• Research

    SPARCLE is a team of scientists. We work at Conservation International and University of California Santa Barbara. Our dual institutions give us wide expertise an ability to turn research into conservation action

  • Implementation

    SPARCLE scientists nurture partnerships with CI’s Africa Field Unit and CI-Colombia to plan Natural Climate Solutions in multiple continents.

uC Santa Barbara

and Conservation international

SPARCLE brings together Conservation International and UC Santa Barbara to pair world-class science with on-the-ground impact. The partnership conducts rigorous research to support real-world land use challenges. Each year, the team trains undergraduate and graduate fellows, who receive mentorship while pursuing their own scientific exploration. Fellows model human–elephant conflict and connectivity in the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA). This mentorship also led to published studies, including a UCSB-led paper on agricultural abandonment and recultivation. Together, CI and UCSB are building the strongest possible science to inform conservation solutions where they are needed most.

Implementation

aFRICA fIELD mANAGEment uNIT

SPARCLE is partnering with Conservation International’s Africa Field Management Unit (FMU) to co-develop scenario analyses of land use in priority landscapes identified by the Africa FMU. By working hand in hand with regional leadership and technical experts, we ensure that our science responds directly to local priorities. This effort builds on the Roadmap for Natural Climate Solutions in Africa, co-authored by SPARCLE scientist Joana Krieger. The Roadmap charts a vision for climate mitigation and conservation across the continent. Together, we are mapping where and how to implement natural climate solutions; turning ambitious plans into actionable strategies for Africa’s critical landscapes.