs. Through these activities, we create magical memories for our guests, while also making a difference for conservation around the world. Learn more.
Connect With Us