The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Today, our staff is working to ensure that this canyon remains a special place.

Non-native weeds like yellow starthistle crowd out native plants, destroying wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation opportunities and clean water. These weeds can choke out hundreds of thousands of acres.

The Nature Conservancy is using the latest technology to prevent, detect and stop the spread of these non-native invaders.

Working with partners, The Nature Conservancy has used many tactics to protect native plant habitat and the many wildlife species that rely on this habitat to survive. The Nature Conservancy’s projects include:

• The use of helicopters and computers to map where weeds are in remote areas.
• The use of satellite technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to record weed infestations.
• A seasonal weed team that controls weeds by foot, horseback, boat and ATV.
• The use of insects that feed on different parts of non-native weeds.

Non-native weeds are often considered a daunting problem. But The Nature Conservancy’s use of technology offers a reason for hope in stopping these harmful species.

Shaking Hands and Sharing Stories

The Nature Conservancy has been successful in Hells Canyon and around the globe because we work together. We shake hands. And we share the stories of our successes.

Our work in Hells Canyon has already expanded into partnerships with private ranchers and federal agencies in the spectacular Owyhee Canyonlands of southwestern Idaho. The use of technology to control weeds has applications for remote landscapes around the western United States, and around the world.

Using the best available science, The Nature Conservancy has found that major habitats around the world share many similarities and function in similar ways.

The tools we develop here protect not only Hells Canyon, but working farms and ranches, clean water and wildlife around the globe.