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Economic Development

The Conservation Fund's balanced approach to land conservation and economic development includes creating new economies through ecotourism, providing critical financing for small businesses in rural areas, and demonstrating the economic benefits of sustainable forestry.

Ecotourism

In projects in Texas and North Carolina, The Conservation Fund is working with local communities to create new economies through ecotourism.  Read more>

Resourceful Communities Program

Established in 1991, The Conservation Fund's Resourceful Communities Program blends innovative techniques to help North Carolina's underserved communities create new economies that protect and restore, rather than extract, natural resources.   Read more>

Small Business Financing

Rural entrepreneurs in West Virginia and across Appalachia are turning to the Natural Capital Investment Fund (NCIF), a nonprofit affiliate of The Conservation Fund, to capitalize on a new funding source and improve their productivity.  Read more>

Sustainable Forestry

With millions of acres of forestland trading hands in the last year and 20 million acres slated for sale by 2030, many of the nation’s resource-based communities are at a crossroads. The Fund is demonstrating that sustainable forestry can be used as an effective tool to protect water, wildlife and jobs.   Read more>
Spotlight - NCIF Expands

WV Whitewater Rafting

The Natural Capital Investment Fund, which provides debt and equity financing for small and emerging natural resource businesses, is expanding its operations from West Virginia into Virginia and North Carolina. To date, the program has helped finance 17 businesses in West Virginia in the specialty foods, sustainable tourism, forest products and manufacturing sectors. Read more>

How the Fund Can Help You

From government agencies to corporations, from private landowners to land trusts and local communities, the Fund's partners seek our expertise to:

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