Redefining Conservation

Join us for a tour through a few of the special places where our hardworking conservation experts have sprung into action in the first half of 2024 to conserve forests, farms and coastlines. We’re grateful to you, our supporters, who help make possible these opportunities to protect the land that sustains us.

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The Conservation Fund believes it is possible for communities bordering public lands to balance the need for economic growth with the desire to protect their natural ecosystems, landscapes and cultural heritage. Find out how we’re helping leaders from many gateway communities find positive outcomes across all these measures.

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For the past decade, The Conservation Fund has pioneered an effective and financially sustainable model to ensure at-risk forests are never broken apart or degraded, forever protecting their life-sustaining benefits.

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Amphibian species are declining at an alarming rate. Frogs, toads, salamanders and newts share an acute susceptibility to environmental threats and habitat destruction. Let’s take a look at a few of the amphibian species and habitats The Conservation Fund has helped protect.

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Unite with The Conservation Fund for Earth Day, April 22, and join nature lovers from all walks of life to rally for a brighter future for our planet.

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Since launching the Farms Fund program in metro Chicago in 2022, we’ve been thrilled with the magic that happens when an entrepreneurial farmer is provided with a secure land base to grow a thriving small business. Reviving and sustaining metro Chicago’s farms is critical infrastructure in the work to build the resilient and equitable systems needed to keep the metro area’s communities supplied with healthy and locally produced food.

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The Conservation Fund is thrilled to announce the launch of the Urban Conservation and Community Fellowship Program, developed to strengthen the core capacity of our nonprofit partners and support leadership development for a new generation of diverse urban conservation professionals focused on community-based action.

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The Conservation Fund works with partners and communities to identify and secure resources they need to safeguard the land, narratives and heritage of Black history sites. In Alabama, our work is centered around our Civil Rights People and Places program led by Phillip Howard. Phillip shares with us the amazing story of Arthur Shores — a Black attorney in Alabama who fought for racial justice despite adversity and attacks, and who is the subject ...

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Our Farms Fund is helping to provide nutrition with locally grown food and working toward an overall healthier environment by protecting farmland and supporting up-and-coming farmers in metro regions around the country. Our efforts are really starting to add up — we just surpassed 1,000 acres of farmland secured and helped connect our 15th farm business with land and resources.

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Conserving and maintaining working forests — and supporting the communities that depend on them — remains one of The Conservation Fund’s top priorities. We’re celebrating a hard-won victory in northern Wisconsin to secure the future of Pelican River Forest, an important working landscape that can now continue to provide economic, ecological and climate benefits for generations to come.

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As we pause to reflect on the successes and challenges of this year, we’re so grateful for our supporters and partners who make our work possible. Let’s take a closer look at what we were able to accomplish together.

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We look back with gratitude and pride at the accomplishments of three of our staff members who plan to retire at the end of 2023 and wish them the best in their next chapter.

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Giving Tuesday is a day to share and collaborate with the charities and causes important to us. With this spirit of giving, we ask you to join The Conservation Fund in protecting nature today with a gift that will go twice as far.

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The hard work of cultivating a brighter future for rural America takes many hands. Partners dedicated to this work in The Conservation Fund’s platform for Activating the Natural Resource Economy met recently in the Pennsylvania Wilds to share their strategies and tactics. Learn more about this rare opportunity in a field where isolating distances and small communities of practice are the norm.

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Each year on November 15, National Philanthropy Day celebrates our collective power to create positive change in the world through charitable work and giving. At The Conservation Fund we recognize this power today and every day, because our work to protect land and nature in all 50 states is only made possible by our many supporters. What most inspires our loyal donors to give to nature and The Conservation Fund? Let’s find out!

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The Conservation Fund’s Parks with Purpose Peer Exchange is a unique learning and networking event that brings together a variety of participants working on community-led projects designed to make their neighborhoods safer, greener and more equitable. We look back at the 2023 Peer Exchange that just wrapped up in Washington, DC to discover just what makes this event so special.

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Colorado College students recently had the opportunity to broaden their understanding of conservation practices and truly step into the work of The Conservation Fund. Their professor was our very own Paul Hurt, a Colorado College alumnus who brought decades of real-world experience and his many connections to teaching his course The Business of Conservation. Find out how this class wove together a broader, richer tapestry of what conservation can...

