The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Kate Hackett speaks at 2009 Conservation Options workshop © The Nature Conservancy

Protect Delaware's Wetlands

The Natural Resources Conservation Service wants to increase the amount of acres enrolled in the Wetlands Reserve Program. Sign up or call (302) 654-4707 for more information.

Here’s how the Conservancy works with private landowners in Delaware to achieve long-lasting, conservation results:

• The Conservancy looks for opportunities to work with conservation-minded landowners like Austin Okie and the Fisher Family to secure conservation easements on private properties in Delaware. Conservation easements have protected thousands of acres of Delaware's rich natural habitat, productive landscapes and open space while keeping land in private hands. 
   
• The Conservancy conducts workshops from time to time that bring landowners, conservation organizations, government agencies, and experts in estate planning, real estate law and land use together to discuss options that can support the state's natural heritage and landowners' financial, retirement and estate planning goals.

• The Conservancy works with other land conservation organizations and agencies throughout Delaware to match individual landowners' needs with appropriate private or public conservation programs. For example, the Conservancy purchased a conservation easement to permanently protect the Island Farm & Sanctuary Farm properties -- 507 acres of salt marsh, wetland, forest and fields located along the Broadkill River and adjacent to the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge -- with support from DNREC's Division of Fish and Wildlife Landowner Incentive Program, USFWS's Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant and donations from local organizations like the Friends of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.