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Priority Landscapes

Chesapeake Bay

Securing clean water and protecting critical habitats in our nation’s largest estuary.

View from the end of a boat looking into the Chesapeake Bay. A small red buoy sits on top of a seaweed covered crab trap. A blue bin containing silver fish sits next to it.
Fishing Boat on the Chesapeake Bay TNC works with fishermen and communities in the Chesapeake Bay. © Jason Houston

One for the Bay

Help support cleaner water, healthier habitat & more abundant life in the Chesapeake Bay.

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The Nature Conservancy is focused on conservation at the scale of entire ecosystems. As North America’s largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay’s watershed—the area of land that feeds all the water draining into it—covers approximately 64,000 square miles and includes thousands of streams and rivers across six states and the District of Columbia.

Much of the Chesapeake Bay’s watershed lies within the Appalachians—another priority landscape for TNC. Due to their importance in tackling climate change and protecting biodiversity, we are committed to conserving these two globally important landscapes in this critical decade. And in order to succeed, we need your partnership and support.


 

Chesapeake Bay land map showing the boundaries of the six states in the watershed with pins marking TNC protected lands.
The Chesapeake Bay Restoring a national treasure: a case for support. © TNC

The stories below highlight the variety of ways that TNC is working across Delaware, Maryland/DC, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay.

EXPLORE OUR WORK ACROSS THE BAY STATES

Three Generations of Conservationists (5:00) Explore the story of the Buchanan family, three generations of conservationists, and their love of the Chesapeake Bay.

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Chesapeake Bay: The Case for Support

Help us reach our 2030 goals for a healthier and more resilient Chesapeake Bay.

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Chesapeake Bay

Bringing a global network of experience and knowledge-sharing to bear on Chesapeake Bay conservation strategies.

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Regenerative Agriculture

The health of the Chesapeake Bay is intricately linked to the health of more than 83,000 farms that operate in its watershed.

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Explore the Bay States

Learn more about our conservation efforts across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Stay in Touch

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