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States

Alabama

Over 3,515 acres have been preserved in partnership with the Forest Service. 2,495 acres have been protected through the Conservation Loans program.

States

Alaska

Over 57 projects have been completed in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Over 12,480 acres have been protected to benefit waterways and wetlands.

States

Arizona

Over 85,420 acres have been protected in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management. Over 960,000 acres have been protected to benefit Parks and Parklands.

States

Arkansas

Over 4,000 acres have been protected to benefit wildlife in Arkansas. TCF has partnered with the Fish and Wildlife Service to protect 1,537+/- acres.

States

California

Over 164,365 acres have been protected to benefit forestlands. The Conservation Fund has leveraged over $8,780,000 in loans to protect land and promote environmental issues in California through the Conservation Loans program.

States

Colorado

34 projects have conserved 84,000 acres of working ranches, river corridors, and outdoor recreation areas through our partnership with Great Outdoors Colorado. A focus on rivers has protected over 85,000 acres within the Colorado, San Juan, Navajo, Gunnison, Arkansas, Rio Grande and South Platte watersheds.

States

Connecticut

More than 770 acres have been protected though the Conservation Loans program. Over 660 acres have been protected to preserve Open Space.

States

Delaware

In excess of 1,105 acres have been protected in partnership with the National Park Service. More than 15,200 acres have been protected to benefit Forestland.

States

District of Columbia

3 acres have been protected to benefit and preserve Historic and Cultural Places.

States

Florida

More than 700 acres have been protected in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Over 99,575 acres have been protected to benefit Water and Waterways.

States

Georgia

Over 20,040 acres have been preserved in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. More than 101,800 acres have been protected to benefit Forestlands.

States

Hawaii

More than 4,160 acres have been preserved for public use in partnership with the National Park Service. Over 4,100 acres have been protected to benefit Parks.

States

Idaho

In excess of 14,325 acres have been protected in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management. Over 4,530 acres have been protected though the Conservation Loans program.

States

Illinois

Over 19,390 acres have been preserved in partnership with the United States Forest Service. The Fund has leveraged over $5,342,000 in loans to protect land in Illinois through the Conservation Loans program. Capital made available through Mitigation Solutions partnerships: $5,628,703 Acres Protected/Restored through Mitigation Solutions partnerships: 2,538

States

Indiana

More than 3,035 acres have been protected in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Over 2,600 acres have been protected to benefit Wildlife.

States

Iowa

300 acres have been protected though the Land Conservation Loan Program. More than 2,800 acres have been protected to benefit Forestlands.

States

Kansas

More than 1,250 acres have been protected to benefit Wildlife.

States

Kentucky

In excess of 1,000 acres have been protected in partnership with the United States Forest Service. More than 35,000 acres have been preserved to benefit Wildlife.

States

Louisiana

More than 83,880 acres have been preserved in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. More than 203,350 acres have been preserved to benefit Wildlife.

States

Maine

Over 4,754 acres have been protected in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. More than 407, 727 acres have been protected to benefit Forestlands.

States

Maryland

More than 8,750 acres have been preserved in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Over 11,100 acres have been protected to benefit Farmlands.

States

Massachusetts

Over $25,480,000 has been leveraged in loans to protect land through the Conservation Loans program. More than 6,100 acres have been protected to preserve Open Space.

States

Michigan

Over 1,150 acres have been preserved in partnership with the United States Forest Service. More than 7,700 acres have been protected though the Conservation Loans program.

States

Minnesota

In partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service, over 2,585 acres have been protected in Minnesota. More than 198,000 acres have been protected to benefit Forestlands.

States

Mississippi

More than 2,830 acres have been preserved in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Over 1,675 acres have been protected to benefit and preserve Historic Places.

States

Missouri

Over 2,495 acres have been protected in partnership with the United States Forest Service. More than 4,900 acres have been protected to benefit Parks.

States

Montana

Over $2,575,000 has been leveraged in loans to protect land through the Conservation Loans program. More than 124,360 acres have been protected in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service.

States

Nebraska

Over 2,300 acres have been protected in partnership with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. More than 3,975 acres have been protected to benefit Water and Waterways.

States

Nevada

Acreage in excess of 744,300 have been protected in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management. More than 737,800 acres have been protected to benefit ranch land.

States

New Hampshire

Over 6,000 acres have been preserved in partnership with the National Park Service. More than 1,225 acres have been protected though the Conservation Loans program.

States

New Jersey

Over 515 acres have been protected in partnership with the National Park Service. More than 2,200 acres have been protected to benefit Wildlife.

States

New Mexico

Acreage in excess of 53,440 have been protected in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management. More than 36,000 acres have been protected to benefit Ranchland.

States

New York

More than $6,628,500 has been leveraged in loans to protect land through the Conservation Loans program. Over 473,000 acres protected in the Adirondack Park.

States

North Carolina

More than 111,565 acres have been protected in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Over 4,225 acres have been protected though the Conservation Loans program.

States

North Dakota

Over 1,985 acres have been protected in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management. More than $1,285,000 has been leveraged in loans to protect land through the Conservation Loans program.

States

Ohio

Over 16,255 acres have been preserved in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. More than $2,665,000 has been leveraged in loans to protect land through the Conservation Loans program.

States

Oklahoma

More than 5,814 acres have been preserved in partnership with the United States Forest Service. Over 6,600 acres have been protected to benefit Forestlands.

States

Oregon

Over 23,100 acres have been protected in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management. More than 79,200 acres have been protected to benefit Forestlands.

States

Pennsylvania

More than 6,215 acres have been protected in partnership with the National Park Service. Over 1,160 acres have benefited from the Conservation Loans program.

States

Rhode Island

More than 70 acres have been protected in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Over $1,450,000 has gone to protect and benefit Water and Waterways.

States

South Carolina

Over 5,200 acres have been protected in partnership with the United States Department of Defense. More than 88,600 acres have been protected to benefit Wildlife.

States

South Dakota

More than 5,500 acres have been preserved in partnership with the National Park Service. Over $2,400,000 has gone to protect and benefit Historic Places.

States

Tennessee

Over 16,800 acres have been preserved in partnership with the Federal Agency Partners. More than $5,950,000 has been leveraged in loans to protect land through the Conservation Loans program.

States

Texas

More than 75,195 acres have been preserved in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Over 3,865 acres have been protected though the Conservation Loans program.

States

Utah

Over 100,000 acres have been protected in partnership with the National Park Service. More than 11,200 acres have been protected to benefit Open Space.

States

Vermont

Over 34,258 acres have been protected in partnership with the United States Forest Service. More than $3,754,500 has been leveraged in loans to protect land through the Conservation Loans program.

States

Virginia

More than 17,510 acres have been protected in partnership with the United States Forest Service. Over 6,135 acres have been protected though the Conservation Loans program.

States

Washington

More than 6,570 acres have been protected in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management. Over 5,985 acres have been protected to benefit Open Space. Nine conservation groups have used eleven loans to conserve more than 1,300 acres of land valued at $7.6 million.

States

West Virginia

Over 14,700 acres have been protected in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. More than 51,900 acres have been protected to benefit Forestlands.

States

Wisconsin

Over 110 acres have been protected in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. More than 3,025 acres have been protected through the Conservation Loans program.

States

Wyoming

More than 8,620 acres have been preserved in partnership with the United States Forest Service. Over 58,925 acres have been protected though the Conservation Loans program.

Projects

Working Soils® – Protecting the Milwaukee River Watershed

Healthy soils contribute to clean air, pure water, flourishing forests, abundant crops, thriving grazing lands, diverse wildlife and captivating landscapes. Learn how the Working Soils® Program aims to improve soil health in the Milwaukee River watershed. 

Impact

Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and Partners Protect Shelburne Valley and Bald Cap Peak Forests

The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests completed the permanent protection of the 2,670-acre Shelburne Valley Forest and 1,030-acre Bald Cap Peak Forest, known collectively as the Mahoosuc Highlands Initiative.

Impact

Scranton Gains Access to New Recreation, Wildlife Area

More than 400 acres of forestland along Interstate 81 in Scranton, Pennsylvania have been added to the Pinchot State Forest, forever protecting some of the last remaining high-quality wildlife habitat in the area while opening new public access for the city’s residents and visitors.

Impact

The Conservation Fund Solves Colorado “Fourteener” Closure by Securing Land and Permanent Public Access for Mount Democrat

The property is now on a path to long-term protection and hiking access, and will become part of Pike-San Isabel National Forest.

Experts

Madison Barbee

Impact

The Fund Welcomes Two New State Directors in NC & TN

The Conservation Fund is excited to announce two new state directors in the southeast region.

Impact

The Conservation Fund Conveys Largest-Ever Wildlife Management Area Acquisition for Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

The Conservation Fund announced its sale of 6,326 acres in northeastern Maine to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to create a new Wildlife Management Area.

Impact

Nearly 29,000 Acres Purchased in Maine’s North Woods to Expand Appalachian Mountain Club’s Maine Woods Initiative

Partnership between The Appalachian Mountain Club and The Conservation Fund significantly expands the nation’s most important multi-use recreation and land conservation project.

Ways to give

Gift of Stock

Donating stock is a great way to support our conservation work and may lead to further tax benefits. Here's how to donate stock to the Fund.

Impact

Sea Turtle Nesting Habitat Protected on Florida’s East Coast

The Conservation Fund announced the completion of several critical additions to the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge along central Florida's east coast near Melbourne Beach. This refuge contains some of the world’s most significant habitat for loggerhead and green sea turtle nesting.

Our Work

2020 Conservation Banking Webinar Series

Our Work

Training Resources: 3rd Party Mitigation Interagency Review Team

Our Work

Conservation Banking Case Studies

Experts

Zachary Lesch-Huie

Experts

Tony Richardson

Impact

Ørsted Partners with The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy to Protect and Restore Native Tallgrass Prairie near Sunflower Wind Farm

Building on its commitment to preservation, Ørsted’s donation will support land conservation and restoration activities in the Kansas Flint Hills.

Impact

Learning About the Business of Conservation

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 be and showcased our talented staff.

Impact

From Our CEO: Nature Needs Climate Investment to Survive

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.

Experts

Phillip Howard

Impact

Conservation Fund’s Historic Property Donation Completes Pea Ridge National Military Park in Arkansas

Event will celebrate transfer of Green Homestead to the National Park Service.

Impact

New Efforts in Congress to Keep Forestland Intact and Working Win Early Praise From Coalition

A coalition of conservation, sportsmen and forest management organizations and companies applauded the introduction of the Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) Act of 2023 in the U.S. Senate.

Projects

Building Smart Land-based Fish Farms

The precision aquaculture initiative at the Freshwater Institute is developing advanced technologies to increase fish production, improve product quality and optimize efficiency, all while ensuring fish welfare in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS).

Experts

Rich Deitchman

Experts

Dan Medeiros

Impact

The Eklutna River and its Salmon Deserve To Be Set Free

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.

Projects

Alabama Red Hills Salamander Forest

The Red Hills region of Alabama between Mobile and Montgomery is the only place in the world where you can find the federally threatened Red Hills salamander.

Pages

Working Forest Fund: Protecting America’s Forests

Impact

The Fund Acts to Protect 20,000-Acre Forest in Alabama

The Conservation Fund has acquired approximately 23,000 acres of at-risk forestland in the Red Hills region of southwest Alabama. The property contains prime habitat for numerous wildlife species, including the threatened Red Hills salamander.

Impact

The View That Named Richmond Permanently Protected

The Conservation Fund, Capital Region Land Conservancy and City of Richmond announced today the permanent protection of four acres in Virginia’s capital city, completing a cooperative and yearslong effort to conserve what historians call “the view that named Richmond.”

Pages

Annual Report – The Conservation Fund

Impact

The Conservation Fund Applauds Forest Legacy Program’s Latest Investments and Milestone

“The Conservation Fund is honored to highlight our partnership in conjunction with the Forest Service’s announcement today of new and significant forestland conservation investments.”

Experts

Abby Spring

Impact

Pa.’s Delaware State Forest Grows by 555 Acres

Pennsylvania's Delaware State Forest is growing by 555 acres thanks to The Conservation Fund and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry. The forest's expansion will provide public access opportunities while maintaining the area’s rural character.

Experts

Jolie Krasinski

Projects

Live Oak Farm

Rice is a staple of any Cajun kitchen, and it’s just as important to Louisiana’s economy as well. As the state’s top agricultural export, rice generates almost $200 million in economic activity annually and supports thousands of jobs.

Projects

Pacific Crest Trail

Hikers call the Pacific Crest Trail one of the “triple crown” long-distance trails, along with the Appalachian Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. Stretching an astounding 2,650 miles from the Mexican border to the Canadian border, the trail traverses the Sierra and Cascades mountain ranges in California, Oregon and Washington – and it is nothing short of majestic.

Projects

Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri

Located in southern and central Missouri, the sizable Mark Twain National Forest stretches across 29 counties and encompasses 1.5 million acres of beautiful public land, characterized by abundant caves, rocky barren glades, forested hills, old volcanic mountains and more than 350 miles of permanent and pristine streams. With both wilderness areas and working forests, Missouri’s only National Forest features over 750 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and motorized use.

Projects

Fiery Gizzard Trail

Fiery Gizzard is a place many Tennesseans hold dear. It is the heart of the South Cumberland Plateau and is one of the most intact, biologically diverse natural landscapes remaining in the eastern United States. It is home to some of Tennessee’s most beautiful natural areas and offers incomparable recreational opportunities.

Projects

Habitat Protection For The Florida Panther

The Florida panther is the only cougar species found east of the Mississippi River. Although you’ll see the Florida panther on everything from license plates to the state hockey team’s jersey, this elusive cat was one of the first animals added to the U.S. Endangered Species List in 1967 and is one of the most endangered mammals in the world, with current population numbers hovering around 100 adult cats.

Projects

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument

Harriet Tubman was a true American hero. Born on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Tubman spent nearly 30 years of her life as a slave. She escaped but repeatedly returned to Dorchester and Caroline counties to rescue other African Americans, leading them to freedom along the Underground Railroad. Tubman continued working for civil rights throughout her life, advancing Union efforts in the Civil War and later advocating for women’s rights.

Projects

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Glaciers may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Wisconsin, but consider this: just 15,000 years ago, during what is known as the Ice Age, the northern U.S.—including Wisconsin—was blanketed with mile-thick glaciers. There’s perhaps no better way to understand how these glaciers sculpted our modern landscape than by hiking the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

Projects

Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat

The lesser prairie-chicken is commonly recognized for its feathered feet, stout build and mating behavior. Males perform a sequence of vocalizations and posturing, often described as yodeling, that attracts not only the females but also birders from across the country to watch their mating dance.

