🌳 Did you know #OurCounty has increased its annual budget for reforestation efforts by over 70% compared to 2021? 🤔 This has helped us maximize opportunities and double the number of trees planted at parks and green areas, as well as in roadways, at county buildings and in environmentally endangered areas. 🌿 The county is close to finalizing a contract with the USDA to implement a $10 million grant to plant trees primarily on streets in targeted areas over the next five years. 💵 ➡️ 🌲 Programs like Adopt-a-Tree and Million Trees Miami are resulting in an additional 10,000 trees provided to residents to plant each year through free giveaways. 🆓 Last month, Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience was invited to a tree planting event with Coca-Cola Beverages Florida where 80 trees were planted at North Pointe Community Center. 🌱   Our Extreme Heat Action Plan aims to reduce excessive heat by expanding the tree canopy and adding more vegetation across urban areas. ☀️ 🔗 Learn more about our Extreme Heat Action Plan: https://lnkd.in/e9G3f_qc 🔗 Learn more about how you can Adopt-a-Tree for FREE: https://lnkd.in/g_xPUPNk #miamidade #miamidadecounty #miami #officeofresilience #resilience #southflorida #resilient305 #heatseason #extremeheat #trees #volunteers #plantatree #arborday

Earlier this fall, #EastHampton took a monumental step in preserving the natural beauty of the Hamptons and protecting the wildlife of #Wainscott Pond with its $56M purchase of 30 acres at 66 Wainscott Main Street—the largest acquisition ever made through the Community Preservation Fund (CPF). Originally acquired in 2021 by Ronald Lauder—heir to the The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.—to safeguard it from development, this land is now permanently protected under town ownership. This milestone secures the unique ecosystem of Wainscott Pond, preserving its natural beauty and biodiversity for generations to come—a true win for #conservation and the community. https://lnkd.in/eZJYYXTC

To wrap up #EarthMonth, this weekend I graduated from Forest ReLeaf of Missouri's Tree Stewardship program, which included 12 hours of classroom instruction and 15 hours of volunteer work. Over the past month, I participated in some local volunteer activities, including: 🌳 Planting trees along the Great Rivers Greenway 🌱 Potting tree seedlings at the Forest ReLeaf nursery 🌷 Pulling tulips at the Missouri Botanical Garden 🚮 Picking up trash and removing invasive species with Open Space STL 🧤 Mulching and pruning park trees with STL Neighborhood Foresters The most important thing I learned during this program ... There are some amazing organizations in St. Louis making our city a greener, healthier and more beautiful place to live. If you're like me and at times feel overwhelmed by the immense amount of work needed to safeguard our environment, go out and give a few hours of your time at one of these (or similar) organizations. You'll feel better knowing that you made a lasting and positive impact on your community. That, and say no to mulch volcanoes 😉 (Seriously though, they're awful for trees.) If you're in the St. Louis region, please check out these incredible organizations. #volunteer #arborday #earthday #stlouis #sustainability #community #conservation

The South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) recently awarded a $10,000 South Dakota Fund grant to Lake Area Zoological Society. Funding will aid in increasing the safety of the Bramble Park Zoo’s wolf habitat and creating a better viewing opportunity for guests to learn about the wolves and the specialized care they require, while improving the wolves quality of life. To learn more about funding opportunities offered by the SDCF, please visit our website at https://lnkd.in/gqNRQJNX Pictured Left to Right: Olivia Wulff, Bramble Park Zoo Zookeeper; Patrick Gallagher SDCF Community Development Coordinator; Stacy Plocher, Bramble Park Zoo Manager; Don Roby, SDCF Board Member; Stephanie Judson, SDCF President & CEO; Doug Sharp, SDCF Past Chairperson; Jamie Stricker, Bramble Park Zoo Educator; Dusty Rodiek, Watertown Park & Rec Director; Kim Konrad, Bramble Park Zoo Operation Coordinator; and Watertown Mayor Ried Hollien #SDCommunityFoundation #BrambleParkZoo #CommunityDevelopment #ZooEducation

