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An aerial view of a humpback whale off of Southhampton Bay in the ocean.
Diving A humpback whale off the coast of Southampton, NY. © Joanna Steidle/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Stories in New York

Our 2024 Impact: Achievements and Insights

With your support, we’re creating a livable climate, healthy communities and thriving nature for all.

November 25, 2024

Thanks to your support, 2024 was a remarkable year for The Nature Conservancy in New York. In these critical times, we are steadfast in our commitment to create a livable climate, healthy communities and thriving nature. We continue to work as a collaborative, nonpartisan organization driven by science and leading the way for a resilient future.

These achievements are monumental and remind us of the incredible power we have when we work together. Thank you for making a real difference.

Check out our full 2024 Impact Report here.

A headshot of Bill Ulfelder, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy in New York.
Bill Ulfelder Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy in New York. © Jonathan Grassi

Climate

  • A man standing in a field planting a tree.

    Accelerating Reforestation to Absorb Carbon

    We’re harnessing the power of trees for the benefits they provide including their unmatched ability to cool our planet. We’re jump-starting tree planting and scaling up this work across New York and piloting a model that could help nationally. See How We’re Restoring Forests Across the U.S.

  • People sitting on the grass between two trees with the skyline in the back.

    Growing a Greener, Climate-Ready New York City

    The New York City urban forest is key to the city’s health. We are achieving a more expansive, equitable urban forest for all by convening Forest For All NYC, a 160+ member coalition, and helping the city reach its 30% canopy cover by 2035 goal. See How We’re Protecting and Expanding the NYC Urban Forest

Land

  • The sun rising over a rocky cliff face.

    Appalachian Vision: Conservation on a Continental Scale

    In the vast Appalachians, we are tackling climate change, conserving a connected network of climate-resilient lands and waters to protect biodiversity, and supporting community resilience for today and for generations to come. Learn How We’re Conserving This Critical Mountain Chain

Ocean

  • A bird flying out of human hands in a saltmarsh.

    Saving Coastlines and Communities

    We’re making major strides in protecting and restoring New York’s coastline. By repairing degraded salt marshes and seagrasses, we can help communities mitigate future flooding risks. Learn How Salt Marshes Buffer Rising Sea-Levels

Fresh Water

  • An aerial view of Follensby pond.

    Protecting Follensby Pond Through a Historic Deal

    Thanks to the extraordinary commitment and unwavering dedication of supporters like you, we have achieved lasting results with far-reaching impacts by conserving the extraordinary 14,600-acre Follensby Pond, nestled deep in the Adirondacks. Learn More About the Future of Follensby

People

  • A person on an adaptive bike riding down a trail.

    Making Nature Accessible to More People

    We’re helping people of all abilities and experience levels get into nature by adding accessible infrastructure and shared-use trails to our preserves. We’re learning from and working with community groups to break down barriers for more people. Explore Our Accessible Trails in New York

  • The circular base of a basket with prongs extending. A person's hands are weaving these prongs into the circle.

    Strengthening Our Indigenous Partnerships Program

    We are committing to deeply engage Indigenous Peoples in our conservation efforts. We are exploring opportunities to provide land access, develop co-management models, include Indigenous knowledge and viewpoints, and return land to Tribal management. Learn About Right Relations and Our Work with Indigenous Partners

Policy

  • Two women in suits shake hands in the foreground, while a group of other professionally-dressed people sit in the background.

    Achieving Policy Wins for Nature

    Our policy team consistently delivers key legislative wins. We helped secure record funding for conservation this year and defeated proposals that would have diverted environmental funding and reduced the budget for clean water projects by half. Check Out Some of Our Statements From The Year

  • A group of scientists wearing hardhats and fluorescent orange stand on a boat surrounding a wire tray. The tray is covered in white shells. The ocean is in the background.

    Charting a Course for Clean Water

    Our efforts to restore clean water have yielded tremendous results. This Election Day, we led and won a landmark policy referendum that will unlock $6 billion for clean water and conservation in Suffolk County, Long Island. Learn How We’re Working Toward a Future with Clean Water

