acres

A 69-year-old North Carolina father spent $800,000 buying 5 acres; he now wants to build 20 tiny homes so adults like his disabled son can have a community of their own

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A 69-year-old North Carolina father spent $800,000 buying 5 acres; he now wants to build 20 tiny homes so adults like his disabled son can have a community of their own

Like most parents, Dave Curro, a 69-year-old father, is also worried about the future of his son, especially since he has a developmental disability. But now, he is one step closer to ensuring that his son has a community that supports him and makes his life more comfortable and happier. Four years ago, he dreamt … Read more

In 1964, a couple bought 535 acres in North Carolina and built a summer home there; decades later, they donated the entire property to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in its largest land gift since the park was created

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In 1964, a couple bought 535 acres in North Carolina and built a summer home there; decades later, they donated the entire property to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in its largest land gift since the park was created

The Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center A high-altitude property first bought as a private family retreat in the mid-1960s now serves as an important centre for environmental research in North America. The 535-acre property in Haywood County, North Carolina, historically known as “The Purchase”, was officially transferred to the National Park Service around the turn … Read more

In 1967, astronaut Vance Brand bought 160 acres beside Rocky Mountain National Park for $32,000; decades later, his family gave 40 acres to the park and Congress changed its boundary to accept it

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In 1967, astronaut Vance Brand bought 160 acres beside Rocky Mountain National Park for $32,000; decades later, his family gave 40 acres to the park and Congress changed its boundary to accept it

Former NASA astronaut Vance Brand spent decades exploring space and commanding shuttle missions, but a 40-acre piece of land along the eastern boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park remains one of his most lasting contributions on Earth. The story began in 1967, when Brand bought 160 acres of land next to the national park for … Read more

At 15, Jim Bishop bought 2.5 Colorado acres with $450 he earned mowing lawns and delivering papers; 10 years later, he began a stone castle that he spent 50 years turning into the world’s largest one-man project

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At 15, Jim Bishop bought 2.5 Colorado acres with $450 he earned mowing lawns and delivering papers; 10 years later, he began a stone castle that he spent 50 years turning into the world’s largest one-man project

Nestled in the Wet Mountains of Colorado, at an elevation of 9000, is the world’s largest one-man project, The Bishop Castle. From 1969 to 2019, the monument was constructed by one man, all by himself, James Roland Bishop, also known as Jim Bishop, the Castle Builder, according to the website. Laying the foundation Jim Bishop … Read more

In 2009, Washington removed a century-old dike and let tides reclaim 762 acres; 21 miles of channels reopened, and young Chinook salmon entered the restored marsh in their first migration season

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In 2009, Washington removed a century-old dike and let tides reclaim 762 acres; 21 miles of channels reopened, and young Chinook salmon entered the restored marsh in their first migration season

Tidal water flowed back into the Nisqually River Delta for the first time in nearly a century after conservationists removed a large network of sea dikes, quickly reopening miles of historic estuary habitat for threatened Pacific salmon. In autumn 2009, workers removed 4.5 miles of earthen dikes built in the early 1900s to turn the … Read more

Colorado farmer Marc Arnusch turned down solar leases on 2,700 acres; instead he chose a conservation easement to protect the family farm, then faced an IRS audit

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Colorado farmer Marc Arnusch turned down solar leases on 2,700 acres; instead he chose a conservation easement to protect the family farm, then faced an IRS audit

Colorado farmer Marc Arnusch had a straightforward choice: accept millions of dollars from solar companies seeking to lease 2,700 acres of his family’s farmland, or keep the property in agriculture for the next generation. He chose the farm. Now, after spending nearly $1 million documenting a conservation easement, he is facing an IRS audit over … Read more

A Florida family listed its 42.57-acre Clearwater Beach estate for $37.5 million; the state now wants about 28 undeveloped acres to expand Caladesi Island State Park

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A Florida family listed its 42.57-acre Clearwater Beach estate for $37.5 million; the state now wants about 28 undeveloped acres to expand Caladesi Island State Park

Clearwater Beach FloridaRepresentative image from Canva On one of the last large, undeveloped stretches of land near Clearwater Beach, a 42.57-acre family estate has sat on the market for $37.5 million, drawing attention from luxury buyers and conservationists alike. Now, the state of Florida has entered the picture, expressing interest in acquiring roughly 28 acres … Read more

Hollywood actor Joel McCrea bought a California ranch in 1933; his family later donated 74 acres as a wildlife preserve and effectively gave another 220 acres for parkland

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Hollywood actor Joel McCrea bought a California ranch in 1933; his family later donated 74 acres as a wildlife preserve and effectively gave another 220 acres for parkland

Joel McCrea bought a California ranch in 1933 When Hollywood western actor Joel McCrea bought a large piece of farmland in Santa Rosa Valley in 1933, he wanted a quiet working retreat away from movie sets. Decades later, the property has moved into public ownership, helping protect hundreds of acres of open land and natural … Read more

A man bought 51,000 acres of degraded land in Florida; decades later, it became the largest private restoration project east of the Mississippi

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A man bought 51,000 acres of degraded land in Florida; decades later, it became the largest private restoration project east of the Mississippi

He is 85, known as the father of sociobiology, has been at Harvard for 60 years, and has won a hundred scientific awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes. Yet what E.O. Wilson, an evolutionary biologist, is focused on is a new conservation approach, a new ecological Grail which is a quest to refute conservation sceptics who … Read more

In 2024, Martin County voters approved a half-cent sales tax for conservation; two years later more than 2,000 acres are protected and eight more properties are being pursued

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In 2024, Martin County voters approved a half-cent sales tax for conservation; two years later more than 2,000 acres are protected and eight more properties are being pursued

In 2024, voters in Martin County, Florida, approved a half-cent sales tax dedicated to conservation, betting that a small, broad-based levy could protect the natural landscapes that define their communities. Just two years later, that decision is already reshaping the county’s map. More than 2,000 acres of wetlands, forests and wildlife habitat have been permanently … Read more