The Community Conservation Research Network (CCRN) is an international initiative to study and support local communities in their efforts to engage in environmental conservation that sustains local livelihoods, and to encourage best practices of governments to support these community initiatives. This website is a key means for the CCRN to provide leadership and a global learning hub on themes of communities, conservation and livelihoods.

The CCRN is a partnership of indigenous, community, university, governmental and nongovernmental organizations, with a headquarters at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Canada, and with leadership overall by the Network Director, Anthony Charles. In addition to working globally through this website to provide a focal point and resource centre on the crucial themes of Communities, Conservation and Livelihoods, the CCRN also undertakes local-level community-based research and capacity building activities at sites around the world (see map below). Using a consistent social-ecological systems lens, the CCRN’s research is producing a range of insights on such themes as environmental governance, indigenous self-governance, local networking and the success of conservation initiatives. These insights provide guidance for communities, policy makers and decision makers at all levels, from local to global. A key goal is to empower communities to enhance their natural environments and local economies for decades to come.