| Christine Pickens, December 2024
The Mid-Reaches: Part Two on River Ecology & Conservation
Welcome back to our series on river ecology and conservation. This is a follow-up article to one published recently about headwater river ecology & conservation. If you haven’t read that yet, hop over there first! Otherwise, keep swimming d...
| Christine Pickens, November 2024
At The Headwaters: Part One on River Ecology & Conservation
This blog post is the first of a three part series on River Ecology & Conservation by Christine Pickens, PhD. At Unique Places to Save, we put a special emphasis on protecting aquatic resources. One of the most prominent aquatic resource fe...
| Mandi Taylor, November 2024
Nurtured by Nature: Why Outdoor Recreation Matters
While the benefits of being outdoors–such as soaking up vitamin D, boosting your mood, and getting more exercise–has always been emphasized, the COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the need for recreational activities and social interacti...
| Mandi Taylor, September 2024
First Days at Unique Places to Save
My first day in the field as a Conservation Specialist took me to Jigsaw, a 21.54-acre conservation easement property immediately adjacent to a working farm. This property is a mix of mature forested stream buffer and restored in-stream hab...
| 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...
| Nathan Phillips, February 2024
Boiling Spring Wilderness Receives the Third Largest Grant in NC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3rd Largest Grant in 2023 Awarded By State to Fund Conservation of 978 Acres of Boiling Spring Wilderness The North Carolina Land and Water Fund Board of Trustees voted on Wednesday, September 20th to award Unique Plac...
| Sam Warnock, February 2024
A History of Land Trusts in North Carolina
North Carolina, with its diverse landscapes ranging from the Appalachian Mountains in the west to the coastal plains in the east, has an incredible range of unique places worth saving. Despite the modern form of land conservation being rela...
| Michael Scisco, February 2024
Cate's Farm Farmland Conservation
Unique Places to Save partnered with the City of Mebane to assist with their master planning process that garnered community input for this remarkable rural property as part of their park concept. Unique Places to Save partnered with the Ci...
| Nathan Phillips, February 2024
Box Creek Wilderness Land Preservation
Unique Places To Save Provided Online Technology to Help Prevent a Power Line Over One of the Largest Natural Heritage Areas in North Carolina Unique Places To Save conducted an online outreach and education campaign in coordination with ou...
| Nathan Phillips, February 2024
Alligator Creek Restoration & Conservation Project
Unique Places to Save currently working to increase ecological diversity and recreation opportunities along the Brunswick and Lower Cape Fear Rivers. The Alligator Creek Restoration and Conservation Project, funded by the National Fish and ...
| Michael Scisco, February 2024
Why Conservation Matters during North Carolina’s Rapid Growth Phase
North Carolina has abundant natural resources that contribute significantly to the state's economy, environment, and overall quality of life. Our state's landscapes provide many opportunities for outdoor recreation, improved water quality, ...
| Nathan Phillips, January 2024
Sam Warnock | Aquatic Resources Manager
Sam is dedicated to managing and protecting our aquatic resources, bringing over seven years of expertise in environmental consulting and project management.
| Nathan Phillips, January 2024
Christine Pickens | Science Director
Dr. Christine Pickens is a wetland ecologist with over 15 years of experience in ecological research, restoration project management, and partnership building on projects in North Carolina, Louisiana, Ohio, Georgia, and California.
| Michael Scisco, January 2024
Michael Scisco | Conservation Director
Michael is a trusted expert contractor that manages our land conservation program. He has spent over 15 years in the non-profit land conservation industry with another 10 years working as a consultant to private landowners for conservation ...