Projects

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park

Long fascinated by what lay west of the Mississippi River, President Thomas Jefferson in 1803 commissioned Captain Meriwether Lewis to explore the Missouri River to its source, then establish the most direct water route to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis selected his friend William Clark to join him on the expedition as co-captain. Together with a crew of more than 30 people, Lewis and Clark headed west.

Projects

North Rim of the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is one of America’s favorite destinations—more than five million people visit each year to take in the breathtaking views of this iconic landscape.

Projects

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

In the southeastern corner of Georgia, along the Florida border, lies one of the largest and most primitive swamps in the country. Native Americans named the swamp “Okefenokee,” which means “land that trembles when you walk on it,” and it certainly is a force to be reckoned with. Despite draining attempts and heavy logging at the turn of the century, this natural wonder, thought to be 6,000 to 8,000 years old, has endured.

Projects

McIntosh SEED Community Forest

McIntosh SEED, a nonprofit community-based organization, partnered with The Conservation Fund to acquire 1,148 acres of land in Long County, creating the state's first community forest.

Projects

Blue Ridge Parkway

As one of the most visited units of the National Park Service (NPS), the Blue Ridge Parkway welcomes more than 17 million visitors each year—more than twice the combined visitation to Yellowstone, Yosemite and Grand Canyon National Parks.

Projects

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

The trail provides an unparalleled opportunity for the public to learn about Native American history, early English settlement and the Chesapeake Bay’s natural resources.

Projects

Cheat Canyon

On a perfect September day, West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin stood high over Cheat Canyon and welcomed the public to the state’s newest conserved natural area. Renowned for its whitewater rapids and rich beauty and biodiversity, the Cheat Canyon area has long been a conservationist’s prize.

Projects

Civil War Battlefield Conservation: Focus on Antietam

Known as the bloodiest single-day battle in the Civil War, the battle of Antietam took place on September 17, 1862 over 12 square miles in northwest Maryland. More than 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or went missing during the battle.

Projects

Reclaiming the Coharie River

The Coharie River has long served as the lifeblood of the Coharie tribal community and its ancestors. The river has provided sustenance, transportation and connections to the cultural and spiritual traditions of this state-recognized American Indian tribe in southeastern North Carolina. Tribal elders tell stories about immersing themselves in the river’s healing waters for days at a time, restoring their connections to both the land and the water.

Projects

Demolishing a Deadbeat Dam in Alaska

The Dena’ina people of Eklutna have given much to the growth of Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska. Most of Anchorage is located on ancestral Dena’ina land, including seven public schools on land still owned by Eklutna. A highway, railroad, powerlines and granite quarries went straight through the Village of Eklutna and the river that bears their name and supported their culture was dammed and diverted, devastating the salmon upon which they relied.

Projects

Civil War Battlefield Conservation: Arkansas

Recognized nationally as one of America's most intact Civil War battlefields, Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park conserves the site where on December 7, 1862, the Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi clashed with the Union Army of the Frontier in a fierce fight that marked the last major Civil War engagement in northwest Arkansas. When the day was done, 2,700 soldiers had died.

Experts

Matt Kaplan

Our Work

Compensatory Mitigation Training Course

Projects

Jacks Valley Ranch

Jacks Valley Ranch is a little piece of Nevada history. Situated on the backside of Lake Tahoe in the Carson Valley, this 1,200-acre working agricultural landscape has been around since 1860, several years before Nevada even became a state. The ranch includes several structures dating back 150 years and a small cemetery that holds a number of Carson Valley’s pioneering families.

Projects

Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area and State Forest

At the confluence of the Ohio and Tradewater Rivers in Union County along Kentucky’s border with Illinois, is the Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and State Forest, Kentucky’s newest WMA and a paradise for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Big Rivers features steep upland hardwood forests, flat to rolling bottomland hardwood forests, and agricultural lands bordered by the Ohio River to the west and the Tradewater River to the south.

Projects

City of Rocks National Reserve

The remarkable granite spires found here date back more than 2.5 billion years and attract rock climbers from around the world.

Projects

Three Sisters Springs In Crystal River

Three Sisters Springs is made up of pristine, naturally occurring springs and is one of Florida’s last remaining urban springs.

Projects

Gettysburg National Military Park

The history of the United States hung in the balance on the first three days of July 1863, as the Battle of Gettysburg unfolded in the Pennsylvania countryside. When it ended, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s “Army of Northern Virginia” was turned away from its incursion into Union territory by Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade’s “Army of the Potomac.”

Impact

Partners Add Over 1,740 Acres to Tennessee Wildlife Management Area

The land secures critical wooded habitat for wildlife species and will enhance opportunities for WMA visitors including fishing, hiking, camping and hunting. Catoosa WMA is the State of Tennessee’s second largest WMA, spanning over 85,000 acres.

Pages

Virtual Event

Pages

Pelican River Forest Project

Double your impact today! Right now, we have the opportunity to permanently protect Wisconsin’s 70,000-acre Pelican River Forest — largest unprotected block of timberland left in the state. With your help we can protect its key wildlife habitat and amazing recreational opportunities, all while supporting the local timber…

Impact

Red Knots Return to Mispillion Harbor

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?

Impact

New Efforts in Congress to Benefit Forestland Praised

A coalition of conservation, sportsmen and forest management organizations and companies applauded the introduction of the Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) Act of 2023.

Pages

Los Angeles Reaches Back to Plan a Green Future

Projects

North Coast Reference Documents

We invite you to learn more about the major accomplishments, challenges and activities of our Working Forest Fund program. 

Our Work

Good Things Grow When Neighbors Band

Projects

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

We built relationships with willing landowners to purchase land within the site boundary and transfer it to the National Park Service to protect, interpret and memorialize the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site.

Projects

The Historic Fones Cliffs on the Rappahannock River

Threatened by development for decades, this “crown jewel” of Virginia has immense significance, not only for the surrounding environment but for American history.

Projects

The Last Urban Farm in Boulder Remains

After over a decade of work with The Conservation Fund and the City of Boulder, the Long family reached the goal to see their urban farm conserved.

Projects

Protecting the “View That Named Richmond” along a Historic Virginia Riverfront

Protecting the Dock Street property will ensure this historic viewshed remains unobstructed for future generations.

Projects

Conserving and Restoring Indigenous Land

We specialize in creating solutions that meet community needs, including responding to requests from tribes and Indigenous communities to assist in efforts to realize their vision for securing culturally significant lands.

Projects

Sustaining Urban Waters in the Southeast

Thanks to the generous support of the Pisces Foundation, we are pioneering a new approach to how two growing southeastern metro areas, Atlanta and Raleigh-Durham, manage drinking water, storm water, and wastewater.

Projects

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture

In rural western North Carolina, women farmers are playing an increasingly critical role in building a strong regional food system.

Projects

Get to Know the Freshwater Institute’s West Virginia-Raised Salmon

Our Atlantic salmon is raised at The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute facility in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Projects

Appalachian Gateway Communities Initiative

Our regional workshops provide the skills to achieve sustainable economic development, cultural heritage and natural resource tourism, arts promotion, and preservation and stewardship of community character.

Projects

Balancing Nature and Commerce in the Pennsylvania Wilds

The PA Wilds has grown to be one of the largest and most successful rural regional branding efforts in the country, and continues to grow, with the region’s visitors spending an estimated $1.7 billion annually.

Projects

Rocky Mountain Front

To date, the Rocky Mountain Front Initiative has protected over 220,000 acres of critical migratory corridors for grizzly bears.

Projects

Sax-Zim Bog

The mix of spongy peat land and spruce forest that make up the Sax-Zim Bog in northern Minnesota attracts birdwatchers from all over the world.

Projects

South Boulder Creek

A top priority for federal, state and local agencies, the Toll property protects drinking water supplies for Denver and Boulder.

Projects

Blending History and Recreation at Rim Rock

We worked closely with the landowners of the property to protect the battlefield and in doing so identified additional benefits.

Projects

Fremont Lake

The Red Desert to Hoback Mule Deer Migration is the longest ungulate migration ever recorded in the lower 48 states.

Projects

Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge

The Refuge was created to ensure the protection of the federally threatened bog turtle and secure critical wetlands for migrating birds, amphibians and other wildlife.

Projects

Creamer’s Field: How an Alaskan Dairy Farm Became a Wildlife Sanctuary

This state refuge provides wetland habitat for thousands of migratory birds and other wildlife, and serves as a recreational destination for the Fairbanks community.

Projects

Protecting Some of the Rarest Species in Texas at Holly Beach

An ecologically important southern Texas landscape was slated to become a golf course before we stepped in to provide a solution to protect it.

Projects

Sodalis Nature Preserve

We helped preserve 185 acres in Hannibal, Missouri, that contains significant habitat for the Indiana bat — an endangered species.

Projects

The “Path Of The Pronghorn” In Wyoming

Working with a dedicated group of partners, we helped the Carney family establish a conservation easement on a very significant portion of their property.

Projects

Atlanta BeltLine

The most comprehensive development effort ever undertaken in the City of Atlanta – transforming 22 miles of an underutilized industrial railroad corridor into an extensive network of trails, parks, transit and brownfield redevelopment.

Projects

Protecting a Key Piece of Kachemak Bay State Park

We were able to step in and purchase the property in January of 2022 and are actively raising funds to donate it to the State Park.

Projects

Haleakala National Park

The Campbell ranch was the largest undeveloped, privately-owned parcel within Haleakala. Acquiring it added almost a mile of Pacific Ocean frontage within the park’s boundaries.

Projects

Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole, WY

Land conservation successes near and within Grand Teton National Park are improving wildlife habitat and visitor experiences in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Projects

Liberty Hill

When Liberty Hill became available, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources turned to us for help in negotiating purchase of the property.

Projects

Little River Canyon

Clean and wild, the Little River in northeast Alabama is America’s longest mountaintop river. We’re helping the National Park Service acquire key parcels along the river's east rim.

Projects

Protecting the Poppies of Walker Canyon, Lake Elsinore, California

The Conservation Fund is helping permanently protect these poppy fields so they can be enjoyed by tourists and wildlife for decades to come.

Projects

Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge

The easements protect this area’s natural and archaeological resources, while forming a buffer zone that limits development around Fort A.P. Hill.

Projects

Powderhorn Ranch

In an era of rapidly rising land prices and diminishing government resources, this project exemplifies a new model of funding for landscape scale conservation projects in Texas.

Projects

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

A rugged landscape that attracts hikers and campers who like a challenge, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is known for its 2,000 foot vertical canyon walls, Class V rapids, and Gold Medal trout fishing. Dramatic spires and rock formations, like the one known as the Dillon Pinnacles, provide a highly scenic experience.

Projects

Minnesota’s Martin County Conservation Partnership

These grassy ecosystems are ideal for wildlife grazing and recreational activities like hunting and hiking, making them a top priority for protection.

Projects

Saving Colorado’s Sweetwater Lake

Protecting the historic and beautiful Sweetwater Lake, and roughly 488 acres of land around it, has been a high priority for the local community and the U.S. Forest Service for years.

Projects

McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, Colorado

Projects

Protecting the “Grand Canyon of the Eel River” — California’s Lone Pine Ranch

Projects

Preserving Minnesota’s Treasured Boundary Waters

Spanning more than 1.1 million acres in northeastern Minnesota, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is an ecological treasure.

Projects

First State National Historical Park

The Park includes three historic areas that tell the story of Delaware’s early settlement and its important role as the first state to ratify the Constitution.

Projects

Harriet Tubman’s Legacy Grows On Maryland’s Eastern Shore

More than 100 years after her death, a new chapter of Harriet Tubman’s legacy is unfolding on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Our Work

Green Infrastructure Resources

The Conservation Fund is the only conservation organization to design green infrastructure plans in three of the country’s largest metro areas: Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles. We also have worked in metro areas that understand the strategic advantage to having an interconnected network of greenspaces and trails for quality life, such as Nashville, Indianapolis, and Kansas City. We also think big, working with whole regions and even completing the nation’s largest green infrastructure plan, across 13 states.

Our Work

Resources

Pages

FLTFA

Pages

FCEP

Projects

Minidoka National Historic Site

In 2001, the Minidoka Internment National Monument was established on 73 acres of the original camp to commemorate the hardships and sacrifices of Japanese Americans incarcerated there during World War II.

Projects

Belfast Wildlife Management Area

The successful creation of the Belfast WMA was the result of a group of organizations working together, including The Conservation Fund, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the National Wild Turkey Federation, and the South Carolina Conservation Bank.

Projects

Preserving Native Nanticoke Land in Delaware

Nanticoke Indian Tribe has reclaimed a priority property in Sussex County to better preserve and share its history.

Projects

Cherokee National Forest and the Trail of Tears

We’re striving to honor the memory of the Cherokee people and other tribes by protecting key sites that help us understand their culture and their suffering.

Projects

Gulf Coast Oil Spill Restoration Funding Supports Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

Preserving and restoring the Gulf Coast’s vulnerable ecosystem has been a top priority for us in Alabama and nearby Gulf States. Recently, private and public partners collaborated to add nearly 500 acres to the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge to protect critical wildlife habitat, expand recreational opportunities and support local economic growth.

Projects

Petrified Forest National Park

Arizona’s Petrified Forest is famous for its expansive vistas — stark moon-like landscapes and the colorful eroding badlands of the Painted Desert — and the rainbow hues of large petrified trees.

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State Game Lands 93

To date, we’ve helped protect over 600 acres within the Flight 93 Memorial boundary and State Game Lands 93.

Projects

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Located in the Chesapeake Bay region, on Maryland’s scenic Eastern Shore, the 27,000-acre wildlife refuge includes a third of Maryland’s tidal wetlands and some of the most important habitat for birds along the critical migration highway called the Atlantic Flyway.

Projects

Freedom Riders National Monument

To honor the courageous efforts of the Freedom Riders and their important place in history, The Conservation Fund worked with the National Park Service, the City of Anniston, Calhoun County and other partners to protect the site of the bus burning and the location that once housed the Greyhound station as a national monument, ensuring their permanent protection.

Our Work

Our Approach

Projects

Werowocomoco

Werowocomoco was the headquarters of the powerful Chief Powhatan, Pocahontas’ father, who ruled over 30 Native American tribes and controlled over 10,000 square miles of what is now southeastern Virginia.

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Virginia’s Machicomoco State Park—A “Special Meeting Place”

Machicomoco State Park will offer visitor interpretation facilities, archeological investigation and preservation associated with Werowocomoco.

