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COASTAL ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION
In 1992, Congress authorized the removal of 2 dams that had blocked salmon for a century. 24 years later, the Elwha River once again flowed freely from the Olympic Mountains to the seaElwha River Restoration changed one of America’s most remarkable river recovery stories. Two dams once blocked salmon from reaching upstrea...
In 1772, Benjamin Franklin sent Chinese tallow seeds to Savannah, Georgia; the government planted more along the Gulf in 1900, and the tree now covers 185,000 hectaresIn the late 1700s, a shipment of 1772 seeds sparked a significant invasion of non-native trees across southern U.S. forests. The federal pl...
In 2021, Alabama started turning discarded Christmas trees into sand dunes: How old festive trees are now helping protect Gulf Coast beachesChristmas trees that were once the focal point of holiday celebrations are now playing a vital role in rebuilding sand dunes along Alabama'...
In 2025, Miami sank 22 concrete cars beneath the Atlantic; what looks like an underwater traffic jam is actually a giant artificial reef for 2,200 coralsBeneath the waves off Miami Beach, a striking collection of 22 concrete cars lies submerged, serving as artificial reefs that support coral...
In 2006, volunteers lowered a stripped Boeing 737 into the Pacific; 20 years later, the jet has become a cold-water artificial reefA retired Boeing 737 now rests on the seafloor off Vancouver Island. This aircraft was transformed into an artificial reef by Canada. The X...
In the 1980s, the richest closed-canopy mangroves covered 77,643 sq km globally. 43 years later, they had grown to 88,772 sq km, helping turn decades of mangrove loss into a net global gainMangroves are far more than trees growing along tropical and subtropical shorelines. They form complex coastal ecosystems that provide habi...
In 2021, Cyprus submerged 93 sculptures to create an underwater forest; concrete trees rise from the seabed at different depthsAn underwater sculpture park in Cyprus offers a unique habitat for marine life. This art installation, MUSAN, features concrete figures and...
In 1993, Louis Bacon bought a mostly undeveloped New York island; four years later, he protected nearly 90% of its 450 acresIn 1993, Louis Bacon acquired Robins Island, an exceptionally pristine marine island. He subsequently enacted a conservation easement that ...
Tech billionaires Jack and Laura Dangermond donated $165 million to protect a stunning 24,000-acre stretch of California coastline visible from spaceJack and Laura Dangermond have made a monumental donation of $165 million to The Nature Conservancy, ensuring the permanent protection of t...
Florida dumped 500,000 tonnes of oyster and clam shells into the sea — what happened next surprised scientistsFlorida successfully recycled over 500,000 tonnes of oyster and clam shells for reef restoration. These shells provided essential foundatio...
In 1990, U.S. conservationists repurposed thousands of discarded Christmas trees to slow coastal erosion. Thirty-six years later, the unusual experiment produced thriving wetlands, healthier wildlife habitats, and stronger natural defenses against stormsHow Recycled Christmas Trees Are Saving Louisiana’s Coastline: Louisiana has lost over 2,000 square miles of coastline since the 1930s. But...
The hidden danger inside Spain's eucalyptus forests that worries scientistsSpain's eucalyptus plantations appear green but support fewer native birds and insects. These monocultures lack the diverse vegetation and ...
Meet South Florida teenager Theo Quenee who turned his rooftop into a mangrove nursery after Hurricane IrmaHurricane Irma's devastation prompted Theo Quenee to rescue hundreds of mangrove seedlings. He transformed his home's roof into a nursery, ...
In 1970, US dumped 2 million tires into the ocean; a plan to save marine life turned into one of the biggest environmental blundersIn 1972, more than 2 million old tires were dumped into the Atlantic Ocean off Florida. The goal was simple. Create an artificial reef and ...
30 million oysters are being dumped into US's Chesapeake Bay in a race to save America's largest estuaryMillions of baby oysters are being planted in the Chesapeake Bay. Scientists hope this effort will revive one of America's most important w...
Japan coral protectors race to save reefs from heat 'bomb'Okinawa's coral reefs face severe damage from climate-driven marine heatwaves. Scientists are employing "heatwave simulators" to study cora...
In 2011, the US began tearing down two century-old dams on Washington's Elwha River, the largest dam removal in US history at the time, freeing over 20 million cubic yards of trapped sedimentThe Elwha River dams were dismantled after nearly a century of operation. This significant engineering project restored over ninety miles o...