Mastercard and Conservation International partner to introduce Wildlife Impact Card

By Pavithra R

Mastercard and Conservation International has announced the launch of the Wildlife Impact Card program, which enables consumers to help protect wildlife habitats, including those that are home to many Critically Endangered species.

Across the world, habitat loss poses the greatest threat to wildlife. As more people increasingly express personal intent to help protect the environment and wildlife, the Wildlife Impact Card program offers consumers an opportunity to contribute to Conservation International’s efforts to conserve the habitats of many Critically Endangered species globally, including the Sunda Pangolin, African Forest Elephant, Peruvian Yellow-Tailed Woolly Monkey and the Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur.

“As a company committed to fostering a sustainable future for all, we believe an important aspect of that is to protect Critically Endangered species and the habitats in which they live. Through our strong partnership with Conservation International, one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, we’ve created a way to connect consumers to their passion for wildlife and the natural world, enabling them to contribute and make an impact,” said Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Mastercard.

The Wildlife Impact Card program is available to issuers globally. The first card offerings launch in the U.S. in partnership with Usio, with virtual prepaid cards available now that can be added to any mobile wallet. Mastercard plans to launch physical cards made from 100% recycled materials this summer. For each card purchased, $1 will be donated to Conservation International to help protect and restore wildlife habitats, including priority areas equal to 40 million hectares of landscape and 4.5 million square kilometers of seascape globally by 2030.

“Every extinction is a tragedy — for the species, for nature and for people. Wildlife are critical to securing benefits like cleaner water and more fertile soils. When we destroy animal habitats, we don’t just put these benefits at risk; we create entirely new challenges to our health and our ability to address climate change. Saving nature has always been about saving ourselves, which is why we are proud to partner with Mastercard to provide a simple way for consumers to take immediate action to help protect wildlife and their habitats,” said Dr. M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International.

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. The firm is committed to building a more inclusive digital economy that works for everyone. It is also making Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) central to its business model. The firm continues to leverage the full scale of its business, technology and network of partners and cardholders to create products and services that inspire action towards a more sustainable future.