The Boise City of Trees Challenge, a community-led initiative, is making significant strides in tackling climate change by planting one tree for every household in the city and restoring the Boise National Forest. This effort, backed by federal funding from the REPLANT Act, is a testament to the power of collaboration between federal agencies, municipal governments, and non-profit organizations. The project not only jump-starts carbon sequestration, serving as a natural climate solution, but also brings numerous co-benefits to the local community. These include enhanced wildlife habitats, improved water quality, reduced risk of landslides, and recreational areas for residents. The initiative underscores the importance of tree planting in mitigating climate change and enhancing the quality of life for local communities.
Shana Edberg © Hispanic Access Foundation
Protecting and restoring natural areas that are close to cities and communities of color can help create equitable access to nature while providing climate benefits.
Alan W. Eckert © TNC
The Nature Conservancy and a broad network of stakeholders formed the Rio Grande Water Fund (RGWF) to work cooperatively to reduce the risk of megafires, protect precious water supplies and build resilience against climate change threats.
Scientists with The Nature Conservancy and Clark University in Massachusetts have worked together to create a forest carbon analysis and online mapping tool that shows the potential of forests across the continental US to capture and store climate-changing carbon emissions for years to come, even on lands as small as one-quarter of an acre.
Alex Jackson © The Trust for Public Land
Cities around the United States are addressing equity issues by listening at the local level, and the Trust for Public Land is helping communities plan for urban green spaces that provide numerous social, environmental, and climate benefits. One such example of urban conservation has taken place in the middle of west Atlanta’s historic Vine City neighborhood.
Scott Hotaling
The Pine Mountain Wildlands Corridor project is a great example of science-driven and community-minded conservation. The project serves as a natural climate solution that mitigates both local and regional climate threats while providing additional environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Preston Keres © USDA
Bold conservation of America’s forests, grasslands, wetlands, farms, and ranches is needed to combat climate change. U.S. Nature4Climate’s Conservation IS Climate Action campaign is highlighting conservation success stories that illustrate how conservation action is climate action.
Kumar L Goodwine-Kennedy © Geechee Sea Island Coalition
The South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative brings together federal, state, and local governments, military officials, and community leaders who recognize the habitat’s ability to help protect shorelines against flooding and storm surge. The initiative aims to conserve about a million acres of marsh stretching from North Carolina to north Florida.
Quinn Lowrey
Forward-thinking forest restoration from tribes and companies helps to ensure whitebark pine can provide benefits to people and wildlife well into the future.
Ami Vitale
Sagebrush ecosystems play an important role in the nation’s climate future. Because of the unique challenges of scale, ownership, and threats on the range, we need solutions that work for people, wildlife, and the climate together.