As owner and operator of Jóia Food Farm near Charles City, Wendy Johnson is literally working at the grassroots level to ensure Iowa maintains a bright future in farming.
For more than a decade, Tim has employed several conservation practices to improve soil health and water quality, reduce nutrient loss and prevent erosion.
The Gulf of Mexico relies on a healthy coast, but wetlands are disappearing. The land is vital to recreation, business and wildlife in Louisiana. Right now, we have the best opportunity in generations to secure the health of our coast and its economy for good. We’re working to develop large-scale projects that restore wetlands, barrier islands, oyster reefs and other natural systems.
Amy Hudson Weaver is working hand in hand with local fishermen to protect fisheries and fishing families in Baja California Sur. As coordinator of the sustainable fisheries program for Niparajá, a Mexican nonprofit conservation organization, Amy is helping create a network of small fishing refuges that will rebuild fish stocks and ensure healthy ecosystems and healthy communities for the long term.
For Sandy Nguyen, executive director of the nonprofit Coastal Communities Consulting, the future of Louisiana’s commercial fishery depends on restoration of wetlands. Her organization works to ensure that fishers – who bear the brunt of natural disasters and rising sea levels – have a seat at the table as decisions are being made about long-term solutions to protect the Gulf.
At the University of Minnesota, Don Wyse is developing crops that provide new economic opportunities for farmers and improve water quality in the Mississippi River basin.
On the Gulf Coast, Audubon Louisiana's Jacques Hebert is working to rebuild wetlands, protect communities and keep Louisianans safe from the rising tides.