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Topaz Relocation Center

The preservation of this property, the largest unprotected piece of the former camp, will serve as a lasting and poignant reminder of this dark moment in history.

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Community Food Sovereignty

The Community Food Sovereignty initiative focuses on engaging communities in all aspects of the food system — from the soil the food is grown in to those that distribute it, to community members who rely on it.

Projects

Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave was the nation’s eighth national park, established in 1903, and was the first cave to be designated as a national park.

Projects

Preserving African American History at Fort Blakeley, Alabama

Protecting this land for its historical and environmental values was a unique challenge, involving many partners and a creative conservation solution.

Our Work

Upcoming Events

Resourceful Communities offers a variety of training opportunities to strengthen community programming. Our trainings are designed to meet the needs of grassroots organizations and take many forms: workshops, individual trainings, and peer learning visits. Support is provided at no cost.

Projects

A Piece of the Underground Railroad’s Story Forever Told

This house and property hold an unparalleled opportunity to continue uplifting the story of the Underground Railroad.

Our Work

Our Experts

Our Work

Initiatives

Our emphasis on the triple bottom line means that Resourceful Communities engages in work and with partners that represent a broad range of issues – renewable energy, youth leadership development, eco-tourism, cultural preservation and more.  We recognize that some issues call for special attention because they are innovative, represent critical need, and support The Conservation Fund’s broad mission of working land protection and economic development.  Our targeted initiatives advance innovative solutions for our most economically- and socially-distressed communities.

Our Work

Our Approach

A specialized program of The Conservation Fund, Resourceful Communities supports a network of community groups, faith-based organizations, small towns and resource providers. The triple bottom line is the foundation of our work: environmental stewardship, social justice and sustainable economic development. Rather than addressing community challenges as isolated issues, this integrated approach nets sustainable, comprehensive improvements.

Projects

In Wyoming, Using Collaborative Mitigation to Benefit Family Ranches

The Conservation Fund has conserved more than 9,000 acres of habitat along rivers, lakes and streams for a wide variety of wildlife using the Jonah mitigation funds including the Cottonwood Ranches, Carney Ranch and MJ Ranch.

Projects

Managing Mitigation Funds to Conserve Bird Habitat

Through mitigation funding provided by Rockies Express LLC to offset the unavoidable impacts of the pipeline expansion, The Conservation Fund established the Rockies Express Migratory Bird Account: A one-time $4 million fund to support projects that conserve forestland across Missouri, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio.

Projects

Hydropower Relicensing and Land Disposal

Conservation of these lands enhanced the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay and protected roosting and migration sites for avian species such as the bald eagle.

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Golden Eagle Mitigation for Wind Energy Projects

The project meets the obligations of the compensatory mitigation while maintaining the economic benefits of traditional agricultural production.

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A Unique Solution for Pipeline Impacts to Bats and Migratory Birds

The creation of Sodalis Nature Preserve has protected important habitat for Indiana bats and increased opportunities for outdoor recreation.

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Mitigating for Impacts on Federal Land

To date, The Conservation Fund has utilized the Middle Delaware Mitigation Fund to help add 1,992 acres of land to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, 166 acres to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and 1,291 acres to the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

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Voluntary Stewardship to Offset Impacts to the Community

The Conservation Fund was able to invest $2.5 million in stream restoration, nutrient reduction and recreational trail projects in Pennsylvania communities while leveraging local community investments in priority projects.

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A Bright Future for the Desert Tortoise

The Conservation Fund was able to permanently protect over 120,000 acres of desert tortoise habitat using the mitigation funds provided by BrightSource.

Projects

Climate Change and the Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay region is one of the most vulnerable areas in the nation to sea level rise induced by climate change.

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Compensating for Impacts to Cultural and Historic Resources from a Transmission Line Upgrade

The Conservation Fund has acquired more than 643 acres of new public lands in Virginia that were offered and accepted as mitigation for impacts from the Surry-Skiffes transmission line to state-held conservation interests.

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Expanding Green Space and Improving Social Resilience in South Cook County, IL.

The goal of the Strategic Land Acquisition Plan for Southeast Cook County was to develop a model that integrates land conservation and economic development, recognizing the critical important of both in community resilience.

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Resources

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Our Experts

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Our Projects

Impact

Freedom Riders to Recount History at Anniversary Event

A special event will take place in Birmingham, Alabama on May 14 to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the historic Freedom Rides.

Projects

Lake County Green Infrastructure Strategy

Our Strategic Conservation Planning work provides a better way forward for smart development and creates a blueprint for livable cities that balances the built environment with the natural one.

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Kasilof River Wetlands – Alaska

The Kasilof River is one of the most ecologically significant rivers on Alaska’s famous Kenai Peninsula.

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Conservation Tools Help Montana Ranchers Realize a Dream

Large working ranches like the Crabbs’ provide critical fish and wildlife habitat in the Rocky Mountain Front, a wildlife-rich region of Montana where the slopes of the Rocky Mountains meet vast prairies.

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Zion National Park

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A Legacy of Ranching in California

Protecting a pristine property of this size is a rare and major win for conservation in California’s rapidly developing Central Coast.

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Reed Forest

In Maine, we’re protecting more than 32,400 acres of forest, which includes wetlands and upland forest that are important for numerous wildlife species in Maine’s iconic North Woods.

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Brunswick Forest

Apple is partnering with The Conservation Fund to permanently protect more than 36,000 acres of working forest in the eastern United States, including the Brunswick Forest in North Carolina.

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Boggy Slough

Located west of Lufkin, Boggy Slough contains some of the oldest and most ecologically significant hardwood forest habitat in East Texas and spans 18 miles of river frontage along the Neches River.

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Big River And Salmon Creek Forests

We work with our partners to skillfully manage both forest growth and harvest to ensure that these forests remain viable ecosystems for generations to come

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Brule-St. Croix Legacy Forest

Thanks to a broad group of public- and private-sector partners, one of northern Wisconsin’s endangered forest landscapes has been protected for all these uses.

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Bobcat Ridge

Our Working Forest Fund purchased a 7,000-acre property in eastern Texas known as Bobcat Ridge, which includes 11 miles of the Neches River.

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Buckeye Forest

With our purchases of the Garcia River Forest in 2004 and the adjoining Gualala River Forest in 2011, we began sustainably managing these historic forests before they were forever lost to non-forest uses.

Our Work

Resources

Are you a green infrastructure practitioner looking to augment your expertise? Check out our Green Infrastructure Resources page, including links to projects and events, as well as archives of past programs.

Our Work

Our Services

We deliver action and impact. Our services focus on collaborative problem-solving—bringing people together to facilitate on-the-ground results.  Conservation Leadership Network (CLN) staff are skilled presenters, facilitators, and content experts, backed by the expertise of The Conservation Fund and a community of CLN Partners. Our services include: 

Our Work

Our Experts

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Our Projects

Projects

Downeast And Eastern Maine

Eastern Maine and its famed coastal area known as Downeast Maine has a one-of-a-kind beauty, with pristine forests, clean waters, crisp air and unique seaside habitat.

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Four State Forest

Our Work

Our Approach

The hallmark of our work is to delve into our partners’ needs, understand issues, and craft solutions that achieve outcomes that protect natural resources, while creating vibrant, sustainable economies. In sum we help ensure conservation that works for America. We serve as a catalyst to action and impact. We work with community, government and corporate leaders to plan for the future, deepen regional connections, develop innovative conservation and economic strategies, and balance nature and commerce in ways that have a lasting impact.  

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Gualala River Forest

Gualala River Forest provides important spawning habitat for coho salmon and steelhead trout.

Our Work

Our Experts

Our experienced team consists of some of the most skilled and creative conservation real estate experts in the field including knowledgeable practitioners, attorneys, lenders, and foresters.  Many work in small offices across the country, living in the communities they help conserve.

Projects

Green Infrastructure Plan for Cecil County, MD

In 2006, we completed a green infrastructure plan identifying and offering guidance on the essential green infrastructure needed to support the county’s present and future growth.

Our Work

Our Projects

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Greening the Crossroads: Central Indiana

The Fund designed a green infrastructure network that highlights more than 300,000 acres of high-quality land in need of protection or continued environmental stewardship by private landowners.

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Mapping the Future of Longleaf Pine

In 2009, The Conservation Fund joined more than 20 nonprofits and government agencies in America’s Longleaf Initiative to rebuild this vibrant landscape across the Southeast.

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Minnesota Northwoods

The Minnesota Northwoods conservation effort achieves important wildlife habitat protection by preventing forest fragmentation.

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Michaux State Forest

Pennsylvania’s Michaux State Forest covers more than 85,000 acres and is referred to as the state’s ”cradle of forestry.” 

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Middle Neches Forestland

Impact

Stacy Funderburke Promoted to Georgia State Director

The Conservation Fund, America’s leader in land protection, is pleased to announce the promotion of Stacy Funderburke to Georgia State Director.

Projects

Meeteetse Spires in the Beartooth Mountains

The property sits about six miles south of Red Lodge in Carbon County and contains unique rock formations that jut out from the eastern slopes of the Beartooth Mountains, drawing visitors and nature photographers from across the state and country.

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Lackawanna Highlands

With the help of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Richard King Mellon Foundation and our own Working Forest Fund, we purchased nearly 11,000 acres of forestland within Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne Counties in 2014 from Theta Land Corporation.

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Kendall Forest: Supporting Rural Economies and Traditions in New York’s Tug Hill Region

Protecting the abundant and often remote forests and waters of Central New York’s Tug Hill region is essential to the local communities for the traditions they hold dear.

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Garcia River Forest

Garcia River Forest traps more than 4M tons CO2 from the atmosphere — equivalent to removing 856,531 passenger cars from the road for one year.

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Cowee Forest

Cowee Forest consists of several parcels of former privately-owned forestland scattered along the borders where New York, Vermont and Massachusetts meet.

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Skinner Mountain Forest

Hidden within northeastern Tennessee’s Skinner Mountain Forest is a dramatic landscape — gorges, cliffs, waterfalls, and an intricate maze of caves that shelter the Indiana bat, which relies on the warm, humid caves for survival during winter months.

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Beebe River, NH: Reconnecting A River, Wildlife And A Community’s Favorite Place

In central New Hampshire, the Beebe River boasts crystal clear water, great fly fishing and public recreation along its shores.

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I-25 Conservation Corridor Project

From rolling grasslands to dramatic mesas and Pikes Peak in the distance, travelers can still experience Colorado’s unspoiled beauty.

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Sansavilla Wildlife Management Area

This mix of bottomland hardwood and pine forests contains 14 miles of frontage on the Altamaha River and provides habitat for one of the largest populations of the gopher tortoise

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West Virginia Elk Habitat

Through this conservation effort, West Virginia joins a multi-state landscape level effort to restore elk to the Appalachian region.

Our Work

Our Approach

Since 1985, The Conservation Fund has conserved more than 8.5 million acres. We have protected national parks, natural areas, storied battlefields, popular getaways and more.  Our partners and transactions are national, regional, state-level and local in scope, from thousands of acres of wilderness to one-acre urban parks.  In completing over 2,000 real estate projects over three decades, we bring original and informed solutions to every transaction, often resolving unusual challenges.

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Beards Creek Forest — Georgia

Nicknamed Georgia’s “Little Amazon,” the winding 137-mile Altamaha River is a treasured waterway.

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Pleasant River Headwaters Forest – Maine

Keeping the Pleasant River Headwaters Forest property as a working forest will ensure a permanent conservation solution that meets the needs of people, protects wildlife habitat and provides economic benefits to the region now and into the future.

Our Work

Our Work in Action

We practice conservation to achieve environmental and economic outcomes. Every Fund program places conservation at its center to effectively implement innovative, practical solutions to benefit the natural world and the well-being of Americans from every walk of life.

Projects

A Comeback for the South’s Longleaf Pine in Alabama and Florida

Longleaf pine forests once covered as much as 90 million acres from Virginia to Texas. Today, this habitat has been reduced to ±4.5 million acres (approximately 5% of its original range), with most of the remnants scattered across public lands.

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Roanoke River Forest – Virginia

The protection of the entire Roanoke River Forest will support water quality and secure tributaries to the Roanoke River, a designated Virginia Scenic River.

Our Work

Our Experts

Our Business Partnerships team can share their extensive experience in conservation acquisition via land transactions, conservation finance, sustainable forestry, carbon, climate resiliency, mitigation, community visioning and economic development, restoration, and stakeholder engagement to create innovative conservation solutions with our partners.

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Stateline Forest – Georgia and Alabama

This working forest of 10,369 acres in Haralson and Polk counties, Georgia, and in Cleburne County, Alabama, is a high priority for conservation, providing habitat for many rare plants, bats and aquatic species.

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Sabine Ranch, Texas

The successful conveyance of the entire Sabine Ranch to the USFWS will create a continuous Refuge of 71,237 acres.

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Chadbourne Tree Farm – Maine

The Chadbourne Tree Farm in western Maine is one of America’s prized white pine forests, with a rich family history and exceptional timber management background.

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A 30-Year Effort to Protect the Navajo River Watershed in Colorado Now Complete

The Conservation Fund has helped protect 65,000 acres of critical wildlife habitat in the Navajo River watershed.

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Greater Yellowstone Area

Our Work

Dow

In 1998, The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) approached The Conservation Fund to help them develop a new program that could improve Michigan’s Saginaw Bay watershed and the communities where its employees live, work and play. As an organization that works at the intersection of business and the environment, we were ideally suited to forge the local and regional partnerships necessary to realize Dow’s bold vision for a sustainable Saginaw Bay.

Our Work

Our Partners

We work with our business partners to achieve significant results that are good for land, water, wildlife, people and the bottom line.

Projects

One of New Hampshire’s Oldest Town Forests Remains at the Forefront of Innovative Conservation

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Suwannee River Woodlands at Osceola National Forest – Florida

One of the country’s most unique and diverse landscapes, this region has been a priority for conservation for decades.

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Green Bonds Accelerate the Conservation of  Working Forests 

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Protecting One of Atlanta’s Largest Mature Forests

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Remembering Luke Lynch

Luke opened the Wyoming Office of The Conservation Fund in 2006, focusing his efforts on conservation easement and private land acquisition in cooperation with a host of non-profit, state, and federal partners.

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Impact

Celebrating Our Supporters on Earth Day

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.

Impact

Unique Parcel on Alaska’s Kasilof River Conserved

Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources and The Conservation Fund announced the addition of 309 acres to the Alaska State Parks system within the Kasilof River estuary.

