Updates & News
Learn about our latest restoration & conservation efforts and discover how healthy land & aquatic resources benefit our communities across the US


| Michael Scisco, September 2024
An Introduction to Conservation Easements
A conservation easement can be a desirable tool in very specific instances where landowner, land management and fiscal goals meet. They are a unique solution for many landowners who wish to conserve and protect their investment in their lan...

| Mandi Taylor, September 2024
Mandi Taylor | Conservation Specialist
Hi everyone! My name is Mandi and I am thrilled to be part of the Unique Places to Save team, and continue to help advance our ongoing conservation and restoration efforts. I bring experience in public health, project management, and commun...

| Natalie Davis, August 2024
Building Confidence in Conservation: Natalie Davis's Journey with Unique Places to Save
When I graduated from University of North Carolina in December of 2020, I did what most fresh college graduates do and I started looking for a job in the environmental science field rather aimlessly. When I saw the job listing from Unique P...

| Michael Scisco, August 2024
Great Pee Dee Mitigation Bank
Total Acres 1,094 Project Year 2023 Located in Mason & Dillon Counties, SC The goal of the Great Pee Dee mitigation banking project is to preserve, enhance and restore streams and wetlands associated with the Great Pee Dee River, Mill Creek...

| Christine Pickens, August 2024
Why Do Wetlands Smell Bad?
The wetland superpower behind the stink and why you’ll be saying, “Oh no, my feet smell cheesy!” Experiencing nature can become enlightening when we use our five senses. In the case of wetlands, using your sense of smell can also help you u...

| Michael Scisco, August 2024
Pushmataha Bat Conservation Bank | Endangered Species
Total Acres 90 Project Year 2022 Located in Pushmataha County OK The purpose of this species mitigation bank is to help offset potential negative impacts on habitat for Indiana Bats (Endangered) and Northern Long-Eared Bats (Threatened) fro...

| Sam Warnock, August 2024
How to Value Ecosystem Services
Economics is all about determining how to best use our limited resources, and assigning a value to these can help us understand how scarce these resources are. When we value ecosystem services and biodiversity, we show what we're willing to...

| Michael Scisco, August 2024
Hatch's Hill | Conservation Mitigation Easement
Total Acres 65.9 Project Year 2024 Located in Wayne County NC The Hatch’s Hill Conservation Easement is located on active farms used for cropland and pasture for goats, donkeys, and alpaca. The 56.2‐acre conservation easement includes multi...

| Nathan Phillips, July 2024
New Leadership, Same Mission!
Two years ago, Clark Harris stepped up from our Board of Directors to lead Unique Places to Save through a planned two-year transition period. His work focused on leadership development and visioning for the organization and we are a much s...

| Michael Scisco, July 2024
Smiley | Conservation Mitigation Easement
Total Acres 15.6 Project Year 2024 Located in Knox County TN The Smiley Conservation Easement is a remarkable project and a great example of pairing ecological conservation with agricultural working lands. This easement protects 4,458 feet ...

| Sam Warnock, June 2024
What are Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem services (ES) is a buzzword that often appears when discussing ways to protect the environment. Although the term has been around since the 1980s, there’s a lot of confusion behind what it conveys. We’ll discuss ES’s meaning and h...

| Michael Scisco, April 2024
Conservation Offers a Strong ROI for Land Planners
Conservation efforts have historically been viewed through a narrow lens, primarily focused on environmental stewardship. This perspective, while critical for the protection of our planet's natural habitats and biodiversity, only scratches ...
