Conservation

FMR works with public and private landowners, local government agencies and concerned community members — including thousands of volunteers — to protect and restore bluffs, prairies, forests and other lands important to our communities and the health of our metro Mississippi.

Here's what our conservation staff are currently working on and encountering in the field. 

Learn more about all our protection and restoration sites at our conservation map, as well as more information about our approach and program.

Conservation updates are also shared on social media (Facebook and Twitter) and in our Mississippi Messages newsletter.

POSTS

Where we work: Sheridan Memorial Park
Located along the east bank of the Mississippi River just north of the Broadway Avenue bridge, this site is home to a veterans memorial, an FMR-installed raingarden, and a multi-year community partnership with the Sheridan Neighborhood Organization. Read more
Sheridan Memorial raingarden with Veterans memorial in background
Supporting Minnesota's public lands
FMR recently signed on to a letter to legislators urging investment in Minnesota's public lands. Many of the special places our ecologists and volunteers work in depend on state support. Read more
How our warm winter affected habitat restoration progress
What will the warmest winter on record mean for wildlife? We won't know for awhile. We do know that it got in the way of our usual winter tasks for wildlife habitat restoration. Luckily, our ecologists like challenges. Read more
Open river with snow along the banks
Now hiring: summer field ecology intern
Join our Land Conservation team as an intern this summer! Read more
Field ecology intern
Can pockets of habitat tip the scales in degraded wetlands?
Invasive reed canary grass forms dense monocultures in many wetlands across the Upper Midwest, but we're experimenting with ways to give native wetland plants a better foothold. Read more
Vermillion River flows through reed canary grass
Media shines spotlight on FMR staff and creative solutions for vexing river issues
Whether clean-water crops, carp or buckthorn, the expertise of FMR staff has been on full display. Read more
FMR staff, camelina, carp, buckthorn
More than 3,000 pollinators — and other interesting findings from our 2023 monitoring
How much more often did pollinators visit native flowers than non-native flowers? And why are cuckoo bees a good sign? Find out more about our 2023 pollinator surveys, plus new opportunities to get involved in monitoring efforts. Read more
Annika, Julia, a monarch, black and gold bumble bee, red-belted bumble bee
Where we work: Applewood Preserve
An old pasture and orchard turned neighborhood preserve holds nearly 30 acres of oak forest, prairie and woodland pond for wildlife in Maplewood. Read more
Applewood prairie and trees
Video: How we chose plants in partnership for the restoration at Wakan Tipi
Meet four plants in the restored tallgrass prairie and floodplain at Wakaŋ Tipi in St. Paul, a sacred place to the Dakota. FMR and our partners Wakaŋ Tipi Awaŋyaŋkapi talk about the medicine and habitat these trees and wildflowers provide. Read more
Two people talking near bee balm
Nectar and ... blood? A surprising source of nutrients for butterflies
Our new pollinator biologist explains the phenomenon of butterfly puddling — sometimes on blood — and how we can make sure these insects get the nutrients and energy they need. Read more

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Upcoming Events

Applications due Friday, May 3 by 5 p.m.
Virtual and in-person
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area
Thursday, May 9, 2024 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Hastings Sand Coulee Scientific and Natural Area