Impact

Partners Protect Colorado Conservation Corridor

The once-in-a-generation, $25 million investment will support wildlife and catalyze future outdoor recreation opportunities near Denver.

Impact

Decades of Dedication to the Florida Wildlife Corridor

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 the Florida Wildlife Corridor initiative forward through our projects and partnerships.

Projects

Chicago Urban Farm Solutions

The team of Chicago Urban Farm Solutions are talented diverse vegetable growers with a mission to produce high-quality vegetables and businesses centered on community, health, and accessibility. They have a combined production experience of over 10 years. Currently collaboratively farming at Legends Farm as participants in the Chicago Botanic Garden Windy City Harvest Incubator program; at the Star Farm incubator site; and on 5 acres of leased land, the team will formally join forces through the Working Farms Fund and enter into a lease agreement for the 20-acre Jongsma Farm.

Projects

Snapfinger Farm

We secured a 197-acre farm in Covington, Georgia, Newton County, on behalf of Snapfinger Farm.

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Pride Road

We secured a 70-acre farm in Shady Dale, Georgia, Jasper County, with healthy soils and significant farm infrastructure.

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Little Fox Farm

To jump-start Little Fox Farm’s expansion, we secured a 52-acre farm in Pine Mountain, Georgia, Harris County.

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Goodwin Family Farms (GF Farms)

The 175-acre cattle farm secured by The Conservation Fund in Woodbury, Georgia, is ideally situated close to the family’s local restaurant and nearby Atlanta markets.

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Global Growers Network

Since 2010, Global Growers Network (GGN) supported more than 300 refugee and immigrant farmers across a network of nine farm sites, growing fresh food for their families and local marketplaces. Following the loss of their primary production facility to a destructive flood and after leasing land for a decade, GGN needed to establish a permanent home for their farmers.

Projects

Atlanta Harvest

By acquiring the 90-acre cattle farm in Milner, Georgia, The Conservation Fund more than tripled Atlanta Harvest’s productive acres.

Projects

Garlic eScape

On behalf of Garlic eScape, The Conservation Fund is investing in 30 acres of land, including a 1920s farmhouse that will be used as the farm office.

Impact

Sustainability

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Parks with Purpose

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Support our Efforts

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Climate

Impact

Partnerships

Our Work

A Sustainable Chesapeake

This book is an important conservation resource for individuals, organizations, governments and businesses across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  It profiles promising conservation practices and technologies and describes the protection of critical land and water resources.

Experts

Matt Sexton

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Our Experts

Projects

Love is Love Cooperative Farm

Love is Love Cooperative Farm is a Certified Organic diverse vegetable, fruit, and flower partnership of five talented and business-savvy farmers.

Projects

Conserving the Loxa-Lucie Headwaters—a Mosaic of Florida’s Critical Wetlands

For decades, the State of Florida and its residents in northern Palm Beach County and southern Martin County have been working to protect a mosaic of wetland marshes and low-elevation pinelands that are critical to maintaining healthy watersheds of the Loxahatchee River and South Fork of the St. Lucie River.

Impact

National Park and Preserve Adds Acreage in West Virginia

The Conservation Fund and the U.S. National Park Service announced the addition of 963 acres to the preserve portion of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve near Sandstone, West Virginia.

Our Work

Enviromental Stewardship

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Integrated Water Management

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Green Infrastructure plans

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Parks With Purpose Blog

Our Work

Google Trekker

In 1985, we dreamed of doing conservation in a new way. More than 7.5 million protected acres later, that dream is still demonstrated in every project we take on. Through a recent collaboration with Google Street View Trekker, we had the unique opportunity to explore the places we conserve by using state-of-the art mapping equipment that allows us to share these sites with the world. We are using technology for good—to give virtual access to a few of the special places we have worked hard to protect for their natural, historical and human values.

Our Work

Our Approach

You’re likely reading this because, like us, you recognize America has a food security problem. The demand for local food is growing, while the average American farmer is getting older. Farms are being lost to development, and the next generation of farmers can’t afford the remaining farmland while expanding their production. At the same time, communities across the country are facing inequity issues that impact their health and daily wellbeing. These challenges are big, but they can be resolved with a unique approach to farm conservation and partnership. Our Working Farms Fund is building a healthier, more equitable and resilient food system.

Our Work

Past AIWs

The annual Aquaculture Innovation Workshop (AIW) is dedicated to the discussion and presentation of the latest developments in aquaculture technology. The workshop aims to further the vision of sustainable aquaculture and foster innovation in the field. Over two days, a multitude of speakers present their insights, experimental findings, and general commentary on the industry. If you would like to find out more on past AIW conferences, please feel free to browse through the information below:

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Our Projects

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Where We Work

The Fund has been active in all 50 states since its founding in 1985.  Please click on your state to learn more about our efforts — often with local partners — to advance conservation and economic goals.

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Updated Disclosures

June 20, 2023 Taxable Green Bonds (Working Forest Conservation Program), Series 2019 Updated Disclosures June 6, 2022 Taxable Green Bonds (Working Forest Conservation Program), Series 2019 Updated Disclosures April 15, 2021 Taxable Green Bonds (Working Forest Conservation Program),…

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Green Bonds in the News

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The Conservation Fund Green Bonds

The Conservation Fund successfully issued and closed $150 million of ten-year bonds, rated A3 by Moody’s, in September 2019. Our goal is to invest all proceeds into Working Forest Fund® projects to accelerate the scale and speed of our mission impact. In addition, we hope to significantly increase the…

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Resources

We hope you will take advantage of the many resources the Fund offers about our organization, our programs as well as technical reports. We strive to publish in limited quantities, preferring to place as much information as possible online.   Where noted, free copies of published pieces are available upon request.

• Our Work

  Stories of Climate Resilience

  The climate crisis is bringing unprecedented natural disasters—rising sea levels, floods, intense storms, droughts, heat waves, wildfires—to our front doors. These events imperil wildlife habitat and human communities alike and are forecasted to increase in severity and frequency. Conservation is critical to confronting and mitigating the impacts that are already here.

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Contact Us

  NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1300 Arlington, VA 22209-3199 Phone: (703) 525-6300 Fax: (703) 525-4610 Email: webmaster@conservationfund.org  …

FIELD OFFICES

Job Openings

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Financials

The Conservation Fund is your best investment for protecting America’s land and water legacy. With our partners and supporters, we’ve protected over 8.8 million acres across the country. We put over 90% of our budget directly into conservation programs. We are recognized as a top charity for our efficiency…

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Legal

Our programs and activities are innovative, business-minded and mission focused. The Legal Department provides legal advice and guidance for all aspects of these programs and activities, from strategic counsel to senior leadership to support for the Fund’s often complex real estate transactions. We seek to achieve creative conservation results while…

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Government Relations

Our government and its elected officials play a critical role in ensuring America thoughtfully conserves its land, water and wildlife. We are a non-partisan, non-membership organization committed to helping our partners’ priorities become realty, utilizing innovative approaches and funding for today’s conservation challenges. Our Government Relations Department helps strengthen relationships…

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Marketing and Communications

The Fund’s work has a positive impact on people and communities throughout America.   We ensure that the public and our many partners and donors are aware of the Fund’s programs, activities and accomplishments.   Our integrated communications team, with expertise in all media, also communicates the values, culture and unique nature…

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Development

We wouldn’t be able to save special places across America without the generous philanthropic support of our foundation, corporate, and individual donors. Our Development Department works closely with funders and people like you to connect your passion for conservation to the lands that need your support. We are a non-membership…

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Staff List

• Miles Abadilla, Donor Relations Associ

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Board of Directors

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Leadership

That was the year:

• Microsoft released

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History

The Conservation Fund (“the Fund”) addresses the question of how to blend a capitalist society and the conservation challenges in America that calls out for innovative and enduring solutions. The Fund provides the capital to finance conservation, and ensures that the economic fabrics of communities are thoroughly woven into in… 1985 The Conservation Fund was

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About us

An America where nature and land are protected and

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Working Forest Fund

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Working Farms Fund News

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Forest Certification

The Conservation Fund recognizes that forest certification is a critical component of objective, sustainable forest management and commits to third-party certification of its working forests. When ownership of our Working Forest Fund (WFF) properties is planned to exceed one year, we will seek independent certification under the standards of Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) and/or Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®).

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Our Experts

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Our Projects

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For Farmers

The Working Farms Fund makes it more affordable to own and invest in the most import part of a farm business — land. We are saving threatened farmland and ensuring that your growing farm businesses can flourish on that land.

Our Work

Investors And Partners

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Working Farms Fund

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Our Impact

The Working Farms Fund builds on the strength of The Conservation Fund’s dual mission—to support both environmental conservation and economic resilience for communities across America. Our Working Farms Fund is currently being piloted in Atlanta and Chicago, with the goal to expand to other cities nationwide. Agriculture is rooted in a history of stewardship of the land and conservation principles. Farmers have long been our nation’s first conservationists. We believe that the Working Farms Fund will have lasting economic, social and environmental benefits not only for our farmers, but the communities they live in and serve.

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Our Approach

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Growing Greener Foundations

Building the capacity of local nonprofits, grassroots organizations, and neighborhood residents is an essential part of our community-centered approach and ensures those that live, work, and play near these Parks with Purpose projects benefit from their development. Engaging with and empowering the community is key in the Fund’s approach to developing these new urban parks.

Our Work

Parks with Purpose

Our Parks with Purpose program focuses on some of our most vulnerable urban communities. Through equitable park development projects and a community-centered approach, we work with residents to transform and restore blighted, inner city properties into vibrant new parks. Not only do these new greenspaces provide safe places for kids to play and neighbors to gather, but they also reduce stormwater flooding impacts, train and employ local residents, provide access to fresh, healthy foods, and create natural habitat in these highly urbanized neighborhoods.

Our Work

The Power Of Peer Exchange

The Conservation Fund is leading efforts to develop and share resources that engage residents, expand capacity for municipal partners, and create opportunities to increase equitable decision making in projects that improve the environment, the economy, and the social fabric of local communities.

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Cities Program

The Conservation Fund works across America to support healthy, vibrant cities and more equitable and livable neighborhoods. We start by listening, working with people, local partners, and civic leaders to implement their visions. Our balanced approach to nature and our built environment is helping to revitalize neighborhoods, unite communities, and position cities to thrive for every resident.

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E-News Signup

y signing up for our e-news updates, you agree to receive periodic communication from The Conservation Fund / Resourceful Communities. You can easily unsubscribe at any time, and we commit to only contacting you with pertinent, timely information.

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Virtual Trainings

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Grants and Other Resources

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Resourceful Communities

Many of America's most important natural areas are frequently home to our most economically and socially distressed communities.  Resourceful Communities creates opportunities that preserve the rural landscape, lift people out of poverty and celebrate our partner communities’ unique cultures.  Working with a network of 500 grassroots and community organizations, we take a balanced 'triple bottom-line' approach that generates economic, environmental and social justice benefits.  Our effective combination of direct support, skills building and connections to resources nurtures real change where it’s needed the most.  By bringing together communities and conservation, people and places, we have created or retained over 2,200 jobs, and advanced a $12 to $1 return on investments in community solutions.

Our Work

Latest Webinars

As a component of the annually-offered Conservation Banking Training course, we developed a series of twelve case studies. Resources for the 8-part webinar series being offered from October 2020 – January 2021 can be found here. This series is designed to provide an introduction to foundational topics related to conservation banking for endangered species and habitat recovery, as well as joint authority programs that mitigate for impacts to wetlands and streams.

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Our Projects

We have experience providing mitigation solutions for the often unavoidable impacts of infrastructure projects on the following resources:

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Our Services

Founded in 1985, The Conservation Fund is America’s leader in acquiring land for conservation, with over 8.5 million acres protected for communities and the environment.

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Freshwater Institute News

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Mitigation Solutions

Infrastructure improvements are underway throughout America, and we recognize that balancing economic development with sound environmental practices is essential for America's prosperity. Our mitigation solutions achieve important conservation results by protecting high-priority wildlife habitat, clean water, and recreation areas.

Our Work

RAS Talk Podcast

We started a podcast in 2020 as a new way to engage stakeholders and extend our work on land-based recirculating aquaculture systems. The podcast is produced in partnership with Annex Business Media, the publisher of aquaculture industry publications Hatchery International, Aquaculture North America, and RAStech. Freshwater Institute director Dr. Brian Vinci co-hosts the podcast with the editor of Hatchery International and RASTECH publications. Together they tackle the important issues in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems with prominent industry leaders. Click below to listen the most recent episodes.

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Freshwater Institute – Address and Directions

We have adequate turn-around space for a tractor trailer, a loading dock and a tractor-mounted fork lift for unloading pallets. If you have a large or unusual load requiring special considerations please contact us in advance to assure appropriate assistance is available on your arrival.

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Events

The 2022 RAS Course is scheduled for August 16–19 in Miami, FL at the AC Hotel Miami Dadeland. The course includes a tour of the RAS facilities at Atlantic Sapphire.

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RAS Course

This four-day course on water recirculating aquaculture systems started in 1995 at Cornell University in cooperation with Freshwater Institute staff.

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Aquaculture Innovation Workshop

The annual Aquaculture Innovation Workshop (AIW) is dedicated to the presentation of the latest developments in sustainable aquaculture.

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Research Publications

For over 30 years, Freshwater Institute scientists and engineers have published their work to share results with as wide an audience as possible. We are passionate about communicating what we find to those who can use the information. As such, we are committed to Open Access (OA) science and where possible we have provided a link to access publications at no cost, generally under Creative Commons (CC BY) license. Just click on the publication’s title in the list below to access a publication. If you would like to discuss our research in depth please contact any Freshwater Institute staff member listed as an author or co-author; we would be pleased to hear from you.

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Industry Publications

For over 30 years, Freshwater Institute scientists and engineers have published their work to share results with as wide an audience as possible. We are passionate about communicating what we find to those who can use the information. As such, we are committed to publishing our results in various outlets to reach as many stakeholders as possible. Just click on a publication’s title in the list below to access it. If you would like to discuss our research in-depth, please contact any Freshwater Institute staff member listed as an author or co-author; we would be pleased to hear from you.

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We have the opportunity to conserve 5 million acres of at-risk forests over the next 10 to 15 years. With your help, we can protect these forests—our best natural defense against climate change—and the wildlife, clean water, and forestry jobs that depend on them.

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Publications

For nearly three decades, the Freshwater Institute has specialized in the research and design of aquaculture systems technology, as well as solutions to the water quality constraints and impacts presented by our farms and communities. Through our numerous publications, both in science and industry, we share our progress and research findings in order to support our complimentary goals of environmental sustainability, human health and economic vitality.

