Featured Projects

Our Strategic Conservation work includes planning for green infrastructure, mitigation, optimized land acquisition, and more. Here are just some of our recent projects:

• Greening Houston-Galveston

  

  Greater Houston is America’s sixth-largest metroplex—and growing. In less than 30 years, the Houston-Galveston area is expected to gain 3.5 million people, bringing the area population to nearly 10 million. Now is the time for officials, planners, builders and other… Read More

• Using Strategic Conservation To Address Pipeline Impacts

  

  NiSource Inc. (NiSource), a Fortune 500 natural gas transmission and storage company, operates a 15,500 linear mile network of natural gas pipelines through 14 states. These pipelines extend from the Gulf of Mexico to New York and from the Atlantic… Read More

• Open Space Plan For Nashville

  

  Like many American cities, fast-growing Nashville needs green strategy. Obesity-related conditions cost area residents an estimated $255 million annually. There are too few places for people to easily access the outdoors, with only about 3% of Davidson County in metro… Read More

• Baltimore Co., Doing More With Less

  

  With one of the nation’s most established farmland preservation efforts, Baltimore County in 2006 reached a major milestone: preserving 40,000 acres of farmland, half its overall goal. But how would the County accomplish the rest, with limited funds? The Baltimore County… Read More

• Striking A Balance In Nevada

  

  The Nevada Land Conservancy asked us to help think strategically about western Nevada, the Sierra Front range and areas along border states of California and Oregon—a vast expanse covering 30 million acres. We’re producing a series of planning tools to help… Read More

• Maryland Moves Forward: Route 301

  

  The Maryland State Highway Administration turned to us to identify and evaluate conservation and restoration opportunities in the vicinity of the US 301 Waldorf Transportation Improvements Project in Maryland’s Charles and Prince George’s counties. Our Conservation Leadership Network and strategic conservation… Read More

• Deep In The Heart Of Texas

  

  Lufkin–Angelina County is part of the colorful east Texas Pineywoods. In 2008, we completed a green infrastructure plan to help the region protect the best of its natural assets and encourage economic development. We convened a leadership forum of 50… Read More

• Assessing Houston Parks

  

  The Houston Parks Board and its funding partner, the Houston Endowment, have committed to being strategic with parkland acquisition, so that conservation protects environmentally significant areas while adhering to master plans. With land costs high and minimal vacant land that’s… Read More

• Greening The Crossroads: Central Indiana

  

  Good green infrastructure planning can have a major impact on the quality of life for residents of a region.  In 2010, the Fund designed a green infrastructure network that highlights more than 300,000 acres of high-quality land in need of… Read More

• Assessing Central Delaware

  

  Confronting haphazard sprawl, Delaware state leaders turned to us in 2006 to assess the green infrastructure resources in Kent County. We convened a forum of public and private leaders to better understand conservation priorities and conducted original research to evaluate… Read More

• Assessing Atlanta

  

  If parks are the green heart of a city, Atlanta is undergoing some much needed care. With funding from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the Fund conducted an assessment of open space protection opportunities. The results showed that Atlanta has… Read More

• Assessing Kona, Hawaii

  

  The Kona, Hawaii, Community Development Plan provides a strategic framework for guiding future land development and conservation decisions in North and South Kona. We prepared a green infrastructure report as part of this landmark plan, which was recognized by the… Read More

• Planning For Cecil County, MD

  

  Along Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Cecil County is primarily rural but also smack in the middle of a major metropolitan traffic corridor.  In 2006, we completed a green infrastructure plan identifying and offering guidance on the essential green infrastructure needed to… Read More