2022 is a landmark year for BirdLife and conservation. One hundred years ago, in 1922, a group of visionary conservationists concerned about the plight of the world’s birds and wider biodiversity came together to found one of the world’s first international conservation organisations – the International Committee for Bird Protection (ICBP). This network has steadily grown over the last century, evolving into BirdLife International – a global Partnership of 119 national conservation organisations. Through its 100-year history, BirdLife has been at the forefront of conservation science and action. Our world-leading conservation science has helped to identify the bird species at greatestrisk of extinction, the most important sites for their conservation, the most urgent threats to address and the actions required to tackle them. This science informs successful conservation action on the ground and underpins our policy and advocacy, which has influenced global, regional and national conservation agendas. Birds, as the canary in the coalmine, have helped us ensure this conservation action not only benefits birds, but thousands of other species and ecosystems that enable life to thrive.