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Larry Selzer, President and CEO of The Conservation Fund, coauthored an op-ed with Ioneer Managing Director and CEO Bernard Rowe on how America can and must find mutually beneficial solutions to scale up both our nation’s clean energy capacity and our biodiversity and land protection efforts.

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Alaska's Eklutna River was once teeming with salmon able to swim freely from the sea to their spawning grounds in Eklutna Lake. A century of poorly planned dams and diversions have left it devoid of water and fish. Advocates for restoration efforts — like The Conservation Fund's Brad Meiklejohn — are still battling against resistance, but they aren't giving up the fight.

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Each spring the Delaware Bay region welcomes the return of some of the mightiest migrators on Earth, as thousands of shorebirds called red knots descend from the skies to refuel on their way to their Arctic breeding grounds. The Conservation Fund has worked for decades to protect key habitat in Delaware for these threatened shorebirds. What does the future hold for this species of high concern?

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Earth Day is just around the corner! While the Earth Day movement inspires local, national and global celebrations every April, we know that our supporters care about protecting nature every month of the year. In honor of Earth Day, we’re celebrating our shared commitment to conservation.

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Protecting vital wildlife corridors throughout Florida has never been more important or urgent. With the fastest growing population of any U.S. state in 2022 capping decades of steady growth, Florida’s natural resources are strained. It’s not just plants and animals relying on conservation for survival in the Sunshine State; Florida’s human residents, visitors and economy also rely on a healthy environment. Find out how we’re helping to propel th...

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Earlier this month, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that, with our current pace of carbon emissions, we are not on track to achieve the world’s most important climate goal — keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Under the Biden administration, the U.S. is racing to do its part by launching efforts to both halve the country's carbon emissions and protect biodiversity on 30% of its land by 2030.

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The Conservation Fund strives to include and amplify women’s voices in conservation — those of our staff, partners and community leaders. Today we recognize four women who are telling, as well as helping to shape, the stories of their tribal homelands, Black historical sites, the power of sustainably growing healthy food, and the benefits of protecting land across our country.

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Efforts to preserve the abundant natural, historical, and cultural resources in Alabama’s Black Belt are gaining momentum, as evidenced by the region’s recent designation as a National Heritage Area and other exciting developments.

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Apple and The Conservation Fund are teaming up to support Black and minority landowners and community groups across the South that are working to advance sustainable forestry, achieve racial justice and improve climate resilience in their communities.

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We are wrapping up one of The Conservation Fund’s most impactful years of change-making in our nearly four-decade history. See how, together with our supporters and partners, we're protecting America’s most critical natural and cultural resources for future generations.

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For three generations, the McMaster family owned, worked and lived on their ranch near Helena, Montana. Today, the McMaster Ranch is protected in perpetuity and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Conservation Fund’s relationship with the McMaster family began as a working partnership to preserve their ranch and legacy and evolved into a 20-year friendship that endures to this day.

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We’re nearing the finish line on the Pedro Bay Rivers project! This collaborative effort aims to secure conservation easements on over 44,000 acres of vital salmon habitat threatened by Pebble Mine and conserve three of the most significant watersheds in Bristol Bay, Alaska. We need your support by the end of 2022 to raise the final funds needed to finance this project. Now is your chance to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime conservation opp...

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Still stuffed from Thanksgiving? Overwhelmed by searching for that perfect gift? Today is a great day to spend some time outdoors and remember what inspires you about nature. That way you’ll be reenergized and ready to make a difference on Giving Tuesday. We’re honoring the 10th anniversary of the Giving Tuesday movement with a special opportunity for our online donors – find out more!

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Cheers to an amazing first two years! We recently had the pleasure of celebrating with the farmers, partners and supporters responsible for the success of our Working Farms Fund initiative. While we wish we could have invited everyone to join us for the delicious, locally sourced meal and farm tour, we invite you now to keep reading for a behind-the-scenes look at the event and an incredible new video featuring some of the evening’s attendees. Jo...

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To all our nation’s veterans, we thank you for your service. The Conservation Fund recently helped secure a conservation easement to permanently protect Patriot Point, a 294-acre retreat on Maryland’s Eastern Shore that provides a peaceful and secure environment for our nation’s wounded, ill and injured service members, and their families and caregivers, to heal and connect with one another.

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When infrastructure development for energy transmission and transportation impacts the natural habitats of endangered species, The Conservation Fund provides compensatory mitigation solutions with public agencies and private partners that achieve positive conservation outcomes for wildlife, including endangered bats.

