Our comprehensive guide to the latest updates from the Disney Conservation Fund and the sustainability of the Walt Disney Company as a whole. 

Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has directed over $125 million to organizations to help save wildlife and protect the planet. This is particularly evident at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a park with an ethos directed at conservation and saving wildlife. The Disney Conservation team leads “best-in-class scientific programs to conserve wildlife in Disney’s backyard and beyond.” We’ll be sharing the latest updates from their incredible work, as well as the sustainability work that The Walt Disney Company continues to do as a whole.

What is the Disney Conservation Fund?

First established on Earth Day in 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund was created with the intention of helping to protect wildlife and connecting people with nature. With support from Disney guests and funding from the Walt Disney Company, the DCF provides financial assistance for programs that help to save wildlife, protect the planet, and inspire action.

The Disney Conservation Fund grants to both local and global nonprofit organizations. Through the expertise of Disney Conservation Cast Members, the organization helps to drive both scientific research and on-the-ground action. They help to protect endangered species, restore habitats, and empower the next generation of conservation leaders.

Since 1995, the DCF has invested $132 million in wildlife and nature conservation across half the countries in the world and all five oceans. They’ve helped protect over 1,000 species, and over 315 million acres globally. Through their grants, they’ve supported over 600 organizations as well.

The Latest Updates from the Disney Conservation Fund

Curious about what the Disney Conservation Fund is up to? We’re sharing the latest updates on what is happening with Disney conservation and the sustainability efforts of the Walt Disney Company as a whole.

Disney Conservation Fund Awards $1 Million to Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation

In June 2025, the Disney Conservation Fund announced a $1 million award to the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to conserving Florida’s natural landscapes “by promoting the permanent connection, protection and restoration of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.” The donation was announced at the Corridor Connect Summit at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.

Importance of the Florida Wildlife Corridor

The Florida Wildlife Corridor, as a network of connected natural lands and waters, offers a “lifeline” for endangered species and wildlife like the Florida panther, black bear, and manatee. Walt Disney World plays a key role, acting as a “crossroads” that connects east and west animal migration patterns, offering a safer place for wildlife to move and thrive in the wild. These corridors are critical for species survival, as well as the state’s environmental health.

The Disney Conservation Fund continues its 30-year commitment to conservation today by awarding $1 million to the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving Florida’s natural landscapes by promoting the permanent connection, protection, and restoration of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

“Nature is essential to our health and happiness, and here in Florida, we are tremendously fortunate to have such a rich diversity of awe-inspiring landscapes to enjoy,” said Yalmaz Siddiqui, Vice President, Environmental Sustainability at The Walt Disney Company. “That’s why we are excited to grow our collaboration with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, to carry forward a shared commitment to preserving our natural heritage and sharing the magic of wildlife and wild places for generations to come.”

The donation from Disney will fund conservation efforts by training and coordinating local collaborators to protect key areas of the Corridor. The donation will also fund the expansion of access to these spaces, especially where access is limited in communities.

“Disney’s continued and growing commitment to conservation in their own backyard is both inspiring and impactful,” said Mallory Dimmitt, CEO, Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. “We’re grateful for Disney’s support of the Corridor Connect Summit and their significant grant, which will empower partners to expand access to trails within the Corridor and accelerate conservation in its most vulnerable areas.”

Disney Conservation Fund Celebrates 30th Anniversary

In 2025, the Disney Conservation Fund is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Since its inception in 1995, the organization has directed more than $132 million to community conservation programs to support organizations working with communities to protect wildlife, inspire action, and promote environmental resilience.

“Through DCF grants to local and global nonprofit organizations and the expertise of Disney Conservation cast members driving both scientific research and on-the-ground action, Disney helps protect endangered species, restore habitats, empower the next generation of conservation leaders, and address environmental challenges worldwide,” said Claire Martin, Senior Manager of Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental Sustainability at The Walt Disney Company.

Tour de Turtles 2024 at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort

Tour de Turtles returned for its 17th year at Disney’s Vero Beach. Disney Conservation Team has recorded 22,000 sea turtle nests since the beginning of this program, helping an estimated 1.8 million sea turtle hatchlings get to sea on the 5-mile stretch of beach at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort.

Photo by Olga Thompson

On July 27, 2024, two nesting sea turtles (named Ebb and Flo) will receive tracking devices at Vero Beach in collaboration with the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC). Scientists will then follow their journey to learn more about their behaviors and apply it to how Disney contributes to sea turtle conservation. In total, nearly 20,000 hours have been spent surveying the resort’s stretch of beach, including a statewide network committed to species protection.

How Disney’s Glass Pulverizer is Helping Plant Life

In 2022, Walt Disney World installed a glass pulverizer that helps to return recycled glass into a sand-like material. Currently, that pulverized glass is being reused across Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, including on the horse trails. And the pulverizer pilot program has continued to expand.

Photo Courtesy of Disney

Currently, recycled glass from select locations in EPCOT is being brought to the pulverizer at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, where pulverized glass is being used as a substitute for coquina material in the greenhouses. The material is spread across greenhouse floors and acts as a pass-through for multiple daily waterings, helping the ecoystem to flourish. It’s an exciting way to know that the glass you recycle in Disney World lives on in a variety of ways!

Florida Coral Rescue Center Marks Four Years of Work

Miles away from Walt Disney World, Disney has been working on a project over on Florida’s coast. Over the past four years, a team of Disney aquatic wildlife experts has been working with other conservationists to help save Florida’s coral reefs from the spread of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), which has put 22 coral species at risk of extinction.

Photo Courtesy of Disney

The Orlando-based Florida Coral Rescue Center is a state-of-the-art facility that cares for corals that are most at risk of this disease. The Florida Coral Rescue Center corals will play a part in future restoration plans for Florida’s coral reef, which scientists say has become a widespread issue due to SCTLD. The Center’s breeding program focuses on creating genetic diversity of offspring and providing baby corals to the reefs. Disney is one of the accredited groups helping lead the charge and fund the facility in coral conservation alongside the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Since opening in 2020, the FCRC has helped provide a safe and stable environment for over 500 coral colonies.