Forests
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!
Join us in celebrating forests—beautiful and diverse ecosystems that provide life-sustaining benefits for people, wildlife and our planet.
We are so proud of Buck Vaughan, The Conservation Fund’s Director of Forestry, who was recently honored as North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s Forest Conservationist of the Year. Described as “a farmer by birth, a forester by training, and a conservation leader who stitches together a deep love for the land with a practical application of science,” we invite you to learn more about him and this prestigious award.
Climate change is—without question—the greatest global threat of our time. Findings from many studies, including the August 2021 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, emphasize that we are running out of time. In a recent op-ed published in The Hill, our CEO Larry Selzer urges collaboration and investment in large-scale forest conservation to combat climate change NOW.
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.
As another wildfire season scorches the western United States, it’s natural to be shocked by the startling images of dark red skies full of smoke and ash. But while seemingly unprecedented and insurmountable, the now yearly devastation fits into a clear trend. Ryan Klausch, a forester out of our North Coast California Office, explains the history of forest fires in the region, how climate change is making fires worse, and why proper forest management techniques are so important to alleviating fire’s destructive spread.
As I watched a truckload of 40-foot-long redwood logs being loaded in the forest, I felt incredibly grateful that nature not only offers a feeling of consistency and renewal during these times, but so does my line of work. I feel comforted knowing that as our work proceeds, we are continuing to transform the landscape into a healthier ecosystem, while stimulating and keeping the local economy engaged during a global pandemic.
Middle school science teacher and coach, Chris Hanson, spends way more time outside than your average educator. Over his 22 years of teaching in Brainerd, Minnesota, Mr. Hanson has made outdoor learning and nature-based activities a key part of his curriculum. And thanks to a recent conservation effort, his school’s outdoor learning space just got a whole lot bigger.
In the midst of a tree planting craze to fight climate change, we must remember that protecting existing, mature trees is a crucial part of our planet’s long-term health.
In a world that often sees business and environment as separate, Domtar’s Johnsonburg Paper Mill and The Conservation Fund are showcasing how industry can promote environmental protection and create economic vitality for rural communities across the country.
Employees from Entergy Texas, Inc. recently rolled up their sleeves and headed to Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge to help U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff take steps to control invasive species in a newly forested area of the refuge. Entergy is part of a large-scale effort led by The Conservation Fund and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore bottomland hardwood forests at Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge that benefit our climate, communities and wildlife. Support from Entergy is planting thousands of trees and inspiring a new generation of environmental stewards through internship opportunities. Learn more about how this landscape is making a comeback in this blog from Entergy, reposted here with permission.