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Cris Stainbrook, President of the Indian Land Tenure Foundation, recently published an essay in Native News Online sharing his thoughts on a new and gracious path forward for land restoration work that honors tribal sovereignty while incentivizing best practices in land conservation.

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The former Chattahoochee Brick Company site in Atlanta holds both environmental and historic importance, and we’re proud to have helped secure its protection. We could not accomplish this or any of our important conservation projects without working in partnership with organizations and passionate individuals. Meet an Atlanta native and community champion we partnered with to make this outcome a reality.

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Callie Easterly never imagined that she would be living on, managing and helping restore 12,376 acres of critical wetlands, coastal prairie and marshlands in Southeast Texas. But when The Conservation Fund bought the Sabine Ranch property for conservation and needed an onsite manager, Callie embarked on a new adventure that has brought her both intense joy and unexpected challenges. See for yourself why Callie has so much love for Sabine Ranch.

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California supports more people, wildlife species and diverse ecosystems than anywhere else in the country. Protecting its many unique places — from forests up north to deserts in the south — is critical in our fight against habitat loss and climate change. And with high development pressure, ravishing wildfires, food insecurity and more, conservation in California has never been more urgent.

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In June 2022, the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, in partnership with The Conservation Fund and the Indian Land Tenure Foundation, announced the purchase of 28,089 acres of land to be restored within the Bois Forte Reservation in Minnesota. This historic land restoration was a result of planning, partnerships, and effort of many dedicated individuals, including Cathy Chavers, Tribal Chairwoman of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and current President...

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The New York Times recently published an essay by Jason Metrokin, President and CEO of the Bristol Bay Native Corporation, which urges support for the permanent protection of Bristol Bay— a place defined by wild salmon — and how it is imperative that we guard it against the proposed Pebble Mine and other future threats.

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From urban trail systems to the most remote wilderness hikes, The Conservation Fund has helped establish, connect and extend trails, as well as protect viewsheds, for some of America’s best hiking experiences. As we celebrate American Hiking Society’s 30th Annual National Trails Day®, we encourage you to get out and explore a trail near you. Let’s get inspired by learning about some of the great trails the Fund has helped protect.

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The saying “there are always more fish in the sea” doesn’t ring true for one of America’s most critically at-risk species. Each year, populations of the endangered Central California Coast coho salmon remain low despite efforts to improve aquatic habitat. Less fish in the water means less fish in the “dating pool” which causes more inbreeding and genetic defects that further threaten populations. Something more needed to be done to help the coho ...

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Conserving and maintaining working forests—and ultimately supporting the communities that depend on them—remains one of our top conservation priorities. It is especially important in Wisconsin, where more than 40 percent of the state is covered in forestland. Let’s visit three Wisconsin forests that we helped protect!

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Land protection requires perseverance, flexibility and, most importantly, funding in hand to buy land. Will Allen, Senior Vice President of The Conservation Fund, explains how the Great American Outdoors Act doubled the amount of capital for conservation it has also increased the need for more funding to ensure the protection of our nation’s at-risk lands.

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While some of our conservation efforts protect vast forests and endangered species, others preserve history and stories of culturally significant places. Together with our partners Preservation Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna National Heritage Area, The Conservation Fund is working on a project that combines preservation of the past with development of the future to honor the history of the Mifflin House—an important station on the Underground R...

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Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the union, but buying farmland here comes with the biggest price tag in the country. This high cost makes it nearly impossible for smaller farming operations, particularly new farmers and those of color and lower economic means, to buy land. For more than 40 years, Southside Community Land Trust has been working hard to change this dynamic in communities across Rhode Island, and recently, with help from T...

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Every year Earth Day reminds us that nature provides life-sustaining sources of nourishment, energy and shelter, and we must each do our part to take care of the planet. Today the intensifying impacts of climate change demand that we pay closer attention and take action to tackle the challenges facing our environment more than just one day a year.

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We are lucky to live on this beautiful blue and green planet where nature provides clean drinking water, inspiring landscapes, healthy foods, wildlife habitat for countless species and even the air we breathe. The list of incredible benefits provided by nature goes on and on. But today, we are facing some of the biggest environmental threats of our time—from climate change, habitat loss, poor land use practices and much more—all of which threaten...

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Yet, every year America loses nearly a million acres of forest to conversion. Once these forests are gone, no amount of tree planting will make up for the loss of the natural carbon-removing capabilities that are urgently required right now to meet international climate goals.