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Our Approach

We work with each of our partners to help them achieve their conservation goals in a way that meets their unique needs. Unlike commercial lenders, whose services are limited, we offer a wide range of assistance to help your organization with financial support and project management in a timely and effective manner. We invest in your success. Think of us as partners, mentors and trusted advisors.

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E-Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up for our e-newsletter, you agree to receive periodic communication about the latest news and work done by the Conservation Leadership Network. You can easily unsubscribe at any time, and we commit to only contacting you with pertinent, timely information.

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Conservation Loans

The urgency and pace of conservation can be impeded by a lack of timely funding.  Our Conservation Loans program offers flexible financing as well as sustained and expert technical assistance to land trusts and other organizations aiming to protect key properties in their communities, increase access to green and open-space, recover natural habitats, provide conservation education programs, and help people connect with nature. Since our first loan in 1993, we’ve helped our partners achieve their conservation goals, providing more than $235 million in nearly 400 loans to 190 partners. Local conservationists have protected more than 155,000 acres across 40 states—lands valued at more than $450 million—with funds from our continually revolving pool of loan capital.  We are a land trust as well as a lender, investing in our shared conservation goals. Contact us today to learn more. 

Impact

Conservation’s Role in a Cleaner Energy Future

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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2023 Balancing Nature and Commerce Course

 This national course offering is an opportunity for gateway communities from around the country to participate in 2 webinars and a 3-day in-person workshop to catalyze collaborative action, cultivate local leadership and advance solutions.

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Increasing Ready Capital to Our Revolving Fund

For 36 years, The Conservation Fund has been America’s leading nonprofit helping federal, state and local agency partners achieve conservation goals. We provide bridge financing that allows us to purchase critical lands directly from landowners and hold them until our partners have the federal funding needed to ultimately buy them…

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Conservation Leadership Network

We believe communities and corporations can achieve environmental and economic successes when they work together to develop shared knowledge, networks and technical skills. Our Conservation Leadership Network (CLN) is a team of experts that brings diverse constituencies together to achieve common ground.

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Conservation Acquisition

Protecting land and water with high conservation value is essential for America's environmental health and its economic vitality. The Conservation Fund enables conservationists, government agencies, community leaders and land trusts to swiftly protect properties for wildlife, recreation and/or historic significance. Often a landowner's timetable to sell does not align with available funding from private and public sources. Our capital supplies the timely bridge financing that is critical to help our partners save important properties.

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Business Partnerships

It’s our mission to ensure smart conservation and sound economic outcomes go hand-in-hand, and by working with businesses we can accomplish just that — measurable, lasting results for conservation and communities that meet business or company ESG goals. America’s sustainable future depends on healthy lands, waters and people. Together, we can make that future possible.

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U-Haul

U-Haul, the largest do-it-yourself moving company in North America, wanted to give its customers renting equipment at more than 21,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada and on uhaul.com a simple way to make their move a little bit greener. Beginning in 2007, the company partnered with The Conservation Fund to offer customers a chance to donate $3, $5 or $10 at checkout to plant trees and offset their moving-related emissions.

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Urban Parks

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Aquaculture

For nearly three decades, the Freshwater Institute has specialized in aquaculture technology known as recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). RAS makes it possible to raise fish on land in a sustainable way—for food production, recreational fishing or habitat restoration—that filters and recycles water and repurposes waste to support both environmental and economic vitality.

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Climate Resiliency & Water Management

The Conservation Fund understands that effective urban water management delivering clean water to more than 80 percent of Americans who live in cities and their suburbs involves multiple challenges: Restoring and maintaining urban water quality, effectively managing storm water by adding new green spaces to hold and filter water, ensuring that clean water benefits are accessible to all and safeguarding community roads, buildings and bridges from flooding and intense precipitation.

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Support for Underserved Communities

The Conservation Fund provides support for underserved communities facing the challenges of poverty, limited access to healthy food and loss of land. With support from grants, networking and technical assistance, The Fund guides these communities to build upon their assets and advance towards economic vitality, social justice and overall environmental improvement.

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Rural Economic Development

The Conservation Fund understands the potential many rural communities with abundant natural resources have as gateways to parks, forests and waterways. The Fund also appreciates the struggle to balance rural economic development while protecting these natural spaces. With conservation as the foundation, our programs engage grassroots and community organizations, local governments and businesses in a collaborative effort to advance strong economies while preserving these crucial natural resources.

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Balancing Nature and Commerce Program

Balancing Nature and Commerce catalyzes collaborative action, cultivates local leadership and advances solutions for gateway communities that are economically reliant on nearby lands and waters. Through workshops and technical assistance, we bring together participants from diverse sectors and interests to identify assets, develop vision and actions, and implement for community and conservation benefit. Our work is the process of convening and connecting, as well as creating the product that best meets the needs of the community – from an action plan for a single project to a more comprehensive vision and collection of strategies and activities to achieve that vision.

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Sustainable Community Development

At The Conservation Fund, we know conservation starts with communities. Our efforts to conserve land and combat climate change are complemented by strategic initiatives that boost community prosperity and help build vibrant communities.

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Capturing Carbon Through Working Forests

Forests are an essential tool in addressing climate change. We are committed to stopping the deforestation and fragmentation of high conservation value forests and managing them for better climate outcomes.

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Partnering to Address Climate Change

Taking on the big, complex challenges of climate change calls for collaboration. We must innovate, share ideas, ignite change, and raise awareness about what is happening and what can be done to lessen the impacts of climate change in our cities, rural crossroads and natural areas across the country.

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Wildlife Protection

Capturing a view of an animal in the wild is nothing short of thrilling; whether you're at a national park, a wildlife preserve, visiting a migratory pathway, or even just in your own backyard. The Conservation Fund's wildlife protection efforts help ensure that wild animals have a safe place to live, rest, breed and travel. Discover a few of the spots we've preserved that help species to thrive in the wild.

Impact

The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute is selected for NewTechAqua Award Challenge

Freshwater Institute announced today its selection for the 2023 NewTechAqua Award Challenge. Freshwater Institute’s real-time fish mortality detection system was one of five entries chosen from 47 proposals for the Award Challenge — and it is the only winner from the United States.

Projects

Parks with Purpose in Raleigh

Through the Parks with Purpose program, the Fund is providing support and capacity building to local environmental non-profits and youth leaders committed to environmental science, stewardship, and advocacy.

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Protecting Recreation Areas

By protecting more than 90 percent of the 7.8 million acres of U.S. open public recreation areas, we’re working to ensure favorite hiking trails and fishing spots to lands for hunting and birding, will be handed down from one generation to the next.

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Loxa lucie

Located in northern Palm Beach County and Southern Martin County, Loxa-Lucie is a mosaic of wetland marshes and low-elevation pinelands that are critical to maintaining the healthy watersheds of the Loxahatchee River and South Fork of the St. Lucie River. Your donation today will hep protect this incredible Florida landscape.

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Cultural Conservation

Through our cultural conservation efforts of protecting historic and culturally significant sites, we are able to broaden our knowledge of the past. Being able to experience the landscapes that shaped our country gives us a greater understanding of the struggles and achievements that formed our national identity.

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Wetland and Watershed Conservation

Our efforts to conserve ecologically sensitive wetlands and watersheds help protect freshwater quality and wildlife habitat while safeguarding clean, sustainable drinking water. By planting trees and developing key strategies for their preservation and restoration, we help protect these fragile ecosystems, ensuring they remain a vibrant and healthy part of every community.

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Sustainable Agriculture

The Conservation Fund recognizes that nearly 40 percent—915 million acres—of U.S. land is farm and ranchland, supporting more than two million farms and three million farmers. From 10-acre farms in Ann Arbor, Michigan to 10,000-acre ranches in Green River Valley, Wyoming, we encourage and protect sustainable agriculture that allows farmland to be both preserved and working productively.

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Dave Walker

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Matt VanDyke

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Gates Watson

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Forest Conservation

We believe that forest conservation can be both economically viable and ecologically sustainable, but like all other necessary parts of our national infrastructure, they need to be invested in and maintained. That's why, since 1985, we've protected more than two million forest acres across America.

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Projects

Three Rivers Forest – New York

Roughly 51,334 acres sitting deep in the heart of Adirondack Park are now on a path toward permanent protection, being managed by The Conservation Fund as a sustainable working forest.

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Lake Iliamna

Laka Iliamna is the heart of the Bristol Bay watershed, the largest — and most valuable — salmon fishery in the world.

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Our Ratings

  The Conservation Fund has the distinction of being one of the nation’s Top-Rated land conservation organizations. Our efficiency is a hallmark of who we are. More than 95% of annual spending goes to conservation programs. For our efforts, we have achieved Charity Navigator’s 4-star rating for sound…

Projects

Harbour-8 Park

Through The Conservation Fund’s Parks With Purpose program, we are helping Pogo Park create additional park space in the Iron Triangle.

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Parks with Purpose in Durham

Enhancing the ecological health of Goose Creek stream while bringing triple bottom-line benefits to the surrounding Durham communities.

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Parks with Purpose in Baltimore

Garrett Park is a hidden gem of greenspace nestled in the heart of the South Baltimore neighborhood of Brooklyn.

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Parks with Purpose in Kansas City

A new green space in the Marlborough community aims to provide flood resilience, public health benefits and workforce training opportunities.

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Mattie Freeland Park

Over many years, The Conservation Fund has supported the Friends of Mattie Freeland Park with fundraising, community art installations and a Park Ambassador program to support programming and green infrastructure maintenance.

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Kathryn Johnston Memorial Park

Working with residents and grassroots organizations in some of the city’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods, we are reclaiming and restoring urban lands that have long been neglected.

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Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill

Atlanta’s Food Forest is the first of its kind, providing fresh produce in a community that has limited access to affordable, healthy foods.

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Lindsay Street Park

We’ve transformed six vacant and blighted lots into the first park for the English Avenue community, providing a unique nature based setting in a densely urban environment.

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Atlanta Green Space Assessment

This green space will not only improve public health by providing open space for recreation, it has the additional goals of stormwater flood mitigation, economic development and improved water quality.

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Parks with Purpose in Atlanta

We are creating safe places to play, job training and easy access to greenspace in Atlanta’s historically underserved communities.

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Try This NC: Rural Community Health Strategies that Work

Try This NC is a website designed to help rural North Carolinians find ways to incorporate healthy choices into their daily lives.

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Faith and Food

Resourceful Communities provides rural churches with training to strengthen skills, small grants to support innovative projects and networking opportunities to build new partnerships, and connect with community groups.

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Food and Farm Initiative

North Carolina’s Coastal Plains and Sandhills regions are home to half of the state’s “food deserts,” despite rich agricultural land.

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Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Pooled Fund for Infrastructure Mitigation

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has partnered with The Conservation Fund to establish the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Pooled Fund (EMR Pooled Fund).

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Wind Energy and the Illinois Chorus Frog

The Conservation Fund is working with IDNR, Heartlands Conservancy and other partners to identify priority acquisition and restoration sites that would benefit the Illinois chorus frog

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Range-wide Indiana Bat and Northern Long-Eared Bat In-Lieu Fee Program

The Range-wide Indiana Bat and Northern Long-Eared Bat In-Lieu Fee Program provides a practical mitigation option for unavoidable adverse impacts to Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats.

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An Emerald Necklace for Los Angeles

Implementing the Expanded Vision plan will yield significant long-term benefits to Los Angeles County and its residents.

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Protecting the Gopher Tortoise along Georgia’s Coastline

One of the few tortoises native to North America, the gopher tortoise is facing serious pressures from urban development and habitat degradation.

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Mount Hope Community Garden, San Diego, California

Established by Project New Village, the Mount Hope Community Garden provides a Southeastern San Diego neighborhood a greenspace to practice sustainable agriculture.

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Forestland Around Fort Stewart in Georgia

To help the Army limit incompatible development in the vicinity of the Fort Stewart and preserve an area of diverse forest habitat, the Fund purchased more than 3,000 acres of mixed pine and hardwood forestland just west of Hinesville.

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Preserving Habitat While Maintaining Military Readiness — Camp Williams, Utah

Protecting valuable habitat that surrounds our military installations is vital to both our national security and the species that need these buffer lands to survive.

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Melrose Air Force Range

The flat, open expanse of grassland prairie in the plains region of eastern New Mexico makes an ideal location for cattle ranchers, vulnerable wildlife species and even the U.S. Air Force. But can these three different interests find common ground?

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Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape, Minnesota

Rich with ecological and recreational benefits, this boundary — known as a Sentinel Landscape — has been deemed high priority for environmental protection by a broad group of partners.

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Illinois Working Lands, Water, and Wildlife Conservation Partnership

The Illinois Working Lands, Water and Wildlife Partnership is a new alliance formed to accelerate the pace of working land conservation in Illinois.

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Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

Due to widespread habitat loss, only about 50 ocelots exist in the entire country, and the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in southern Texas supports one of last two remaining populations of these wild cats.

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North Coast Forest Conservation Initiative

Since 2004, we have owned and managed more than 74,000 acres: Buckeye, Garcia River, Big River, Salmon Creek and Gualala River forests.

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Clarion Junction Forest – Pennsylvania

In the largest conservation acquisition by a nonprofit in Pennsylvania history, we purchased the 32,598-acre Clarion Junction Forest in Elk and McKean Counties in 2018. 

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Minnesota’s Heritage Forest — Minnesota

As one of the largest land conservation acquisitions in recent state history, our purchase provides time for the development of permanent conservation strategies that will preserve working forestland, safeguard jobs, and help mitigate climate change.

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Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Initiative

This 40-million-acre region supports a wide variety of fish and wildlife, including rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic char, grayling, lake trout and northern pike as well as brown bear, caribou, moose and myriad migratory birds.

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Conservation for Culture: Alaska’s Glacier Bay Preserves More than a Park

Through a unique partnership, sacred Alaskan cultural land is being protected for traditional uses as part of the national park.

Ways to give

Giftlands

Giftlands are donated properties—most often without any conservation value—that we can use to support our Revolving Fund. Our Giftlands program provides a unique opportunity for businesses, foundations, family offices and others to donate surplus real estate and directly advance our efforts to conserve America’s most vital lands and waters.

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Pedro Bay Rivers Project, Alaska

Between 2015 and 2022 we worked with our partners to conserve more than 13,880 acres of wild salmon habitat on Iliamna Lake.

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Researching and Restoring West Virginia’s Declining Brook Trout Population

A collaboration between the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute looks to increase the success of brook trout reintroduction efforts and restore West Virginia’s brook trout population.

