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Stories in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota

Our Changing Climate

Adapting, mitigating and speaking up in the face of climate change.

Two hikers walking in a prairie toward the setting sun.
Hikers on a Prairie Hikers in the prairie after a thunderstorm near Strawberry Lake, North Dakota. © Richard Hamilton Smith

Climate change is here.

It's already having an enormous impact on our region's waters, lands, wildlife and people. And while far from rising seas, we're still seeing the effects of climate change locally. It's showing up in the form of droughts and dying trees, extreme weather and flooding events, and the compounded effects of both in far too many of our waterways. We must act now to preserve nature and protect our quality of life.

Landscape view of vast golden grasslands with blue sky and puffy clouds overhead.
Grasslands One example of natural climate solutions, protected grasslands store massive amounts of carbon in their roots and soils. © Richard Hamilton Smith

Nature-Based Solutions Can Help!

Nature is our first line of defense against many climate impacts. It also provides a cost-effective solution to protecting communities and economies from the impacts of climate change like urban heat, extreme flooding, catastrophic storms and stormwater runoff.

Two agronomists and a farmer inspect a field.
Regenerative Farming Soil health practices, like reduced tillage and planting cover crops, increase carbon storage in the soil. © Fauna Creative

How We Tackle Climate Change

People Must Be Part of the Equation

Our Approach

  • Person planting a tree in a forest setting.

    Natural Climate Solutions

    We have powerful tools at our disposal that can help mitigate the effects of climate change. These natural climate solutions—conservation, restoration and improved land management—are tools we can deploy right now in landscapes across the globe. Explore NCS.

  • Gloved hand holding a fistful of prairie seeds.

    Nature-Based Adaptation

    We’re working hard to ensure our natural and working lands are resilient to climate change. Nature-based adaptation refers to nature-based tactics to facilitate climate adaptation both for biodiversity and the people who rely on these systems. Watch the video.

  • Two farmers working a crop.

    People for Climate

    We know that the scale of the problems we're facing requires all hands on deck. That's why we're working to engage people like you to speak up in support of nature-based solutions to the climate crisis. Use your voice!

Closeup view of radish plants among dry, brown leaves.
SOIL HEALTH Radishes are one example of cover crops grown to enrich soil health on Minnesota's farms. © Jason Whalen

what the science says

Nature Can Provide 30% of Climate Solutions

Illustration of birds, fish, squirrels and deer among the trees, water and soil.

Prairie DNA

Prairie reconstruction and restoration offers conservation practitioners a unique opportunity to armor prairies against the effects of climate change by prioritizing genetic diversity.

Learn the Science
Two people crouch down and work to plant a tree in a large pile of rich, brown soil.
A community tree-planting in north Minneapolis, organized by The Nature Conservancy and partners © Caroline Yang

Growing Shade Mapping Tool

Created in partnership with the Metropolitan Council and Tree Trust, Growing Shade is an interactive resource to inform tree canopy enhancement and preservation for the Twin Cities region. Explore the tool to learn about tree cover in your neighborhood!

Explore the Tool
Illustration of birds, fish, squirrels and deer among the trees, water and soil.
Trees. Water. Soil. Our climate action toolkit includes powerful carbon capture, air purification and water filtration technologies — now we need to start deploying them! © Artwork by Blackbird Revolt

Trees. Water. Soil.

Through simple actions like planting cover crops, changing the way we manage forests and installing community rain gardens, Minnesotans are already making an impact for people and nature.

Read their Stories
Closeup of a diverse northern forest that shows different species and stages of growth.
Reforestation Reforestation, specifically in Minnesota, offers one of our best opportunities to invest in natural climate solutions in our region. © David Bowman

Want to Dig Deeper?

Raise Your Voice, Not Emissions!

The science is clear: climate change is here and it is now. Stand up in support of a sustainable future for all.

Donate Advocate

More Climate Resources

A herd of bison walk across a grassy, hilly landscape toward the camera.

Resilient and Connected Plains

By protecting our most well-connected and resilient land and water networks in the Great Plains, we can save some of our most important wildlife.

A row of turbines tower over the flat landscape at a wind facility in Kansas.

Site Renewables Right

To help accelerate the deployment of wind and solar energy in a way that helps people and nature thrive, The Nature Conservancy is providing the award-winning Site Renewables Right map.

Photo of a person visible from knees down, with hands planting a pine seedling.

Reforestation Hub

The Reforestation Hub identifies up to 148 million acres of total opportunity for reforestation, which could capture up to 535 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

By Susan Cook-Patton