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About half of our loans have expanded recreational outcomes for the public, with a particular focus on advancing access to parks, trails, and open space in urban areas. One example of this was our partnership with Amigos de los Rios in Los Angeles. Several years ago, we began providing financing to the nonprofit as they worked to develop a 17-mile loop of parks and greenways connecting 10 cities and nearly 500,000 residents along the Río Hondo...

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As the saying goes, "Here’s to strong women. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.” We’d like to introduce you to six women forging change via conservation, farming, and communication in their communities and beyond. These women demonstrate what is possible when we follow our passion and commitment to making our world a better place.

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The families of David Hall, Rosie Steele, and Robert Gardner have never discussed the contributions their loved ones made to the 1965 Voting Rights March from Selma to Montgomery—until now. The new documentary “54 Miles to Home” is an intimate portrait of these three extraordinary individuals and their families who remain the owners and stewards of these sacred spaces along the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. Find out about the effor...

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Black History Month is a time to celebrate not only the past heroes who helped shape our country, but also to honor the people who are making a difference today in communities across the United States. We’re sharing the stories of four people who truly inspire us and who are making their own mark on history.

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Sixty years have passed since the Freedom Riders bravely took a stand against segregation and discrimination in the United States, and we are still learning from their example today. Their legacy is honored at the Freedom Riders National Monument in Anniston, Alabama, which was established in 2017 to preserve the sites of the attacks against the Freedom Riders and tell the stories of this important movement. How are things going five years later?...

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Over the last 15 years, U-Haul has partnered with The Conservation Fund to offer its customers the opportunity to support conservation outcomes for wildlife, climate and communities across the U.S. Millions of people have chosen to give back, resulting in more than $9.2 million raised by U-Haul and its customers to plant trees, create parks and support local economies.

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Few states have done more to conserve land than California. In the last 20 years alone, California voters have approved more than $20 billion to fund land conservation, which private and public partners have used to protect more than 1.5 million acres of land throughout the state. During that same period, The Conservation Fund, working with local, state and federal partners, has protected more than 200,000 acres in California. This important work...

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If you’re eating wild sockeye salmon, there’s roughly a 50% chance it was caught in Alaska’s Bristol Bay, the largest and most productive salmon fishery in the world. It’s here in the Bristol Bay watershed that many groups have been working tirelessly to steward traditional cultural resources and protect one of the most important fish and wildlife habitats in the world from the threat of a major mining project that could damage the integrity of t...

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It takes a special place to attract over 15 years of dedicated efforts from conservationists, biologists and the community to make sure it remains protected. Mispillion Harbor on the shores of the Delaware Bay did just that. But what makes this one-mile shoreline so meaningful for people and wildlife?

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When a 1,700-acre ranch with towering oak trees, a 30-acre lake and incredible views of the Pacific Ocean went up for sale, The Conservation Fund moved quickly to protect this California property and a family’s ranching legacy before it was lost to development.

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Urgent issues like climate change and food access need fast, innovative solutions. From protecting large, intact forests that store carbon and remove CO2 from the atmosphere, to supporting local farmers and food hubs that improve our supply and accessibility—we’ve had an exciting year of change-making. See for yourself some of our top 2021 conservation wins you surely don’t want to miss.

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While there are many diverse reasons why people support The Conservation Fund, there is one common thread: our donors care deeply about nature. Why people donate can be personal and sometimes complex, but we make the process of how to donate simple by offering several ways to make your tax-deductible charitable gift. No matter why or how you give to The Conservation Fund, we want to thank you for your support. We simply could not do this without ...

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Over a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic we are still seeing a significant lack of reliable and healthy food in rural communities. We’ve also seen the incredible results that happens when communities are given the necessary resources to implement their own solutions to food insecurity. Rapid relief funding programs have been an essential tool, but there are opportunities to do more. We must continue to invest in grassroots organizations—...

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The recent protection of the last remaining farmland in downtown Boulder, Colorado—a unique farm within a city—is the result of the Long family’s steadfast commitment to see their land conserved instead of developed.

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Bats play an important role in the ecosystem, environment and economy by devouring insects and pollinating plants while most of us sleep. We’re celebrating Bat Week 2021 with a look at three of our projects that have conserved habitat for these unique flying mammals.