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USFWS Hatchery Modernization Project

The goal of this project was to assess five different national fish hatcheries across the United States and develop plans to modernize the facilities.

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Supporting the Viability and Expansion of Land-Based Aquaculture

A five-year plan to support the research and sustainable growth of land-based, closed-containment fish farming in the United States.

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Improving Feeds for Land-based Salmon Farming

Fueled by increased global demand for salmon and the opportunity to help salmon farmers accelerate development to meet this demand, The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute and Cargill have partnered together to develop, evaluate, and enhance feeds for the growing land-based aquaculture industry.

Ways to give

Cornerstone Society

Projects

Supporting the Growth of Land-based Atlantic Salmon Production

The Freshwater Institute recently completed a research project in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility and Wisconsin Sea Grant to accelerate land-based aquaculture development in the U.S. Great Lakes region.

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Responding to Climate Change

At The Conservation Fund, we are proactively developing and using innovative, climate-smart conservation strategies and applying practical land management solutions to address the way this crisis is altering our lands, waters and livelihoods.

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Planned Giving

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Workplace Giving

A gift through your workplace is an easy way to support The Conservation Fund! Some companies participate in matching gift programs as well. Learn more below.

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Donor Advised Funds

Projects

Strategic Conservation Plan: Blackwater 2100

Worldwide sea levels have risen approximately six inches over the past century, and in the Chesapeake Bay it’s double that.

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Adapting to Climate Change at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

If no action is taken, virtually all of today’s tidal wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay will erode to open water by the end of the 21st century as sea levels rise at an ever faster pace.

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Claire Cooney

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Green Infrastructure Plan for Nashville

Located in Davidson County, Tennessee, Nashville is a uniquely beautiful place, defined by the wide and winding Cumberland River that flows through downtown, and surrounded by forested hills, sites rich in history, community gardens, parks and lakes.

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Give Monthly

A monthly gift from you provides The Conservation Fund with a steady and dependable source of funding as we work to protect America’s outdoors. Since a recurring donation is processed automatically, you also help us reduce our costs. Your donation amount can be adjusted or stopped at any time and…

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Ways to Give

Your gift will support conservation that’s good for our communities, our economy and America’s lands. Your gift matters. There are a number of ways to support The Conservation Fund. Choose one that’s right for you.

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Donate

Your gift to The Conservation Fund benefits America’s lands, waters and communities. No matter what inspires you to give today, you can trust that we will put your donation into action and create lasting results for nature and for people. Thank you!…

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Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative

The Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative, a coalition of nonprofit conservation organizations, has helped to develop a strategic plan that prioritizes the most important areas of land that protect the area’s drinking water.

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Finding the Flint River

We’re working with partners in the Atlanta area to put the Flint River back on the map and make the vision of a healthy, accessible Flint River a reality.

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Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network

The largest watershed in Michigan, Saginaw Bay includes more than 7,000 miles of rivers and streams, and 175 inland lakes.

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Christopher Bell

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Greenseams® Milwaukee

The Conservation Fund and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District launched a pioneering flood management program to protect important open spaces in the metropolitan area.

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Land Conservation

Protecting valuable, conservable land is essential to America's environmental health and economic vitality.  Our land conservation efforts make it possible for conservationists, community leaders, land trusts and government to swiftly and efficiently safeguard these properties for wildlife, recreation, historic significance or to help balance our built environment.

Projects

Preserving the Former Vistoso Golf Course in Oro Valley, Arizona

With the help of many dedicated residents, The Conservation Fund will acquire and preserve 202 acres of open space in Oro Valley, Arizona to enhance the area’s natural, cultural and recreational resources.

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Illinois Hill Prairie Habitat Restoration

The Illinois Hill Prairie Habitat Restoration Project is a multi-year effort to restore, expand and connect the rare hill prairie ecosystem in Central Illinois, across portions of Mason, Menard, Cass, Morgan and Scott counties.

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Pelican River Forest – Wisconsin

Our purchase of these lands provides time to develop permanent conservation strategies that will preserve the forest, safeguard jobs, and provide public recreational access.

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Columbia Gorge Forest – Washington & Oregon

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure a landscape important for communities, cultural heritage, recreation, wildlife, timber production and the fight against climate change.

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Zion Regional Recreation Management Plan

The Plan will foster coordination and collaboration for recreation-related projects and initiatives advanced by communities, agencies and organizations.

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Madison/Boone Resource & Recreation Action Plan

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Suwannee River Headwaters Forest – Georgia

One of the largest remaining free-flowing rivers in the Southeast, the Suwannee River originates in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

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Atlanta’s Former Chattahoochee Brick Company Site

The historic Chattahoochee Brick site is on a path toward becoming Atlanta’s newest riverfront park.

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Marton Ranch, Wyoming

The 35,670-acre Marton Ranch encompasses vast wildlife habitat and a premier fly-fishing location within the North Platte region outside Casper, Wyoming.

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Minnesota Chippewa Tribe – Bois Forte Band

By reuniting 28,000 acres with the Bois Forte Band and ensuring the long-term stewardship of these forests, we honor the heritage of this land.

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Colorado’s Historic Splendid Valley

Preserving agricultural heritage and locally grown produce for future generations on Colorado’s rapidly growing Front Range.

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Pikes Peak Region – Colorado Springs

Long term vision and partnership protects significant open space at Colorado’s second fastest growing city.

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Preserving the Appalachian Trail Experience in Virginia and Vermont

In collaboration with partners, we will continue to protect public access, scenic views and wildlife habitat along this trail system.

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Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee

The Cherokee National Forest is an invaluable natural landscape full of recreation opportunities, biodiversity and cultural heritage.

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Ten Mile River Forest – New York

By leveraging proceeds from our pioneering green bonds and a private partnership, we launched an initiative to protect 9,400 acres of the historic Ten Mile River Scout Reservation.

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Military Readiness Fund

The Military Readiness Fund supports the permanent conservation of high priority lands near military bases.

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Impact

11,300 Acres Poised to Become Oklahoma’s First State Forest

Deal between The Conservation Fund and Nuveen Natural Capital sets the stage for new outdoor recreation.

Impact

Celebrating the Women Who Tell Our Conservation Stories

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.

Impact

Public Access, Community Needs Balanced in Maine

Initiative protecting nearly 12,000 acres on Canadian border began more than a decade ago.

Impact

Conecuh National Forest in Alabama Gains Critical Land

One of Alabama’s most beautiful and ecologically diverse national forests has gained new protected land.

Impact

Historic Jake’s Woods Boulder Field in Georgia Acquired

The historic, 28-acre Jake’s Woods property in Clinton, Georgia will become a new county park open to the public starting in 2024.

Impact

Conserving Land and History in Alabama’s Black Belt

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.

Impact

Partnering with Apple to Support Black Landowners

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.

Impact

Abby Spring Named Senior VP of Strategic Engagement

The Conservation Fund is pleased to announce the hiring of Abby Spring as Senior Vice President Of Strategic Engagement.

Impact

Future Plans For du Pont Estate In Del. Announced

Longwood Gardens and The Conservation Fund have entered into a binding agreement with Granogue Reserve for Longwood to acquire and operate Granogue, a 505-acre estate.

Impact

Egg Mountain Archaeological Site Acquired in Vermont

The Archaeological Conservancy has acquired the Egg Mountain Archaeological Site, a late 18th-century settlement in Vermont.

Impact

The Conservation Fund Hails Passage Of Integrity Act

“This important law will allow the critical business of private land conservation to continue in an honest and above-board manner.”

Impact

Four Ways We Enriched 2022 Through Conservation

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.

Impact

Critical Bristol Bay Habitat Protected in Alaska

Conservation easements on Pedro Bay Corporation land safeguard cultural, ecological and subsistence resources and block construction of Pebble Mine transportation route.

Impact

Take Care of the Land and the Land Will Take Care of You

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.

Impact

Largest Unconserved Portion of Virginia’s Fones Cliffs Secured

Building on its earlier work to protect Virginia’s historic Fones Cliffs, The Conservation Fund today announced its acquisition of an additional 964 acres along the Rappahannock River.

Impact

The Time to Act Is Now: Pedro Bay Rivers Project

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 opportunity.

Impact

Amplify Your Giving Tuesday Impact!

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!

Impact

Large Acquisition in Maine Takes Shape

The Conservation Fund acquires 6,300 acres in eastern Maine, including important deer wintering habitat.

Impact

Maine’s Bethel Community Forest Grows by 532 Acres

Inland Woods + Trails and The Conservation Fund partner to expand community recreation, prevent fragmentation of historic working forest

Impact

USDA Funding To Support Opportunities In Alabama

The Conservation Fund will use funding to prioritize at-risk Civil Rights and Black history sites in rural communities across the state

Impact

Celebrating the Growth of Our Working Farms Fund

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. Join us!

Impact

Permanent Land Protection Secures Veterans Retreat

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.

Impact

California Land Trust Secures Tynan Ranch

The 178-acre Tynan Ranch, located one-half mile from the current urban growth line of the City of Watsonville, serves as an important buffer between the city and farmland.

Impact

Altamaha River Conservation Improves Military Readiness

The Conservation Fund, Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield and the Georgia-Alabama Land Trust announced the protection of 3,800 acres along the Altamaha River.

Impact

Ribbon Cutting Celebrates New Park in Atlanta

Impact

Helping Endangered Bats Via Compensatory Mitigation

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.

Impact

Tennessee’s Fall Creek Falls State Park Gains Acreage

Impact

Regaining Lost Land in a Empowering and Inspiring Way

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.

Impact

Land Protected at Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

The Conservation Fund assisted the park service, in consultation with the tribes, by securing this land to better experience, interpret and commemorate the place where the Sand Creek Massacre occurred.

Impact

Fighting for the Future of Atlanta’s Chattahoochee Brick Site

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.

Impact

Conservation leaders celebrate National Public Lands Day

Tribal leaders and conservation partners gather at Waterrock Knob to celebrate land conservation achievements.

Impact

North Carolina Partners Celebrate New State Forest

The state forest will increase recreational access, water quality protections and wildlife habitat in northwestern North Carolina.

Impact

The Conservation Fund Receives USFWS Award

The Conservation Fund, a leading land conservation organization in the U.S., is honored to receive the National Land Protection Award.

Impact

Sabine Ranch: A Conservation Love Story

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.

Impact

27,000-Acre Forest Added to AMC’s Maine Woods Initiative

Purchase of Pleasant River Headwaters Forest marks 100,000 acres under permanent protection by the Maine Woods Initiative.

Impact

Matt Purdy Named Director of Forest Investments

The Conservation Fund is pleased to announce the hiring of Matt Purdy as Director of Forest Investments.

Impact

Beebe River Watershed Conservation Effort Completion Celebrated

A multi-year effort to protect forestland and aquatic resources within the Beebe River watershed in central New Hampshire is complete.

Impact

Partners Launch Strategy for Selma-to-Montgomery

The moment accentuates an unprecedented partnership between historic Alabama Black Belt communities and private sector preservationists.

Impact

Signing Ceremony to Acquire Elktonia/Carr’s Beach to City to Take Place on August 12

This last remnant of historic former Black beaches in Annapolis will become a Waterfront Heritage Community Park.

Impact

Golden State of Mind: Conserving California

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.

Impact

Addition to Chattahoochee National Forest

The U.S. Forest Service and The Conservation Fund announce the addition of a 272-acre tract of land to the Chattahoochee National Forest.

Impact

Durham’s Green Economy Gets Boost From U-Haul

Five grassroots organizations are using grant funding to help build long-term, sustainable solutions for underserved populations.

Impact

Program Advancing Farmland Ownership Expands to Chicago

An innovative program designed to build equity and resiliency in food systems around metro regions has expanded to the Chicago area.

Impact

Conservation Effort at Arkansas Wildlife Refuge Complete

A multi-year effort to add valuable ecological land to Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Arkansas is complete.

Impact

Looking Back at a Historic Day for the Bois Forte Band

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 of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. Chairwoman Chavers shares with us what this historic event means to her and the Bois Forte tribal members.

Impact

The New York Times Feature: Protecting Bristol Bay’s Salmon

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.

Impact

Time to Hit the Trail! Celebrating National Trails Day

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.

Impact

The Fund Acquires Former Chattahoochee Brick Site in Atlanta

Today, national environmental nonprofit The Conservation Fund announced its purchase of the 77-acre former Chattahoochee Brick Company site.

Impact

Bois Forte Band Regains Historic Tribal Land

The Bois Forte Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe has completed purchase of land that restores to the Band more than 28,000 acres.

Impact

Trolley Trail In Northeast Pennsylvania Poised To Grow

Work to convert the long abandoned Northern Electric Trolley corridor in Pennsylvania into a recreational trail is receiving a boost.

Impact

BLM kicks off Great American Outdoors Month

In partnership with The Conservation Fund, the Bureau of Land Management finalized two acquisitions totaling over 40,000 acres.

Impact

Capturing the Essence of Bristol Bay, Alaska

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 flourish in California, but what?

Impact

Wisconsin Forests Benefit People and the Planet

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!

Impact

Effort Launched to Conserve Historic New York Scout Camp

Purchase of land from the 95-year-old scout reservation will preserve wildlife habitat connectivity and recreation opportunities.

Impact

A Rare Opportunity to Unlock More Funding for Conservation

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.

Impact

Saving Mifflin House Through Partnership and Perseverance

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 Railroad in central Pennsylvania.

Impact

Underground Railroad Site in Pennsylvania Purchased

An essential stopover point along the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania is being secured for future generations.

Impact

Military Readiness, Harriet Tubman Legacy Supported

Conservation easements on two Eastern Shore properties achieve multifaceted mission of environmental and cultural protections, and U.S. Navy operations.

Impact

Growing a Sustainable and Fair Local Food System

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 The Conservation Fund, acquired a new farm property to help achieve its goals.

Impact

Growing a Sustainable and Fair Local Food System

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

Impact

Earth Day 2022: Invest in Conservation

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.

Impact

New Hampshire Working Forest Landscape Conserved

The Conservation Fund and the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands announced the completion of a multi-year effort to protect 6,395 acres of forestland and aquatic resources within the Beebe River watershed in central New Hampshire.

Impact

This Earth Month, Invest in Our Planet

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 the well-being of people, wildlife and ecosystems around the world

Impact

Partners Secure 850 Acres in Key Tennessee Landscape

The projects provides a critical link among existing protected areas in Tennessee, including the Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park, Cumberland Gap National Historic Park and the Kentucky Ridge State Forest.

Impact

Protecting and Appreciating America’s Forests

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.

