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?
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.
Protecting vital wildlife corridors throughout Florida has never been more important or urgent. With the fastest growing population of any U.S. state in 2022 capping decades of steady growth, Florida’s natural resources are strained. It’s not just plants and animals relying on conservation for survival in the Sunshine State; Florida’s human residents, visitors and economy also rely on a healthy environment. Find out how we’re helping to propel th...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We’re nearing the finish line on the Pedro Bay Rivers project! This collaborative effort aims to secure conservation easements on over 44,000 acres of vital salmon habitat threatened by Pebble Mine and conserve three of the most significant watersheds in Bristol Bay, Alaska. We need your support by the end of 2022 to raise the final funds needed to finance this project. Now is your chance to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime conservation opp...
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!
Cheers to an amazing first two years! We recently had the pleasure of celebrating with the farmers, partners and supporters responsible for the success of our Working Farms Fund initiative. While we wish we could have invited everyone to join us for the delicious, locally sourced meal and farm tour, we invite you now to keep reading for a behind-the-scenes look at the event and an incredible new video featuring some of the evening’s attendees. Jo...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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 ...
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!
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.
While some of our conservation efforts protect vast forests and endangered species, others preserve history and stories of culturally significant places. Together with our partners Preservation Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna National Heritage Area, The Conservation Fund is working on a project that combines preservation of the past with development of the future to honor the history of the Mifflin House—an important station on the Underground R...
Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the union, but buying farmland here comes with the biggest price tag in the country. This high cost makes it nearly impossible for smaller farming operations, particularly new farmers and those of color and lower economic means, to buy land. For more than 40 years, Southside Community Land Trust has been working hard to change this dynamic in communities across Rhode Island, and recently, with help from T...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
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.
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...
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.
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...
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.
The families of David Hall, Rosie Steele, and Robert Gardner have never discussed the contributions their loved ones made to the 1965 Voting Rights March from Selma to Montgomery—until now. The new documentary “54 Miles to Home” is an intimate portrait of these three extraordinary individuals and their families who remain the owners and stewards of these sacred spaces along the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. Find out about the effor...
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.
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?...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
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...
If you’re eating wild sockeye salmon, there’s roughly a 50% chance it was caught in Alaska’s Bristol Bay, the largest and most productive salmon fishery in the world. It’s here in the Bristol Bay watershed that many groups have been working tirelessly to steward traditional cultural resources and protect one of the most important fish and wildlife habitats in the world from the threat of a major mining project that could damage the integrity of t...
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?
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
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.
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 ...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
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.
Each February as we celebrate Black History Month, we recognize the achievements of African Americans and their contributions to our nation, as well as their ongoing struggle for freedom and equality. There are many African Americans, both past and present, who have contributed to preserving the landscape, history, and stories of this nation. This is the first post in our series African Americans in Conservation, in which we highlight young Afric...
Each February as we celebrate Black History Month, we recognize the achievements of African Americans and their contributions to our nation, as well as their ongoing struggle for freedom and equality. There are many African Americans, both past and present, who have contributed to preserving the landscape, history, and stories of this nation. This is the first post in our series African Americans in Conservation, in which we highlight young Afric...
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.
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.
Since 2017, The Conservation Fund has partnered with the Minnesota National Guard at Camp Ripley to keep forested wildlife habitat intact and prevent development within three miles of the military facility’s border. That distance acts as a key buffer for numerous species of wildlife—including a significant population of golden eagles. The National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN has tracked the migratory patterns of those eagles throughout the northe...
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.
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.
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.
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. Our Civil Rights People and Places initiative is also fueled by this energy, and we’re collaborating with partners in cities and rural communities across the Black Belt to protect important Civil Rights sites, share th...
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 ...
Each February as we celebrate Black History Month, we recognize the achievements of African Americans and their contributions to our nation, as well as their ongoing struggle for freedom and equality. There are many African Americans, both past and present, who have contributed to preserving the landscape, history, and stories of this nation. This is the first post in our series African Americans in Conservation, in which we highlight young Afric...
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...
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...
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.
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.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to entirely new limitations and possibilities. This post is the fourth in a series on how our staff members are navigating unprecedented conditions and still managing to accomplish good conservation outcomes. We feature Kevin Harnish, who learned the value of conservation at an early age from his farming family and translated that into a career focused on the conservation of our working forests. Stay t...