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Volkswagen of America partnered with The Conservation Fund to identify and award five nonprofit organizations near their Chattanooga plant in Eastern Tennessee up to $50,000 each to enhance the community and address environmental priorities.

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Just a few miles north of Tucson, Arizona sits the town of Oro Valley, nestled between the Catalina and Tortolita mountain ranges within the Sonoran Desert. The sunny climate makes Oro Valley a great place to enjoy many outdoor activities, including biking, hiking, tennis and golf. With the help of many dedicated Oro Valley residents, The Conservation Fund acquired and preserved 202 acres of open space to enhance the area’s natural, cultural and ...

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We are so proud of Buck Vaughan, The Conservation Fund’s Director of Forestry, who was honored as North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s 2021 Forest Conservationist of the Year. Described as “a farmer by birth, a forester by training, and a conservation leader who stitches together a deep love for the land with a practical application of science,” we invite you to learn more about him and this prestigious award.

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Northeastern Tennessee boasts beautiful, remote and ecologically important natural landscapes. It’s here we purchased over 14,700 acres of forests, gorges, cliffs, waterfalls and caves in 2017 and have been working with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) to protect it since. Called Skinner Mountain Forest, this area provides critical habitat for animals and plants and upwards of 100 forestry-related jobs. Very few people know this are...

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When you think about our country’s most important rivers, which come to mind? The Mississippi? Colorado? Rio Grande? Well, how about the Perdido River? This critical ecological resource, while lesser known, has an optimal environment for native species and direct connection to the greater Gulf of Mexico. Dividing Florida and Alabama, the Perdido River’s watershed supports water quality and flood prevention in both states AND has been designated w...

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When you think of marshlands, you may not think about Texas. But the Lone Star State is as deep as it is wide. Past the canyons and deserts and brushlands, about two hours east of Houston and not far from the Louisiana border, sits one of the most ecologically important pieces of land in the entire state. Not only is the area flush with over 400 species of migratory birds, it's also essential to helping Texas weather the brunt of catastrophic rai...

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Climate change is—without question—the greatest global threat of our time. Findings from many studies, including the August 2021 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, emphasize that we are running out of time. In a recent op-ed published in The Hill, our CEO Larry Selzer urges collaboration and investment in large-scale forest conservation to combat climate change NOW.

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Earlier this year the Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill captivated a global audience around the idea of a free food forest built to address food access and health issues for residents in the community. Sitting just a few miles south of Atlanta’s city center, the Browns Mill community has historically struggled to get access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The food forest now provides many of those residents with fresh healthy food, greenspace, and...

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Although they’ve been on the endangered species list for decades, grizzly bears have always found refuge on Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front—a pristine landscape made up of mostly private ranchlands. Today, these ranchers and their woolly tenants aim to successfully co-exist.

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The Conservation Fund’s annual report highlights our work at its best—innovative, solution-oriented and committed to addressing America’s most pressing conservation challenges. In 2020, we delivered on our commitment to create a better and more sustainable future for all Americans despite formidable challenges.

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During the month of June, celebrations of LGBTQ+ Pride fill cities and towns across the country. Beyond the rainbow flags and festivities, it is important to recognize the history of how and why Pride month exists. We are sharing this history and spotlighting organizations working to ensure nature is an equitable, welcoming place for all because we too share that hope.

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Recently designated one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, three campsites in Alabama not only tell the story of those who made the dangerous march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965, but of those who took great risk to provide the marchers with shelter and safety.

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As part of our partnership with Volkswagen of America to award selected Tennessee nonprofit organizations with grants to enhance community and environmental goals, we also unveiled a unique mural in downtown Chattanooga by artist Steffi Lynn. The expansive artwork proudly borrows from the Tennessee landscape and serves as a reminder to care for the environment by proudly proclaiming “Change Starts in Your Own Backyard.” We sat down with Steffi to...

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Minidoka National Historic Site in Idaho protects the history and land where over 13,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly incarcerated during World War II. Minidoka’s story of racial prejudice and civil rights violations presents many relevant lessons for our current moment in history. Learn more from Kurt Ikeda, acting Chief of Interpretation and Education at Minidoka, who has both personal and professional connections to this tragic legacy that...

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As a follow up to the Executive Order to commit to conserving at least 30% of our lands and waters by the year 2030, the Biden Administration released the preliminary report of the National Climate Task Force entitled “Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful,” which recommends a ten-year campaign to conserve and restore lands in the U.S. Will Allen, a Senior Vice President of The Conservation Fund, discusses how this campaign shapes the na...

