Updates & News

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

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‎ ‎ |‎ ‎ 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...

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‎ ‎ |‎ ‎ 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...

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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...

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‎ ‎ |‎ ‎ 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...

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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...

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‎ ‎ |‎ ‎ Sam Warnock, April 2024

Securing the Food Supply by Preserving Local Farmland

Many global challenges include climate change, population growth, and economic instability. However, the preservation of local farmland emerges as a linchpin in the quest for sustainability and resilience.

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The State of Wetlands in the US

Historically, wetlands were misunderstood and undervalued, often dismissed as mere wastelands. This misconception led to widespread practices of filling them in or using them as dumping sites. However, our contemporary understanding has evo...

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‎ ‎ |‎ ‎ Michael Scisco, February 2024

Opportunities for Real Estate Developers in North Carolina's Conservation Efforts

Last year marked a significant turning point for many real estate developers in North Carolina. It was the start of an era where the paths of development and environmental conservation not only met but intertwined, offering a golden opportu...

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‎ ‎ |‎ ‎ Christine Pickens, February 2024

Rivers Through the Seasons: A Majestic Journey of Flowing Water

Rivers are part of the fundamental support system for our environment and an essential part of the framework for economies and societies worldwide. Their importance cannot be overstated, yet their significance is often overlooked. In this b...

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‎ ‎ |‎ ‎ Christine Pickens, February 2024

How Healthy Rivers Impact Us & Our Local Communities

Rivers are the lifeblood of our communities, providing invaluable benefits that extend far beyond their flowing waters. In the United States, a network of rivers crisscrosses the landscape, offering many advantages to both people, the econo...

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‎ ‎ |‎ ‎ 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...

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‎ ‎ |‎ ‎ 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, ...

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‎ ‎ |‎ ‎ 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.

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