The Blue Abadi Fund is a dedicated conservation trust fund for the Bird’s Head Seascape that empowers local communities and agencies to sustainably manage their marine resources by procuring local revenue sources and providing complimentary grants.

Water in the West is a series of stories about the people working to address threats to water supply in the Colorado River basin and find conservation solutions that make economic sense for people and communities.

As Salton Sea program director for Audubon California, Frank Ruiz is on the front lines of the fight to prevent a full-scale environmental and human health crisis on the lake.

The Escalante is threatened by an unwanted invader – Russian olive, a woody invasive that crowds the riverbank, competing with and squeezing out native habitat.

As director of Trout Unlimited’s western water and habitat program, Scott Yates builds partnerships with private landowners to find creative ways to reduce demand for water in the arid Colorado River basin.

Freddie Botur uses his water rights, acquired when his family bought Cottonwood Ranches three decades ago, to irrigate 8,000 acres of rangeland and raise 6,000 head of Black Angus cattle.

As president of Friends of the Verde River, Chip Norton helps lead a coalition of river enthusiasts working on conservation solutions to improve flows and habitat while protecting communities whose economic prosperity depends on a healthy river.

As director of the water and wetlands program at Pronatura Noroeste, Osvel Hinojosa has helped lead cross-border efforts to fund the Delta’s restoration and ensure water from the Colorado is allotted specifically for environmental use.

Roots of Conservation is a series of stories about the people working to address threats to water quality and soil health in the Mississippi River Basin.

For more than 40 years, Ray has led efforts to implement and popularize a more sustainable model of agriculture – one that brings economic benefit while reducing the environmental impact of intensive row cropping.

In Wisconsin, rancher Rod Ofte practices rotational grazing to keep soil healthy and rivers clean.

As owner and operator of Jóia Food Farm near Charles City, Wendy Johnson is literally working at the grassroots level to ensure Iowa maintains a bright future in farming.

For more than a decade, Tim has employed several conservation practices to improve soil health and water quality, reduce nutrient loss and prevent erosion.

The Gulf of Mexico relies on a healthy coast, but wetlands are disappearing. The land is vital to recreation, business and wildlife in Louisiana. Right now, we have the best opportunity in generations to secure the health of our coast and its economy for good. We’re working to develop large-scale projects that restore wetlands, barrier islands, oyster reefs and other natural systems.

Amy Hudson Weaver is working hand in hand with local fishermen to protect fisheries and fishing families in Baja California Sur. As coordinator of the sustainable fisheries program for Niparajá, a Mexican nonprofit conservation organization, Amy is helping create a network of small fishing refuges that will rebuild fish stocks and ensure healthy ecosystems and healthy communities for the long term.

For Sandy Nguyen, executive director of the nonprofit Coastal Communities Consulting, the future of Louisiana’s commercial fishery depends on restoration of wetlands. Her organization works to ensure that fishers – who bear the brunt of natural disasters and rising sea levels – have a seat at the table as decisions are being made about long-term solutions to protect the Gulf.

At the University of Minnesota, Don Wyse is developing crops that provide new economic opportunities for farmers and improve water quality in the Mississippi River basin.

Howard and Jessica Brent have planted hardwood trees on thousands of acres of frequently flooded land on their former farm in the Mississippi Delta.