Ocean Biodiversity Portfolio

The ocean’s remarkable diversity of species and habitats plays a vital role in sustaining life. In the United States, ocean biodiversity represents both a community foundation and a national asset. At the community level, diverse ocean life is woven into the fabric of everyday life, underpinning cultural identity, food security, livelihoods, and safety and well-being. At the national level, it bolsters the country’s ecological health, food systems, economy, national security, and resilience.

Despite its importance, however, this natural wealth is increasingly threatened. Habitat loss, overfishing, pollution, and climate shifts are eroding the resilience of marine ecosystems. Additionally, while ocean biodiversity represents a shared national asset, it’s not treated that way. Despite decades of scientific advancement, no centralized federal mandate exists to guide its management and investment at the federal level. And, diverse experts, stakeholders, and rights holders aren’t nourishing the partnerships necessary to solve these challenges together.

Listen. Support. Engage.

BCF envisions a future where the U.S. manages marine biodiversity as both a national asset and a community foundation, with decisions grounded in knowledge, culture, and equity — ensuring a resilient ocean reflects resilient communities for generations to come. To that end, our Ocean Biodiversity portfolio will generate opportunities to:

• Listen: Mobilize community voices through listening sessions and other convenings in different regions of the United States to scope community needs and cultivate relationships.
• Support: Issue open funding opportunities targeting projects that advance our understanding of how ocean biodiversity knowledge can shape more equitable and sustainable decisions.
• Engage: Catalyze knowledge to action across funded projects through strategic outreach and engagement across researchers, stakeholders, rights holders, managers and more.

Rooted in the approach and results of Marine Biodiversity Dialogues—a series of expert working groups previously supported by the Lenfest Ocean Program—this portfolio will uplift the needs and stories of communities and offer a national platform where they can foster collaboration and build a shared understanding of ocean biodiversity challenges and solutions.

Contact Us

We welcome opportunities to connect and partner with others in this field as we progress on this work – please reach out to Jason Landrum ([email protected]) and Emily Knight ([email protected]) if you would like to connect.