Our Approach: CENTEr HUMANITY
We center humanity in the fight to protect our home
At Conservation X Labs, it is our deeply held belief that humanity is at the heart of everything we do as conservationists. Alex Dehgan’s history of advocacy in the Middle East - and specifically his conservation efforts in Afghanistan - resulted in a successful humanitarian effort in service of the region’s most dedicated conservationists. Here, we share their story.
Credit: Beth Wald
The Inspiration
Core to the history of Conservation X Labs is the time our founder, Alex Dehgan, spent in the Middle East, and specifically in Afghanistan. Prior to his work at Conservation X Labs, Alex held multiple high level positions in foreign policy, including at the US Agency for International Development, the Department of State, with the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. His efforts focused on using science to support bilateral diplomacy, including Arab-Israeli relations and engagement with Iran. Alex was also the founding country director of the Wildlife Conservation Society Afghanistan Program and helped create Afghanistan’s first National Park, and set up the system for other protected areas. This work was done with another Conservation X Labs scientist, Tanya Rosen, who now leads our Central Asia Work.
The Conflict
When the country was taken back by the Taliban in 2021, these environmentalists and their families — including some of the first-ever Afghanistan National Park rangers, the first female border guides, the first mountain guides and many collaborators of the Afghan National Environmental Protection Agency — were thrust into grave danger as the Taliban began to retaliate against those who worked in collaboration with international and US-based organizations.
The Impact
Since that time, Conservation X Labs has undertaken and succeeded in creating a program - Afghan Environmental Defenders - that has been evacuating and supporting the Afghan men, women and children who have dedicated their lives to the environmental stewardship of their country.
Through the work of Conservation X Labs staff, partnered with conservationists around the world, we were able to bring 7 of these families to the U.S. to create new opportunities for them so that they can continue their work in conservation.