A Closer Look

People for Prop 2 Ensuring clean water and healthy ecosystems for future generations. © Citizens Campaign for the Environment
Advocating For Clean Water NY Oceans Director Carl Lobue, Climate Adaptation Director Alison Branco, Policy and Strategy Director Jessica Ottney Mahar and Senior Policy Advisor Kevin McDonald. © TNC
Clams from hard clam survey Our team is closely monitoring shellfish populations in Great South Bay. © Rebecca Kusa/TNC
Seabird Research Marine Scientist Juliet Lamb works to track the movements of seabirds to answer many different questions, including how to best site wind energy. © GotOne
Hunters of Color Hunters of Color offers a safe and equitable place for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to learn how to hunt, harvest, and prepare white-tailed deer. © Karla Gachet
Connecting With Nature A family spends the afternoon at the new boardwalk at Moss Lake Preserve © Dana Geller/TNC
Saplings at tree planting With partners, we planted over 1,700 trees in the Finger Lakes to increase carbon sequestration and carbon storage and improve water quality and wildlife habitat. © Anthony Graziano
The “Canary” of Sea-Level Rise Scientist Nicole Maher releasing a sparrow unharmed after banding and measurements. © Dr. Sam Apgar (USFWS)
FRESHWATER FRIENDS Wildlife such as moose rely on healthy forests and freshwaters. In summer, moose feed heavily on aquatic plants in ponds and wetlands. © Larry Master
WILD WATERS The Raquette River easement will allow public access—for the first time in over a century—to a beautiful stretch of floodplain forest and other wild areas in the Adirondacks. © John DiGiacomo
Indigenous Nations leaders Faithkeeper Ruchatneet Printup (Tuscarora), Chief Brennen Ferguson (Tuscarora), Activist and Faithkeeper Oren Lyons (Onondaga, Seneca), with Jen Morris and Bill Ulfelder. © Amanda Ely/TNC
Shinnecock Kelp Farmers The Shinnecock Kelp Farmers, a multi-generational, women-led non-profit, is expanding their kelp hatchery and farm in Southampton, NY. © Kate Frazer/TNC
Protecting Wildlife A moment between a black bear and her cub. By protecting priority habitat in the Appalachian corridor, we can help wildlife not only survive, but thrive. © Dave Shaffer/TNC Photo Contest 2022
Rally for the NYC urban forest Forest for All NYC rallying at City Hall in support of legislation to recognize, maintain and expand trees and the important role they play throughout New York City. © Jonathan Grassi
New York tree canopy Based on legislation passed with the support of Forest for All NYC, the City is now working toward a goal of 30% canopy citywide. © Kevin Arnold
× People for Prop 2 Ensuring clean water and healthy ecosystems for future generations. © Citizens Campaign for the Environment
× Advocating For Clean Water NY Oceans Director Carl Lobue, Climate Adaptation Director Alison Branco, Policy and Strategy Director Jessica Ottney Mahar and Senior Policy Advisor Kevin McDonald. © TNC
× Clams from hard clam survey Our team is closely monitoring shellfish populations in Great South Bay. © Rebecca Kusa/TNC
× Seabird Research Marine Scientist Juliet Lamb works to track the movements of seabirds to answer many different questions, including how to best site wind energy. © GotOne
× Hunters of Color Hunters of Color offers a safe and equitable place for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to learn how to hunt, harvest, and prepare white-tailed deer. © Karla Gachet
× Connecting With Nature A family spends the afternoon at the new boardwalk at Moss Lake Preserve © Dana Geller/TNC
× Saplings at tree planting With partners, we planted over 1,700 trees in the Finger Lakes to increase carbon sequestration and carbon storage and improve water quality and wildlife habitat. © Anthony Graziano
× The “Canary” of Sea-Level Rise Scientist Nicole Maher releasing a sparrow unharmed after banding and measurements. © Dr. Sam Apgar (USFWS)
× FRESHWATER FRIENDS Wildlife such as moose rely on healthy forests and freshwaters. In summer, moose feed heavily on aquatic plants in ponds and wetlands. © Larry Master
× WILD WATERS The Raquette River easement will allow public access—for the first time in over a century—to a beautiful stretch of floodplain forest and other wild areas in the Adirondacks. © John DiGiacomo
× Indigenous Nations leaders Faithkeeper Ruchatneet Printup (Tuscarora), Chief Brennen Ferguson (Tuscarora), Activist and Faithkeeper Oren Lyons (Onondaga, Seneca), with Jen Morris and Bill Ulfelder. © Amanda Ely/TNC
× Shinnecock Kelp Farmers The Shinnecock Kelp Farmers, a multi-generational, women-led non-profit, is expanding their kelp hatchery and farm in Southampton, NY. © Kate Frazer/TNC
× Protecting Wildlife A moment between a black bear and her cub. By protecting priority habitat in the Appalachian corridor, we can help wildlife not only survive, but thrive. © Dave Shaffer/TNC Photo Contest 2022
× Rally for the NYC urban forest Forest for All NYC rallying at City Hall in support of legislation to recognize, maintain and expand trees and the important role they play throughout New York City. © Jonathan Grassi
× New York tree canopy Based on legislation passed with the support of Forest for All NYC, the City is now working toward a goal of 30% canopy citywide. © Kevin Arnold

Together, We Find A Way

The Nature Conservancy has set the biggest, most ambitious goals in our history to create a livable climate, healthy communities and thriving nature. In New York, we’ve worked relentlessly—for 70 years—to build the foundation needed to lead in this critical moment. We’re integrating policy, data, social science, economics and innovation into our work across five key areas: climate, land, ocean, fresh water and people. And we’re not doing it alone. We’re listening to Indigenous leadership and frontline communities, forging approaches based on science, Traditional knowledge and our values. We’re leaning into our strength as a convener and collaborator, activating the forces of our innumerable partners.

Protect

Habitat loss has contributed to a 70% decline in wildlife populations since 1970. With your help, we will conserve, steward, restore and connect important lands, waters and wildlife habitat, including the globally unique Appalachian region, where we’re creating resilient corridors for wildlife, helping communities prepare for climate change, and generating new jobs and recreation opportunities.

Provide

Vibrant farms, healthy fisheries and clean fresh water are critical to New York economies and ways of life. On Election Day, Suffolk County voters secured a monumental victory for clean water by overwhelmingly passing a local ballot initiative that generates billions of dollars to modernize local wastewater infrastructure and protect nature. We look forward to helping to implement this initiative, which will help bring back clean water and the island’s once bountiful shellfish, seagrasses, salt marshes and wildlife.

Tackle

There is no challenge more urgent than climate change. What we do now will determine whether we can slow warming enough to avoid its worst impacts. With your help, we will harness the power of New York’s forests, farms and coastal habitats to combat climate change. This includes massively scaling up reforestation—planting 25 million trees by 2033—to help meet New York’s ambitious net zero climate goals.

The moon peaking over a coastal landscape.
Coastal Full Moon Full moon rising over the water and forest of Mashomack. © Rebecca Kusa/TNC
With your support, we’re creating a livable climate, healthy communities and thriving nature for all.
Our 2024 Impact Report

DOWNLOAD View 2023 Report