Impact

An Exciting Milestone: We’ve Issued 400 Conservation Loans

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 and San Gabriel Rivers. Since then, Amigos de los Rios and its partners have made strides towards this vision, known as the Emerald Necklace Vision Plan, to protect water resources while expanding parks and green infrastructure, particularly in underserved LA County communities that previously had little access to nature. They’ve converted abandoned lots, empty street medians and other neglected spots into pockets of green, making an “Emerald Necklace” for their community. We helped bring that vision to life with bridge financing needed for Amigos de los Rios to have sustained income while waiting for public reimbursement payments for its work.

Impact

Women Forging Change

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.

Impact

Grand Teton National Park Preserves Key Parcel

Partners marked the anniversary of Grand Teton National Park's establishment with the acquisition of a 35-acre parcel inside the park’s southwest boundary. The newly protected parcel continues a nearly century-long vision and conservation effort to make Grand Teton whole.

Impact

Western Federal Land Conservation Program Returns

Conservation organizations, sportsmen and women’s groups, and outdoor recreation groups welcome full implementation of the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA).

Impact

Filming History: The Selma to Montgomery March Campsites

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 effort underway to preserve these historically and ecologically significant lands and ensure that the full story of the march does not fall through the cracks of history.

Impact

The Conservation Fund Acquires Former Arizona Golf Course

The Conservation Fund announced its purchase of the 202-acre former Vistoso Golf Course property in Oro Valley, Arizona. Over 600 individuals donated to see this special place protected instead of developed.

Impact

Black Leaders Connecting With Conservation and History

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.

Impact

West Virginia Non-Profits Team Up To Feed Those In Need

The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute and Mountaineer Food Bank teamed up to provide over 4,000 meals of locally-raised salmon fillets to West Virginians in need.

Our Work

How Parks Can Encourage Black Health and Wellness

2022’s Black History Month theme is “Black Health and Wellness.” We know that local parks can provide critical access to green space for Black communities, which in turn improves physical and mental health within those communities.

Impact

Freedom Riders Journey Continues to Inspire

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? We checked in with the National Park Service and others close to this project to find out.

Impact

Celebrating a 15-Year Partnership With U-Haul

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

Impact

Building Parks and Equity in Richmond, California

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 continues with projects like Pogo Park’s Harbour-8 Park in Richmond, California

Impact

Wyoming Wildlife Corridor Gains Additional Protections

Partnership advances long-time conservation effort along the Snake River for wildlife, recreation and local economy.

Impact

Safeguarding the World’s Most Productive Salmon Fishery

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 the ecosystem.

Impact

Addition to Tennessee WMA Supports Habitat Connectivity

The Conservation Fund announced the addition of roughly 1,101 acres to the Bear Hollow Mountain Wildlife Management Area in southcentral Tennessee, in partnership with the Open Space Institute, The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Impact

Big Effort for a Little Shorebird

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?

Impact

Conservation Effort Completed at Florida’s Big Bend

The “Gulf of Mexico – Forest to Sea” project will provide a vast buffer of conservation lands for wildlife habitat, water quality and quantity, and resilience against extreme weather and climate change.

Impact

12,000 Acres of Maine Forests Conserved

The Sebago Clean Waters coalition advanced protections for the Crooked River headwaters and Portland’s drinking water, while also enhancing trail access and climate resiliency.

Impact

To Be Conserved: 14 Miles of the Suwannee River in Georgia

The Conservation Fund’s purchase of 8,760 acres adjacent to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge will enhance recreational access to the river, support climate and fire resiliency, and enable longleaf pine habitat restoration.

Impact

In the Nick of Time: Saving Santa Rita Ranch

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

Impact

Efforts to Protect Atlanta’s Chattahoochee Brick Site Under Way

Efforts to acquire and conserve the former Chattahoochee Brick Company site are currently in the works, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced today.

Impact

Forests, Food and More Conservation Triumphs from 2021

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.

Impact

Sale of SDS Lumber Company and 96,000 Acres Complete

Three entities with strong Northwest ties and deep expertise in timberlands, forest conservation and mill operations have acquired portions of SDS Lumber Company and SDS Co, LLC.

Impact

Historic Dean Witter Ranch Protected in California

The acquisition includes 21,600-acres acquired by The Wildlands Conservancy and roughly 8,000 acres acquired by national nonprofit The Conservation Fund, in a unique and collaborative conservation victory.

Impact

Making it Easy to Give Back to Nature

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 you.

Impact

West Virginia Community Receives Action Plan Funding

USDA award to nonprofit partner The Conservation Fund will help strengthen social, cultural and environmental assets in Madison and Boone County.

Impact

An Under-Utilized Solution to Rural Food Relief

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

Impact

1 Million Trees Planted Thanks To U-Haul Customers

U-Haul and The Conservation Fund are celebrating a meaningful milestone: 1 million trees planted across the U.S. thanks to donations from U-Haul and its customers.

Impact

This Historic Garden Is Here for the “Long” Haul

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

Impact

To the Batcave! Celebrating Bat Week 2021

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

Impact

Five Organizations Giving Back to Nature in Tennessee

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

Impact

Largest Unprotected Forest in Wisconsin Secured

Nonprofit’s purchase of 70,000 acres will support timber industry and outdoor recreation, strengthen rural economies, protect water quality, combat climate change, and maintain critical wildlife habitat.

Our Work

Cultural Conservation Through Community Art in Urban Parks

Join us as we celebrate the unveiling of art projects at three urban parks that add beauty, support minority-owned businesses and enhance lives in these culturally significant conserved places.

Impact

Preserving Open Space Is Par for the Course in Oro Valley

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

Impact

Added Protection for Cherokee National Forest Thanks to VW

Final land conveyance completed in major multi-year effort as part of Volkswagen’s $1.25 million donation to The Conservation Fund.

Impact

Farm Protected Near Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia

Preventing development of the working farmland was a top priority for environmental protection and nearby Army installation operations.

Impact

Three Cheers for NC Forest Conservationist of the Year

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

Impact

At-Risk Wildlife Habitat Protected in Arkansas

The addition of 6,525 acres to Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge will protect critical migratory bird habitat, enhance water quality and expand recreational opportunities in the state.

Impact

Protecting a Biodiversity Hotspot in Tennessee

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

Impact

Freshwater Institute & Cargill Partner to Improve Salmon Feeds

Fueled by increased global demand for salmon and the opportunity to help salmon farmers accelerate development to meet this demand, The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute and Cargill announced a multi-year agreement to develop, evaluate and enhance feeds for the growing land-based aquaculture industry.

Impact

Southeast’s “Hidden” River Also one of its Most Valuable

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

Impact

Maine’s Beloved Wallamatogus Mountain Property Acquired

The Conservation Fund is working with Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Maine Coast Heritage Trust to pursue a permanent conservation solution for the land.

Impact

11,700 Acres Protected at Tennessee’s Skinner Mountain WMA

Conservation easement on private forest opens new lands for recreation, protects vulnerable wildlife habitat and supports local timber jobs.

Impact

Comprehensive Action Required to Secure Alaska’s Bristol Bay

Statement by Larry Selzer, President & CEO, The Conservation Fund.

Impact

COVID-19 Rapid Relief Grants Support Rural Food Security

The Conservation Fund is announcing the allocation of 90 COVID-19 relief grants through its Resourceful Communities program. Grants totaling $1,375,000 were awarded to support a range of COVID-19 relief activities across North Carolina, with a primary focus on locally sourced, emergency food relief in rural communities.

Impact

Colorado’s Sweetwater Lake Officially Protected

Today the White River National Forest completed its acquisition of the 488-acre Sweetwater Lake Ranch in western Colorado.

Impact

Added Protection For The Appalachian Trail In Vermont

Conservation of 629-acres on both sides of the National Scenic Trail ensures natural character, recreational access and critical wildlife habitat.

Impact

Texas Has a Natural Ally in the Fight Against Climate Change

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

Impact

Forests and Climate Change Solutions as featured in The Hill

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

Impact

Richmond Riverfront Supports Future Parkland and Education Center

The Conservation Fund’s purchase helps protect the “View That Named Richmond” and provides opportunities for river access, trail connections and a new James River Association education center.

Impact

Historic Alaska Trail Added to Chugach National Forest

Land and Water Conservation Fund helps permanently protect recreation priority, securing popular trail access and pristine views.

Impact

Atlanta’s Urban Food Forest – Interview with Celeste Lomax

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

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Texas Refuge Enhances Habitat and Coastal Resilience

Addition of 4,800 acres to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge benefits imperiled wildlife and climate change adaption strategies.

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Grizzly Population Growth in Montana

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

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Looking Back with Pride and Ahead with Determination

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

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North Carolina Town Purchases Land for New Park

Acquisition of 86-acre property allows for extension of the Town's greenway trail system and supports water quality for one of Wake County’s primary drinking supply reservoirs.

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Taking PRIDE in LGBTQ+ History and Access to Nature

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

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The Fund Purchases Ranch in Tenino, Washington

The more than 1,500-acre property is now one step closer to protection for the benefit of people and wildlife.

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Alaska Native Corporation Agrees to Protect 44,000 Acres

By an overwhelming majority of 90%, shareholders of the Pedro Bay Corporation voted to protect their land for subsistence and cultural use, as well as to benefit fish and wildlife.

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Safe Shelter for Marchers and Support for a Movement

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

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6,154 Acres Along Georgia’s Altamaha River Purchased

Nonprofit secures large riverside property for longleaf pine restoration, sustainable timber management, and potential recipient site for orphaned gopher tortoises.

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Bringing Forests to the City Through Art

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

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First State National Historical Park Expands

Private organizations donate critical addition to Delaware’s first and only national park.

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Conservation Groups Expand Tennessee’s Fiery Gizzard Trail

Fiery Gizzard Trail in South Cumberland State Park expanded for habitat protection and recreational opportunities.

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Reflecting on the Incarceration of Japanese Americans

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

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From 30×30 to America the Beautiful

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

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Creating Safe Passage for Smoky Mountain Wildlife

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

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Leading Harvest Honors The Fund & CEO Larry Selzer

The Conservation Fund and its President and CEO Larry Selzer were presented with the Founders’ Award by Leading Harvest, a nonprofit organization committed to increasing adoption of sustainability practices in agriculture.

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Three NRCS Awards will Support Food Systems and Water

By working together, we can conserve these agricultural landscapes while supporting the viability of the landowners’ operations.

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Long’s Gardens Farmland in Boulder Conserved

The acquisition fulfills 2019 open space tax measure and preserves the open space, agricultural and community uses of the land.

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Conservation-Inspired Mural Unveiled in Chattanooga

Volkswagen of America and The Conservation Fund revealed today the first tangible impacts from their community grants for environmental groups in eastern Tennessee.

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A step in restoring justice

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When the Genius Met the General

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

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Trail Viewshed Protected on Virginia’s North Mountain

The property visible from the iconic Appalachian Trail was threatened with loss of critical habitat before partners found conservation solution.

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Donors Make Our Work Possible on Earth Day and Every Day (you can too!)

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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Delaware’s Mispillion Harbor Habitat Protected

A 15-year conservation effort secures an essential stopover for migrating birds, including the imperiled Red Knot.

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Safeguarding Black History and Endangered Ecosystems at Fort Blakeley in Alabama

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 African Americans continuing the important work of changing the face of conservation and environmentalism.

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Protecting Our Most Valuable Carbon Capture Technology—Forests

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 African Americans continuing the important work of changing the face of conservation and environmentalism.

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Washing Away Unemployment in Formerly Incarcerated Populations

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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Alaska Federation of Natives Endorses Eklutna Restoration

The Alaska Federation of Natives recently endorsed the restoration of the Eklutna River near Anchorage, Alaska.

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Women Who Are Making Conservation History

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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Finding and Extending Peace Through Parks

Aleemah Ali, our 2020 Charles Jordan Intern, was inspired to launch the Community Art Project after researching how parks can benefit urban communities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her project combines community engagement and creative expression to safely draw the community outdoors into two Parks with Purpose in Atlanta. Her internship might be over, but her bright future is just getting started!

Our Work

Finding and Extending Peace Through Parks

Aleemah Ali, our 2020 Charles Jordan Intern, was inspired to launch the Community Art Project after researching how parks can benefit urban communities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her project combines community engagement and creative expression to safely draw the community outdoors into two Parks with Purpose in Atlanta. Her internship might be over, but her bright future is just getting started!

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Tracking Golden Eagles at Camp Ripley

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 northern U.S. and Canada and put together an interactive map of their locations.

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Alabama’s Sipsey Wilderness Gains Missing Puzzle Piece

Previously threatened land in the heart of Alabama’s beloved Sipsey Wilderness now secured for wildlife, watershed preservation and public recreation.

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Protecting Minnesota’s North Woods

Minnesota’s iconic northern forests are home to some of Minnesota’s most storied species and provide unique outdoor recreation and hunting opportunities.

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Podcast: How Agriculture and Conservation Can Work in Harmony

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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Places and Spaces to Remember Black History

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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North Carolina Natural Area Doubles in Size

Alamance County Recreation & Parks, The Conservation Fund and Piedmont Land Conservancy announced the addition of 432 acres to the Cane Creek Mountain Natural Area in Snow Camp, North Carolina.

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Aspirations and Opportunities of the 30×30 Initiative

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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Playing Cupid to Help Coho Salmon

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 flourish in California, but what?

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African Americans in Conservation: Young Black Conservationists to Know

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 African Americans continuing the important work of changing the face of conservation and environmentalism.

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Recognizing the Past to Inspire a Better Future

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 honoring those who have paved the way for Black conservationists.

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Ingka Investments acquires forestland from the Fund

Ingka Group today announces it has acquired forestland property in the U.S. from The Conservation Fund, a non-profit conservation organization that has protected over 8 million acres of land in the U.S.

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You Can’t Uproot This Forester

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

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Viewshed Enhanced at Linville Gorge in North Carolina

Over 200 acres on Long Arm Mountain now preserved at Linville Gorge in Pisgah National Forest.

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How Alaska Restored Salmon to the Native Eklutna

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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Nature Comes Out the Clear Winner in 2020

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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From a Wild First Date to a Conservation Legacy

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 tuned for more of these personal stories in coming weeks and months.

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Protections for McAfee Knob Views, A.T. Access

One of the most famous vistas on the Appalachian Trail, McAfee Knob, has been given additional protection.

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Alabama Civil War Battle Site Protected

Conservation partnership will preserve the land for environmental and historical value, supporting new opportunities for Civil War research.

