protected

Scientists covered 200 square metres of a Swiss glacier with sheep’s wool; early tests found it protected the ice about as well as plastic sheets, but only 0.02% of Swiss glacier ice is covered

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Scientists covered 200 square metres of a Swiss glacier with sheep’s wool; early tests found it protected the ice about as well as plastic sheets, but only 0.02% of Swiss glacier ice is covered

A sheep wool-covered snow protection test site is pictured during a press conference presenting the results of the “Keep It Wool” glacier protection experiment in Les Diablerets, Switzerland A natural wool covering placed over 200 square metres of high-altitude Alpine ice has proved as effective at slowing summer melting as conventional synthetic tarpaulins, offering a … Read more

Four private Michigan islands spanning 520 acres hit the market for $2.3 million; the deal includes a home, two boats and land protected by a conservation easement

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Four private Michigan islands spanning 520 acres hit the market for $2.3 million; the deal includes a home, two boats and land protected by a conservation easement

A private group of four islands covering 520 acres along the US-Canada border has been listed for $2.3 million. The sale includes a renovated home, machinery, two boats and a mainland dock slip. Located in Potagannissing Bay and the St Marys River near Drummond Island, the property includes Burnt Island, Wilson Island, Claw Island and … 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

In 1940, actor James Cagney bought hundreds of acres of California grassland; decades later the remaining 417 acres became a protected wildlife corridor

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In 1940, actor James Cagney bought hundreds of acres of California grassland; decades later the remaining 417 acres became a protected wildlife corridor

For decades, the grasslands outside Ramona, California, looked much as they had for generations: open country, seasonal pools and wide stretches of native vegetation broken by grazing land. As reported by the local news report, The San Diego Union-Tribune, among the people who once owned part of this landscape was Hollywood actor James Cagneywho acquired … Read more

New Mexico has protected nearly 11,000 acres along the Mimbres River as a new wildlife area, safeguarding historic water rights, rare river habitat and a 2-mile stretch of the desert stream

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New Mexico has protected nearly 11,000 acres along the Mimbres River as a new wildlife area, safeguarding historic water rights, rare river habitat and a 2-mile stretch of the desert stream

An elevated, high-definition view of the newly protected landscape surrounding the Mimbres River in southwestern New Mexico. Conservationists and state officials in New Mexico have completed a deal to buy nearly 11,000 acres of ecologically rich land along the Mimbres River, permanently protecting an important desert watershed and creating the state’s newest public conservation preserve. … Read more

Much of Sweden’s Söderåsen plateau became more open in the 18th and 19th centuries; in 2001, 1,625 hectares were protected as a national park, and today it is one of northern Europe’s largest continuous protected broadleaf forests

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Much of Sweden's Söderåsen plateau became more open in the 18th and 19th centuries; in 2001, 1,625 hectares were protected as a national park, and today it is one of northern Europe's largest continuous protected broadleaf forests

Söderåsen national park (Image Credit: Canva) Much of Sweden’s Söderåsen plateau was once far more open than the dense woodland visitors see today. A 2025 study published in The Holocene found that the landscape became much more open during the 18th and 19th centuries as grazing intensified, with grazed heathland developing on parts of the … Read more

In 1964, Elizabeth Hird and her husband bought Connecticut’s Outer Island; in 1995 she donated it in his memory so it could remain protected for wildlife, research and education

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In 1964, Elizabeth Hird and her husband bought Connecticut's Outer Island; in 1995 she donated it in his memory so it could remain protected for wildlife, research and education

Connecticut’s Outer Island (Image Credit: outerisland.org) In 1964, Elizabeth Hird and her husband, Basil Rauch, purchased Outer Island as a summer retreat in Connecticut’s Thimble Islands. More than three decades later, Hird made a decision that transformed the island’s future: in 1995, she donated it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in memory of … Read more

In 2020, Minnesota funded a $1.918 million Shell Rock River habitat program; by 2025, it had protected or restored 588 acres

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In 2020, Minnesota funded a $1.918 million Shell Rock River habitat program; by 2025, it had protected or restored 588 acres

Shell Rock River Watershed District (Image Credit: www.shellrock.org) In 2020, Minnesota approved $1.918 million for the Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat Restoration Program – Phase IX. According to a 2025 final report from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, the program ultimately protected, restored or enhanced 588 acres of habitat in the Shell Rock River watershed, … Read more