According to experts, more than a third of species and ecosystems in the United States are at risk of disappearing.
From wide-roaming bears to migratory birds and freshwater fish, wildlife depends on healthy, connected landscapes to survive. But every year, thousands of acres of forests, wetlands, and open space are lost to development, fragmentation, and climate stress.
At The Conservation Fund, we move quickly and strategically to protect lands and waters that are essential for wildlife habitat — and for the future of biodiversity across the United States. Because when we save the land, we save everything it supports.
The Threats: What’s Putting Wildlife at Risk?
- Habitat Loss & Fragmentation: Urban sprawl, highways, and development projects are cutting off migration routes and reducing access to food and shelter. Habitat fragmentation can reduce biodiversity by up to 75%.
- Climate Change: Shifting temperatures and weather patterns are altering ecosystems faster than species can adapt, forcing many to move — if they can.
- Decline of Working Lands: When farms and forests are paved over, we lose not just local livelihoods — we lose habitat that wildlife and pollinators rely on.
Conservation in Action: Real Wins for Wildlife
We protect the lands that wildlife need before it’s lost forever. Our approach focuses on landscapes that are high in biodiversity, rich in natural resources, and vital to wildlife survival.
Here’s how we make it happen:
- Habitat Conservation: We conserve large, intact tracts of land that support species from black bears to migratory birds, including critical corridors that allow them to move freely.
- Wildlife Corridors: We connect fragmented habitats to help animals safely cross roads, expand their range, and respond to climate change.
- Freshwater Protection: Our work safeguards headwaters, streams, wetlands, and watersheds that are vital to aquatic species and drinking water for communities.
- Working Land Conservation: We protect family farms and sustainably managed forests that provide habitat while supporting rural economies.
- Collaborative Partnerships: We work with landowners, tribes, communities, and public agencies to ensure permanent protection for at-risk landscapes.