We are currently advocating enactment of the Great American Outdoors Act, which includes full and permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). If enacted, America will have the greatest conservation legislative victory in over 50 years, with benefits for local communities and the special places we love to visit.
But what exactly is LWCF and why should you know about it?
Nicolas Donck is one of those people. He’s a farmer, and one of the many unsung American heroes helping meet our needs during these uncertain times. Nicolas owns and operates Crystal Organic Farm, one of the very first USDA certified organic farms in the state of Georgia, conveniently located an hour east of downtown Atlanta. He has always been forward-thinking about the evolving needs for farms and farmers—setting a precedent for how other small and mid-size farms can run profitable businesses, create new markets, and grow the local food needed to sustain communities.
The COVID-19 Pandemic is dramatically changing the American landscape with immediate and long-term impacts. For gateway and rural communities, economic drivers are at a virtual standstill. Cities and towns all over the country are left asking, “What should our community do now?”
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.
Yale University has convened prominent voices across party and ideological lines to re-energize solutions for environmental sustainability across the full spectrum of issues. What started as a conversation and then consensus among Yale faculty has evolved into the book A Better Planet: 40 Big Ideas for a Sustainable Future. Recently published by Yale University Press, this lively set of essays—collected from a wide variety of perspectives, disciplines and political starting points—offers significant ways to move sustainability solutions forward.
Now in her fifteenth year of teaching middle school science, Autumn Rivera is continuously impressed with her student’s creativity and willingness to try new things. But even she was blown away by their dedication to help save Sweetwater Lake—a beautiful landscape about an hour’s drive from Glenwood Springs Middle School where she teaches. Find out how these young conservationists chose to support a cause near and dear to their teacher’s heart.
Female entrepreneurs are vital to society, and yet, they receive significantly less start-up capital than male-owned businesses. In the last two years, 50 percent of the Natural Capital Investment Fund’s loans have gone to women borrowers starting natural resource-based businesses and providing vital community services. EcoGroup is one such business, and is the second to be featured in our series on female entrepreneurs.
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.
Years ago, the vitality of Hayesville—a small, rural town in the southwest corner of North Carolina and the county seat of Clay County—was fading. Then a small group of volunteers known as the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association (CCCRA) came together and used the community’s unique culture, history and heritage to bring their hometown back to life.
Atlanta’s newest Park with Purpose, Kathryn Johnston Memorial Park, was officially opened to the public in November 2019. Two of Atlanta’s most dedicated park advocates were on hand for the ribbon-cutting event, and The Conservation Fund’s Kelsi Eccles spoke with them about why they invest their time and energy in these public parks and what they think needs to be done to strengthen community development.
When the owner of Love Farm decided to sell his property, his main goal was to maintain the recreational integrity of the land. He worked with The Conservation Fund and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) to ensure the property would remain permanently protected and open to the public, while continuing to provide unique outdoor recreation opportunities for youth who have lost a parent in combat or while serving active duty.
