Stories About Nature Now

Minnesota - North Dakota - South Dakota

Nature Now will help protect the forests, grasslands and fresh water we love and need.

Hiking a prairie after a thunderstorm © Richard Hamilton Smith

Through the Nature Now campaign, our goal is to raise $30 million to protect grassland, forest and freshwater habitats in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Below, Conservancy staff who are passionate about the places they are working to save share their thoughts on why these places matter to them and to all of us.

Features

Lone tree in a prairie © Richard Hamilton Smith

Grasslands

Marissa Ahlering planned to be a marine biologist but fell in love with prairies. See why she thinks these vast “seas of grass” are worth the time it takes to get to know them.

Aerial view of lone white pine above the fog at first light. © Richard Hamilton Smith

Forests

Doug Thompson moves around a lot but he keeps coming back to the “Big Woods.” See what attracts this outdoors guy to the northern forests.

River rocks across the Mississippi River © Mark Godfrey

Fresh Water

Rich Biske loves trout and catching them on the fly. But see why this fisherman really thinks southeast Minnesota is one of the state’s best kept secrets.