PHILANTHROPY
Support for Science Combining research with resources moves TNC forward
The Nature Conservancy has always been a science-based organization. It is the compass that guides us, pointing us toward the most effective strategies to preserve and restore our natural landscapes. This approach is not just about preserving nature, but about understanding and harnessing the intricate web of life that sustains us all. This approach is not always easy. In fact, it can make the work more complex. Imagine putting together a puzzle without having all the pieces. Once you discover that missing piece, maybe hiding under another piece or sitting just beyond your sight, you can swiftly connect more of the puzzle. In many cases, it’s science that leads us to those missing pieces. Jeanette Hartshorn is a trustee for TNC in Missouri and serves as the chair of our Conservation Committee. She is also a scientist. “As a scientist, I appreciate the critical role that science plays in identifying and understanding the challenges that our environment faces,” Hartshorn says. “Science is unbiased and methodical, and that is the approach that TNC takes in tackling conservation challenges.” But science alone is not enough. To truly make a difference, we need the ability to act swiftly and decisively when new opportunities arise. It has always been and continues to be the support of our donors that allows us to be the organization we are. You are the driving force behind our successes, enabling us to make timely investments and seize
critical opportunities to advance our conservation work. “TNC is on a mission, and that mission is focused on making a positive and real impact for people and nature. I see the evidence throughout our conservation work,” Hartshorn says. “TNC makes data-driven decisions by assessing conservation needs, analyzing the findings, adjusting practices and adopting strategies that will have lasting beneficial effects.” Your support provides us the flexibility to invest where we see the potential for the biggest results. The challenges we face are immense, but so are the opportunities. We face complex challenges that are evolving, but with a science-based approach, we can develop and deploy strategies that benefit people and nature. “Whether it is reconnecting river corridors to support healthy populations of fish and other aquatic organisms, preserving and improving
our critical grasslands and prairies for environmental benefits, or helping communities overcome challenges of climate change, TNC looks for the levers they can pull to make the biggest difference,” Hartshorn says. Our work is a testament to what we can achieve when we combine scientific expertise with a deep commitment to conservation. With your support, we are giving nature a fighting chance to thrive. Thank you for being a part of this important mission.
THIS PAGE TOP A bison walks through native grasses at Dunn Ranch Prairie. © Doyle Murphy/TNC THIS PAGE BOTTOM Jeanette Hartshorn © Anna Hancock/TNC
NATURE.ORG/MISSOURI 11
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