Fort Blakeley in Alabama is the most important Civil War story you’ve likely never heard. Due to the land’s historical and ecological value, a significant portion of the battlefield—where U.S. Colored Troops resoundingly defeated Confederate forces in April 1865—was permanently protected in 2020. Learn more about the incredible history and ecological importance of this site and how we protected it.
Technology will play a critical role in the fight against climate change, but that’s not enough. In this recent article featured on Our Daily Planet, our CEO and President Larry Selzer shares his thoughts about how we must shift our traditional understanding of “technology” to include both promising manmade solutions AND naturally existing solutions like forests to remove harmful carbon from the atmosphere.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 “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?
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.
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.
I spent the first twenty years of my career helping conservation organizations use geographic information systems (GIS) to manage their land and water resources. During that time, I learned how the power of location and spatial data can transform land management and wanted to bring these insights to every landowner. So, in 2016, I co-founded a technology startup, Outdoor Access, where outdoor enthusiasts can lease land by the day for recreation activities like hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and biking.
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.
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 1975, an unsuspecting partnership was formed; one that would go on to protect a million acres of land across the American West. This is the story of how a friendship, marriage and passion for the outdoors would define the landscape of Colorado.
Today we honor Peg Kohring, one of our most accomplished, innovative and respected colleagues at The Conservation Fund. She has dedicated her career to land protection and stewardship, and has helped people, plants, animals and the planet along the way. Please join us in thanking and celebrating Peg for all that she does!
