Combat Climate Change

Trees naturally combat climate change, so keeping as many as you can and/or plant more trees to help sequester carbon and fight climate change.

MHLC’s conservation work fights climate change every day.
Support MHLC with a donation today, and learn more about our natural climate solutions.

Improve Your Local Habitat

Hang bird feeders for seed and nectar eaters to support birds living in suburban landscapes where food can be scarce.
Create a water source for birds and pollinators by putting out a bird bath. Include rocks in the bottom so pollinators can land and drink from the rock.
Provide cover in your backyard by planting native trees and shrubs. Native species support various wildlife with the most nutritious foods.
Create a strip of trees and shrubs along the back of your yard to create safe passage for animals.
Reduce your lawn by leaving some areas natural and uncut, mow less often, and avoid chemical fertilizers and insecticides.
Leave perennials uncut at the end of the season to provide wintering habitat for beneficial insects and seed for birds throughout the winter months.

Planting trees next to streams is a great way to improve water quality.
Manage your property carefully, big or small, to ensure you are not impacting nearby waterways with your land use.
The Department of Environmental Conservation’s Trees for Tribs program may be available in your area and can provide free trees, shrubs, and guidance for streamside planting.

Be a Citizen Scientist

Leafsnap is a mobile app which can identify plants from a photograph.
You can provide bird data to scientists by reporting the birds right in your own backyard with the eBird app.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Merlin app can help you identify birds.
Certify your backyard habitat with the National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat Program.

Improve Habitat

The Department of Environmental Conservation offers a Landowner Incentive program which helps landowners protect habitat of at-risk species on private lands.
The Natural Resource Conservation Service offers a Wildlife Habitat Incentive program (WHIP) to develop fish and wildlife habitat on private lands.
For guidance on what native flowers to plant, see the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Fact Sheet.
You can also learn more from Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener Program.
To learn more about invasive species and their management, visit your local Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) branch.
Your county’s Soil and Water Conservation District can often provide technical assistance for issues related to erosion and stream protection.
Cornell Cooperative Extension offers a New York Master Watershed Steward program which trains citizens to protect water sources in New York State.
DEC Foresters can connect you to many programs offered through the Department of Environmental Conservation for forest management.

Protect Water Quality

Your county’s Soil and Water Conservation District can often provide technical assistance for issues related to erosion and stream protection.
Cornell Cooperative Extension offers a New York Master Watershed Steward program which trains citizens to protect water sources in New York State.
DEC Foresters can connect you to many programs offered through the Department of Environmental Conservation for forest management.
Your county’s Soil and Water Conservation District can often provide technical assistance and guidance for Best Management Practices for farming.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency provides many technical programs to assist farmers.

Farming

Your county’s Soil and Water Conservation District can often provide technical assistance and guidance for Best Management Practices for farming.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency provides many technical programs to assist farmers.