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If you’ve ever been to the Great Smoky Mountains, you’ve probably driven on Interstate 40, which bisects the Pigeon River Gorge in North Carolina and Tennessee. Something you may not have thought about on this drive, is that wildlife also needs this corridor to live. Unfortunately, this busy interstate has seen a 43% increase in traffic since 2005, which has led to more animals being hit and killed by vehicles. The Smokies Safe Passage initiative...

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Something important happened in 1973. Yes, Secretariat won the Triple Crown, and the Endangered Species Act was signed into law. The Sting, starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, was released to great acclaim, and in what clearly was one of the most profound actions of the year, Martin Cooper of Motorola placed the first public cell phone call to a rival engineer at Bell Labs. But something else happened in 1973 that also was profound, and that...

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As we look forward to celebrating Earth Day later this month, we also want to celebrate the donors that help make our work possible. We couldn’t do this work without them! Hear about what motivates our supporters to give to The Conservation Fund on Earth Day and all year long.

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Fort Blakeley in Alabama is the most important Civil War story you’ve likely never heard. Due to the land’s historical and ecological value, a significant portion of the battlefield—where U.S. Colored Troops resoundingly defeated Confederate forces in April 1865—was permanently protected in 2020. Learn more about the incredible history and ecological importance of this site and how we protected it.

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Technology will play a critical role in the fight against climate change, but that’s not enough. In this recent article featured on Our Daily Planet, our CEO and President Larry Selzer shares his thoughts about how we must shift our traditional understanding of “technology” to include both promising manmade solutions AND naturally existing solutions like forests to remove harmful carbon from the atmosphere.

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The Conservation Fund’s Resourceful Communities program has long worked with unsung heroes in rural areas working to sustainably redevelop their communities. The incredibly creative and impactful work of these grassroots groups is carried out every single day to address the social justice, economic and environmental needs in their communities­—just because it’s the right thing to do.

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We are excited to celebrate the amazing work of women who are helping protect our planet each and every day. From fighting fires and climate change, to ensuring the outdoors is a more inclusive space for all—these women are making conservation history across America. Each of these women were nominated by members of our own staff because they were inspired by them. We know their stories are sure to inspire you.

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Since 2017, The Conservation Fund has partnered with the Minnesota National Guard at Camp Ripley to keep forested wildlife habitat intact and prevent development within three miles of the military facility’s border. That distance acts as a key buffer for numerous species of wildlife—including a significant population of golden eagles. The National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN has tracked the migratory patterns of those eagles throughout the northe...

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America’s farmers are some of the greatest stewards of the land we have. They live on the land, they’re livelihood depends upon it, and caring for and sustaining it long-term is in their best personal and economic interest. And while farmers haven’t always liked the term “conservation,” there are many creative ways that agriculture and environmentalism can work hand in hand to ensure a more sustainable farming future.

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In celebration of Black History Month, we recognize the achievements of African Americans and their contributions to our nation, as well as their ongoing struggle for freedom and equality. In our third post in the series African Americans in Conservation, we invite you to learn more about some of the properties, parks, and places with ties to African American history that we have helped protect.

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With the recent Executive Order from the Biden Administration to commit to conserving at least 30% of our lands and waters by the year 2030, what does that really mean in the context of land conservation over the next decade? Will Allen, Senior Vice President of The Conservation Fund, discusses the potential implications of this 30x30 initiative and how best to think about its aspirations.

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The saying “there are always more fish in the sea” doesn’t ring true for one of America’s most critically at-risk species. Each year, populations of the endangered Central California Coast coho salmon remain low despite efforts to improve aquatic habitat. Less fish in the water means less fish in the “dating pool” which causes more inbreeding and genetic defects that further threaten populations. Something more needed to be done to help the coho ...

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Each February as we celebrate Black History Month, we recognize the achievements of African Americans and their contributions to our nation, as well as their ongoing struggle for freedom and equality. There are many African Americans, both past and present, who have contributed to preserving the landscape, history, and stories of this nation. This is the first post in our series African Americans in Conservation, in which we highlight young Afric...

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In celebration of Black History Month, we recognize the achievements of African Americans and their contributions to our nation, as well as their ongoing struggle for freedom and equality. There are many African Americans, both past and present, who have contributed to preserving the landscape, history, and stories of this nation. In our second post of the series African Americans in Conservation, we look to our past to inspire a better future by...