We are so happy to share that the focus on our mission to RETURN BUFFALO TO THE LANDS, LIVES AND ECONOMIES of Native American people yielded another year of great results. With the help of our donors, funders, and partners in 2024, Tanka Fund: RETURNED 246 BUFFALO to their Native homelands. Tanka Fund’s work to restore Buffalo to tribal lands and caretakers fosters a revival of cultural, economic and ecological balance, supporting Native health and spiritual renewal. In addition to our partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Tanka Fund also worked with the Minnesota Zoo and private ranchers to acquire Buffalo for our caretaker partners. Tanka Fund is the only organization that works solely with and financially funds private Native American family- and community-owned Buffalo ranches. ADDED MORE RANCHER PARTNERS for a total of 24 NATIVE RANCHERS in the Tanka Fund family. We now partner with Native Buffalo ranchers in 8 states. There are currently 9 more Native ranchers in the process of becoming Tanka partners. Buffalo need caretakers, and we are focused on helping expand existing Native herds and giving new ranchers the assistance and animals they need. PROVIDED $937,813 in grants, Buffalo, equipment, fencing, and technical services to our rancher partners. Read more at https://lnkd.in/gmHSARB5. 🦬 #TankaFund #BuffaloConservation #SupportNativeRanchers #WildlifePreservation #ProtectTheBuffalo #SustainableRanching #NativeAmericanHeritage #EcoFriendlyFarming #BuffaloFencingProject #ConservationEfforts #WildlifeProtection #SupportIndigenousCommunities #BuffaloRestoration #WildlifeSupport #CulturalPreservation #IndigenousLandManagement #HelpSaveTheBuffalo #BuffaloHeritage #SustainableAgriculture #LandsLivesEconomies #Buffalo #Bison #TheReturn #NativeAmerican #ClimateRestoration #CommunityEmpowerment #EnvironmentalSustainability #BuffaloRanching #TankaImpact #ClimateSmart

The end of November marked the final Buffalo release of our 2024 season when three calves returned to their homeland on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Our preliminary count shows a total of 246 Buffalo were returned this fall. Final numbers will be announced in our 2024 impact report after the new year when all counts are confirmed. Many thanks to The Nature Conservancy, the Minnesota Zoo, and private donors for helping us continue to increase the numbers of Buffalo who are returning to Native caretakers. Tanka Fund’s mission is to return Buffalo to Native lands, lives, and economies. Through partnerships like these, we’re helping bring back a vital cultural and economic resource to communities across the country. To support The Return, visit tankafund.org/donate 🦬 #TankaFund #BuffaloConservation #SupportNativeRanchers #WildlifePreservation #ProtectTheBuffalo #SustainableRanching #NativeAmericanHeritage #EcoFriendlyFarming #BuffaloFencingProject #ConservationEfforts #WildlifeProtection #SupportIndigenousCommunities #BuffaloRestoration #WildlifeSupport #CulturalPreservation #IndigenousLandManagement #HelpSaveTheBuffalo #BuffaloHeritage #SustainableAgriculture #LandsLivesEconomies #Buffalo #Bison #TheReturn #NativeAmerican #ClimateRestoration #CommunityEmpowerment #EnvironmentalSustainability #BuffaloRanching #ClimateSmart

Did you know a single creative idea can help organizations inspire support and fund vital programs? This year, we continued our partnership with the Phoenix Zoo Auxiliary to design a custom flamingo charm that beautifully represents the vibrant spirit of their iconic flamingos. 🦩 This unique keepsake connects visitors to the zoo's mission and supports their critical wildlife conservation efforts. Custom charms are more than accessories-they're storytelling tools. They create emotional connections, raise awareness, and generate funds for meaningful causes. For the Phoenix Zoo, these charms symbolized their dedication to wildlife protection. Nonprofits increasingly use innovative strategies like this to engage their communities, and the results are transformational. Why stop at traditional approaches when there are creative opportunities to inspire action? Imagine how a custom charm could amplify your organization's mission. Let's explore the possibilities together - reach out to start the conversation! #NonprofitInnovation #PhoenixZoo #WildlifeConservation #LeadershipInAction #FundraisingStrategy #SocialImpact

Securing farmland can be an uphill battle for aspiring farmers. Thanks to the GoATL Community Capacity Fund and The Conservation Fund's Working Farms Fund, two Georgia farms are thriving and providing fresh, local food: https://lnkd.in/eBHSbvby

A patient pathway to affordable farmland ownership is a win-win for the Atlanta community. Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has been a critical partner in planting roots of The Conservation Fund's Farms Fund in Georgia. #farmsfund #impactinvesting

Poll Shows Strong Support for Strengthening Sage-Grouse Habitat Protections Hunters and anglers have long known that sage grouse conservation benefits many species in the sagebrush steppe. It turns out the majority of Western voters also want to strengthen sage grouse conservation! A recent poll conducted by The Pew Charitable Trusts shows overwhelming support for bolstering Bureau of Land Management safeguards for greater sage-grouse habitat. The BLM is amending its sage-grouse plans to consider new science in determining how to best conserve sage-grouse habitat on public lands across 10 Western states. The survey found robust support for BLM’s planning effort in rural counties where the iconic bird is found. Read more about the report at https://lnkd.in/gWB3qJRP