From our efforts to protect America's working farms, forests and ranches to our programs to help communities advance strategic conservation—including land use planning, ecotourism and job development—we are developing sustainable solutions that integrate economic development with environmental quality. Through vision, investment and leadership, with our partners we are helping to revitalize underserved areas, preserve local character and finance natural resource-based businesses.

Land Use

Population growth, suburban sprawl and emerging technologies have transformed the American landscape and land-use planning in the 21st century. As pressures increase on undisturbed landscapes, choices about public and private land use have become more complex and require new strategies for balancing social, economic and environmental interests.

As part of our Community and Economic Development programs, we support land-use planning to demonstrate environmentally based development strategies. We work with local municipalities, land trusts and other organizations to create exceptional places that meet quality of life goals, protect sensitive resources, build healthy and diverse communities, and address regulatory and fiduciary matters in innovative ways.

Strategic Conservation

Every community is unique, with varying natural resources and needs. We draw from our strategic conservation toolkit to help city and county planners, regional and watershed organizations, natural resource agencies and nonprofits design comprehensive and customized strategies that balance land protection and development.

Center for Conservation and Development

Working with private, public and nonprofit partners to conserve significant natural resources and build better communities, the Center for Conservation and Development pioneers unique solutions to environmental protection by encouraging better development decisions. Initiatives include Conservation-Based Affordable Housing and the Partnership for Conservation Development.

Project Planning and Design

Our Land Advisory Services specialize in applying principles of sustainable development to real estate projects with sensitive resources—ecological, visual and historical. We work closely with a variety of clients, and our services range from defining the initial vision to managing implementation.

Economic Development

Our balanced approach to land conservation and economic development includes creating new economies through ecotourism, providing critical financing for small businesses in rural areas, and assisting underserved communities in developing new economies that protect and restore natural resources.

Natural Capital Investment Fund

NCIF provides financial services to small and emerging natural resource-based businesses in economically distressed urban and rural communities in North Carolina, Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia and West Virginia.
www.ncifund.org

ShadeFund

Established by the Fund with a lead grant from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities and Mercedes-Benz USA, ShadeFund is a microloan program that helps green entrepreneurs grow their businesses and create jobs. www.shadefund.org

Resourceful Communities

The Resourceful Communities program blends innovative techniques, such as the "triple bottom line approach," to help North Carolina's underserved communities create new economies that protect and restore natural resources.
www.resourcefulcommunities.org

Texas Pineywoods Experience

The Texas Pineywoods Experience is a Sustainable Tourism Program that combines economic development and tourism. The Pineywoods area offers some of the best birding and wildlife viewing in the United States.
www.texaspineywoodsexperience.org