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The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...

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The Eklutna River was once a prolific salmon-producing river that provided a rich subsistence resource to the Eklutna Dena'ina people. When a major dam was installed in the river, everything changed. For five years, The Conservation Fund and our partners have worked to remove the dam and restore the salmon population. A new film details how.

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This year has been filled with unprecedented challenges, but exciting conservation still happened across America. Check out some of our efforts that supported wildlife, recreation, and economies while helping to fight climate change throughout the year. In a year where nature and the outdoors have been sought out and appreciated more than ever, we are excited to share some of our top conservation wins from coast to coast.

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In 1975, an unsuspecting partnership was formed; one that would go on to protect a million acres of land across the American West. This is the story of how a friendship, marriage and passion for the outdoors would define the landscape of Colorado.

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The Conservation Fund’s 2019 Charles Jordan Intern sought to tackle a highly important yet unfortunately overlooked aspect of America’s history: the documentation and preservation of African American and Indigenous burial sites. The Fund is proud of all Da-Mosi M. Brown-Gorham has accomplished to date, and we look forward to following his work as a historic cemetery preservationist.

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As the number of working farmers declines in America, some new growers are entering the field—bringing hope, energy and a fresh mindset to the business. Many young and beginning farmers do not come from farming families but are looking for a way to experience what they feel is too frequently overlooked in the modern age: a connection to nature, stewardship of the land and sustainability.

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National Hunting and Fishing Day, celebrated annually since 1972 on the fourth Saturday of September, promotes outdoor sports and celebrates the contributions of hunters and anglers as supporters of conservation and scientific wildlife management. In recognition of National Hunting and Fishing day, we bring you this post from the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP), originally published here. TRCP’s mission is to guarantee all Amer...

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What do Minnesota cattle ranchers, Ann Arbor salad greens growers, and Wisconsin dairy farmers have in common? They’ve partnered with The Conservation Fund’s Midwest team to permanently protect productive agricultural lands and facilitate farmland access for the next generation of farmers. Find out how conservation easements are helping the next generation of farmers gain access to the lands they need and will call home.

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Best known as a conductor of the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman was also a Civil War army scout and spy, a political activist and suffragist. Much of her brave life and acts unfolded in Dorchester County, Maryland. The Conservation Fund has done extensive work in and around the Chesapeake Bay, including protecting over 115,000 acres in Dorchester County. In 2018, the State of Maryland asked the Fund to establish and sponsor the Harriet Tubm...

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Emily Korest was The Conservation Fund’s 2018 Charles Jordan intern. She revisited some of the Fund’s most interesting projects—all of which have helped shape the organization—to capture their stories and find out “where are they now?” In this third post of her series, she tells the story of The Conservation Fund’s partnership with McIntosh SEED to create a community forest benefiting low-income community members and people of color in Georgia.

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Emily Korest was The Conservation Fund's 2018 Charles Jordan Memorial summer intern. She was intrigued to learn more about her internship's namesake, and through research and interviews gathered wrote the following piece about Mr. Jordan—a board member of The Conservation Fund for 20 years and its chairman from 2003-2008.

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Hannah Palmer is an urban designer and author who lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Her first book, Flight Path: A Search for Roots beneath the World's Busiest Airport, explores the story of the expansion of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and the fate of homes, communities, and the surrounding environment that have been impacted by its growth. She is working closely with The Conservation Fund and other partners on efforts to restore ...

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Sally Manikian is our Vermont and New Hampshire Representative. A New Hampshire native, Sally lives in service to the mountains, forests and communities of the Northern Forest. When she’s not working, she can be found on trails with her racing sled dog team, Shady Pines Sled Dogs. Happiest when she’s in the mountains and forests, Sally shares how she has translated that enjoyment into a life and career focused on ensuring and utilizing public acc...

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In her role as Minnesota Associate for Conservation Acquisition, Emilee works to develop unique grassland and wetland protection strategies with conservation teams in western Minnesota. She grew up hunting with her family in Minnesota, and continues to participate in this family tradition. Find out why she credits hunting for instilling in her the strong values of respecting and protecting our natural world, and how it led her to choose a career ...

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Larry Selzer is President and CEO of The Conservation Fund. Appointed in 2001, he has led the Fund through significant growth while advancing its environmental and economic goals.

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