Links to organizations I support
Below is a list of organizations that I support and who are doing amazing things. They are presented in no particular order. Please consider supporting these organizations.
Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) — www.gtrlc.org
Based in Traverse City, Michigan, GTRLC works to protect significant natural, scenic, and farm lands, and thus far has protected more than 32,000 acres of irreplaceable land within a regional community that includes Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Manistee counties in northwest Lower Michigan. I first had the pleasure of working with GTRLC while participating in the Spring 2009 Pure Michigan Photography Competition (see my Benzie County images here) and have since collaborated with them on several projects, including a line of custom note cards of images taken in some of their Nature Preserves (available for purchase at GTRLC’s web store). Their trillium T-shirt is also based on one of my images. Northern Michigan is near and dear to my heart, and this organization is doing great work preserving truly wonderful places.
National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) — www.npca.org
The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) seeks to protect and enhance America’s National Parks for present and future generations. NPCA is focusing on addressing the effects that years of underfunding and external threats such as air pollution and climate change have taken on our National Parks, with key initiatives including Wildlife, Clean Air, Climate Change, Reinvesting in America’s Heritage, Local Park Protection, and Transportation Funding. NPCA also publishes National Parks magazine, a quarterly, full-color publication filled with great feature stories, park facts, updates on conservation issues, and much more. I have had the honor of working with the National Parks team several times, including an assignment on the effects of non-native and invasive species on two of our National Parks — the feral horses of Assateague Island National Seashore and baby’s breath on the dune ecosystems at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. You can read the article here.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) — www.nature.org
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) works to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. Since its formation in 1951, TNC has protected more than 119 million acres of land and more than 5,000 miles of rivers, with a presence in all 50 of the United States and more than 30 countries. TNC also operates more than 100 marine conservation projects worldwide. Check out the TNC website to find preserves near you.
National Audubon Society — www.audubon.org
Audubon’s mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity. Audubon’s national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engages millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in positive conservation experiences. You can locate the nearest chapter here – participation in Audubon outings is one of the best ways to meet fellow nature enthusiasts and learn volumes about birds and other natural subjects. In addition, Audubon magazine is a fantastic, highly respected bimonthly publication filled with great photography and information about biodiversity and conservation.
National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) — www.refugeassociation.org
The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) aims “To conserve America’s wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity.” Some of my favorite locations to photograph are National Wildlife Refuges, and NWRA works hard to advocate for refuges and their wild inhabitants.
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) — www.nrdc.org
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) works to protect wildlife and wild places and to ensure a healthy environment for all life on earth. NRDC combines strong grassroots advocacy with extraordinary legal expertise, having helped write some of the nation’s key environmental laws and regulations and tirelessly working through the policy and legal environments to protect life on Earth. NRDC’s Action Center provides regular ways for all of us to participate in advocacy through quick and efficient letter writing campaigns and updates on key issues.