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Land Secured For Virginia’s Newest State Forest

The Conservation Fund transfers more than 2,500 acres to the State, ensuring sustainable forest management, protecting wildlife habitat and water quality, and providing recreational access.

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72,440 Acres Of Working Forests Purchased In Minnesota

One of the largest land conservation acquisitions in recent state history will support northern Minnesota’s long tradition of timber production and outdoor recreation.

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Alaska Wildlife Refuge Gains Important Land and Trails

The additional 530 acres of priority habitat will expand land for wildlife and public use.

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Expanding A Vibrant Public Park In Richmond, California

The Conservation Fund transfers land to the City of Richmond and Pogo Park, laying the foundation for an $8.5 million enhancement of Harbour-8 Park and building equity for the Iron Triangle community.

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Caribou-Targhee National Forest Gains Priority Inholding

The protection of the Maytag-Teton Timbers property will ensure additional access to public lands and enhance wildlife habitat protection.

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Alaska Cultural Site Protected Through Partnership

Now protected as part of Glacier Bay National Park, the Berg Bay property will provide the Huna Tlingit access to a traditional cultural site, preserve wildlife habitat and enhance public recreation at the park.

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Wyoming National Forest Gains Priority Inholding

The protection of Loomis Park Ranch conserves historic agricultural uses and wildlife habitat.

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Voluntary Stewardship Agreement to Advance A.T. Conservation

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, and Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC announced a conservation stewardship agreement that will advance work to manage and protect the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

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Full and Permanent Funding Secured for the LWCF

America’s most critical conservation program—“LWCF”—guaranteed full and permanent funding.

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Community Forests Expand Protection in New Hampshire

Land purchases will help to augment town revenue, while ensuring clean drinking water, protecting wildlife habitat, and providing enhanced recreational opportunities.

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Final Piece Protected in Navajo River Watershed

Protection of Banded Peak Ranch marks completion of 30-year effort to conserve 65,000 acres of private ranchlands and wildlife habitat in Southwest Colorado.

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The Conservation Fund Purchases Sweetwater Lake

The acquisition marks a major milestone towards the protection of this historic and beautiful Colorado treasure, but federal LWCF funding still needed.

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Forestland Protected Near Camp Ripley in Minnesota

Private and public partners work together to support Camp Ripley’s training mission while providing new public recreation access, educational opportunities and environmental conservation.

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The Fund Acquires Iconic Pine Forest in Western Maine

Nonprofit’s purchase of 15,000 acres will provide time to develop permanent conservation solutions that support the legacy, livelihood and lifestyle of local communities.

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Volkswagen Community Grant Program Winners Announced

Volkswagen of America and The Conservation Fund announced the winners of the Volkswagen Community Grant Program.

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Nine Organizations Awarded Healthy Food Grants

Final round of grant program provides funding to local organizations working to improve healthy food distribution in underserved communities.

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One of Atlanta’s Largest Remaining Forests Protected

The City of Atlanta partners with The Conservation Fund to preserve priority woodlands in southeast Atlanta for future generations.

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Military Readiness Balances with Utah Community Growth

Protection of open space near Camp Williams supports Army National Guard training while buffering nearby communities and conserving local wildlife

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The Conservation Fund Awarded USDA Funding

Now more than ever, American’s farmlands and ranchlands play an integral role in feeding our families while providing important habitat for a wide array of wildlife.

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Wetland Protected Along Alabama Gulf Coast

Effort advances land conservation goals along the Perdido River for wildlife habitat and public recreation a decade after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

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Effort to Protect Vermont Woodlands Advances

LWCF Forest Legacy Program and private fundraising critical to protecting privately-owned working forestland that supports local timber operations, wildlife habitat and public recreation.

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Blog

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Kansas Farmland Secured for Veterans

SAVE Farm helps veterans build a foundation for sustainable farming.

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Civil War Battle Site Acquired In Northwest Arkansas

The Conservation Fund and Northwest Arkansas Land Trust’s purchase of 140 acres next to the Pea Ridge National Military Park is first step in permanent protection of historic site.

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One of the Largest Open Spaces in Mid-Atlantic Conserved

Acquisition of nearly 1,000 acres in southeastern Pennsylvania completes the initiative, protecting open space for diverse species and public recreation.

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The Conservation Fund Earns National Accreditation

The Conservation Fund receives Second Mark of Distinction in Land Conservation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

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Milwaukee Program Protects Floodplain and New Farmers

Permanent protection of 50-acre working farm advances larger effort to create floodplain protection and opportunities for new and immigrant farmers to grow and sell fresh food in Greater Milwaukee.

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Over 6,000 Acres Added to Tennessee’s Cumberland Trail

Lone Star property will support wildlife habitat, native ecology and additional public recreation opportunities.

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Grand Teton National Park Adds 35 Acres

The acquired parcel preserves the iconic landscape of the Teton Range, prevents residential development and protects important habitat for a variety of wildlife.

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More Than 90 Acres of the Knob Protected in Virginia

Community fundraising and federal Land and Water Conservation Fund have conserved one of Shenandoah Valley’s most beautiful natural landmarks.

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16,000 Acres of Atlantic Coastline Purchased in Georgia

The Conservation Fund and Open Space Institute purchased more than 16,000 acres of critical coastal habitat in Georgia for future protection.

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Documenting and Preserving African American Cemeteries

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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Atlanta Food Forest Receives U.S. Forest Service Award

Today, the U.S. Forest Service recognized the partnership that created the Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill in Atlanta with the 2019 Chief’s Award.

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Ribbon Cutting Celebrates New Park in Atlanta Community

Today, Atlanta City Council Member Antonio Brown, Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner John Dargle, Park Pride, The Conservation Fund, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, and representatives from the English Avenue community, held a ribbon cutting celebration for the long-anticipated English Avenue greenspace, Kathryn Johnston Memorial Park.

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Oklahoma’s Little River Wildlife Refuge Gains Priority Inholding

Protection of high-priority inholding will increase user access to public lands and secure critical habitat for neotropical migratory birds.

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Working Farms Fund Aims to Grow A New Generation of Farmers

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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Partnership with VW to Increase Cherokee National Forest

Volkswagen announces a $1.25 million donation to The Conservation Fund.

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Next Generation Farmers Get Boost from Partnership

Emory University and The Conservation Fund have formed a new partnership to support next-generation farmers in Georgia.

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Chesapeake Cultural Grant Recipients Announced

More than $260,000 will support the research and study of cultural artifacts of the Chesapeake region.

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Little River Canyon Preserve Marks 27th Anniversary

The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy announce tremendous land protection successes within the Little River Canyon National Preserve to mark the 27th anniversary of the Preserve’s creation.

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Greenbelt Bus Tour Celebrates 15 Years of Conservation

Investments in farmland and park protection have provided benefits to the community, water quality, the local food chain, agricultural heritage, and more.

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Georgia Forest Conservation Supports Gopher Tortoise Habitat

Partners protect wildlife management areas across the state, supporting increased public access for recreation, gopher tortoise habitat, longleaf pine forest restoration and local economies.

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The Fund Closes Debut $150 Million Green Bonds

Harnessing Capital Markets to Accelerate Conservation of Working Forests Mitigating Climate Change and Strengthening Rural Economies

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Meet a Texan Who Is Helping to Open New Public Lands on the Gulf Coast

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 Americans quality places to hunt and fish. They help create federal policy and funding solutions by uniting partners and amplifying the voices of American sportsmen and women in service of Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation legacy. As part of their Women Conservationist Wednesday series, they featured Callie Easterly, The Conservation Fund’s Senior Major Gifts Officer for the Gulf Coast, and her work to expand hunting and fishing access on a national wildlife refuge in Texas.

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The Fund Closes Debut $150 Million Green Bonds

The Conservation Fund announced the closing of a first-of-its-kind offer of ten-year green bonds totaling $150 million. Proceeds from the bonds will be used to increase the scale of the Fund’s “Working Forest Fund®”, dedicated to mitigating climate change, strengthening rural economies and protecting natural ecosystems through the permanent conservation of at-risk working forests.

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Efforts to Protect Maggie Valley’s Watershed Celebrated

The Conservation Fund and the Maggie Valley Sanitary District have embarked on a multi-year effort to protect the headwaters of Campbell Creek and Jonathan Creek in Haywood County. Today’s event celebrates the completion of the first phase of the conservation effort, which totals more than 700 acres within the watershed.

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4,350 Acres Added to Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Largest conservation acquisition in Lehigh Valley history reaches finish line thanks to collaboration and support from more than a dozen private and public partners.

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The Conservation Fund Commences Green Bond Offering

The Conservation Fund announced today that it is commencing an offering of taxable Green Bonds of approximately $100 to $150 million. Proceeds from the offering will be used primarily to increase the scale of its “Working Forest Fund®” conservation initiative, dedicated to mitigating climate change, strengthening rural economies and protecting natural ecosystems by the permanent conservation of at-risk forest landscapes.

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Conservation at Lake Erie Islands Supports Migratory Bird Habitat

The protection of 4.4 acres on Middle Bass Island increases recreation opportunities and improves wildlife habitat.

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Helping a New Generation of Farmers Gain Access to Farmland through Easements

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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Tennessee Adds to Skinner Mountain Wildlife Management Area

Partnership with the State and The Conservation Fund opens new public recreational access, secures habitat for endangered species and protects ecologically sensitive forest in the Cumberland Plateau.

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Land Added to Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania

Newly protected property expands opportunities for hiking, fishing and wildlife life-viewing.

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Celebrating the Protection of Virginia’s Historic Fones Cliffs

The decade-long effort preserves an iconic landmark of the Rappahannock Tribe while ensuring permanent protection and public access.

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A New Way to Protect Farmland in Santa Cruz County, California

A local non-profit has teamed up with The Conservation Fund to purchase farmland and then resell it with a conservation easement that forever protects the land as farmland.

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Forestland Added to Catahoula Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana

4,113-acre addition provides important habitat for migratory birds, while helping to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

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Protection of 30,000 Acres Supports New Mexico Air Force Range

Historic project preserves working agricultural landscape, protects the mission of Cannon Air Force Base, and provides added conservation benefits for wildlife.

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Montana Wildlife Management Area Gains Critical Elk Habitat

The 160-acre addition will expand the region’s protected habitat for elk, mule deer, antelope and other wildlife.

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435 Acres of Forestland Donated in Pennsylvania

Over 20 years ago, an ambitious effort began to protect the Susquehanna Riverlands, a state-designated conservation landscape encompassing the wooded gorge between York and Lancaster Counties. This land protection journey began with a 1990s study funded by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and The Conservation Fund.

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Celebrating Conservation Along the Alabama Gulf Coast

Newly conserved property at the Little Point Clear Unit of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge will expand public recreational capabilities for fishing, wildlife viewing, photography, boating, paddling, and other opportunities enjoyed by more than 120,000 visitors a year.

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Public Access Protected at Two Sites Along Upper Colorado River

Eagle County, Colorado and The Conservation Fund announced the transfer of two popular recreational sites adjacent to the Upper Colorado River to Bureau of Land Management, ensuring the continued availability of safe public access for boating, fishing and other forms of recreation.

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Freshwater Institute Partners to Restore Brook Trout Population

The Conservation Fund's Freshwater Institute and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources commit to combatting loss of WV's state fish and increasing success of Brook Trout reintroduction efforts.

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Securing Divided Mountain in the Tri-State Corner

Today The Conservation Fund, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, announced the addition of 186 acres to the Cherokee National Forest, located at the tri-corner area of Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia.

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Land And Water Conservation Fund Permanently Reestablished

In a historic demonstration of bipartisan governing, the U.S. Congress and the President have enacted the “John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act” (S. 47) that includes permanent reauthorization of America’s most critical conservation program, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

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New Wildlife Management Area Created in New Hampshire

With facilitating support from The Conservation Fund, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG) purchased approximately 3,181 acres of land in Newport, Croydon, and Grantham.

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Transporting Healthy Food Grants Winners Announced

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Honoring the Brave and Inspirational Life of Harriet Tubman

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 Tubman Rural Legacy Area. Find out how this project grew from 17 to 28,300 acres, and how its impact is honoring the legacy of its brave namesake.

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Nearly 27,000 Acres Purchased In Maine’s North Woods

Partnership aims to enhance protection in the Pleasant River watershed and provide economic benefits through tourism and sustainable forestry.

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Press Releases

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Lake Michigan Shoreline Added To Hiawatha National Forest

Conserved property will enhance efforts to provide public access to six miles of shoreline.

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McSEED Community Forest: Combining Sustainable Forestry With Economic Development

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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20 Acres Protected Near Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

Land Preservation Protects Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Home of Lost Colony Outdoor Drama.

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Mississippi Acquires Land with Deepwater Horizon Settlement Funds

Over 1,500 acres of essential coastal wildlife habitat at the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Grand Bay Savanna Coastal Preserve in Jackson County was acquired with assistance from The Conservation Fund.

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3,719 Acres of Land Protected for Longleaf Restoration

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Removal Of Alaska’s Eklutna Dam Complete

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The Life and Legacy of Charles Jordan

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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The River Beneath the World’s Busiest Airport

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 the Flint River in her hometown of Atlanta, and her exploration into the area’s past has given her hope for its future.

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North Carolina’s William H. Silver Game Land Celebrated

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Former Girl Scout Camp Site in Pennsylvania is Protected

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Boundary Waters Conservation to Benefit Minnesota Schools

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Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act Reestablished

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Grants Help Increase Healthy Food Access

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For the Love of Mountains

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 access on conserved lands.

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West Virginia’s Elk Have More Room To Roam In Perpetuity

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19,000-Acre Sansavilla Wildlife Management Area Protected

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The Conservation Fund Buys 23,000 Acres Of Forestland In New York, Vermont And Massachusetts

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Deep Connection Between Hunting and Environmentalism

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 in conservation.

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America’s Hometown Dedicates Nature Preserve For Both People And Bats in Missouri

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Protecting Maryland’s Historic Black Beaches

We partnered with the City of Annapolis and the State of Maryland along with Chesapeake Conservancy to protect the 5-acre Elktonia property.

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Environmental Sustainability and Economic Vitality: We Can Have Both

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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Dummy

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Cities

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Community Development

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Food and Farms

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Finance

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Forests

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Wildlife

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Water

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Land

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The Conservation Fund Partners with Apple To Permanently Protect U.S. Working Forests

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Conservation Easement Permanently Protects Largest Private Property In South Boulder Creek Watershed

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Connecting Pinhoti And Appalachian Trails

The Pinhoti Trail is now 339 miles long and connects with the Appalachian Trail, through the Benton MacKaye Trail, at its southern terminus in Springer Mountain, Georgia.