Preserving and Protecting Nature
Concrete and asphalt in Milwaukee absorb UV radiation from the sun, emitting heat and leading to higher temperatures. If you’ve heard “urban heat island,” now you know the science behind it. As global temperatures rise, vulnerable populations in urban heat islands bear the highest costs. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is working to address this issue – among other environmental challenges facing Milwaukee.
“TNC prioritizes nature-based solutions,” says Lamont Smith, TNC’s Milwaukee program manager. “Our mission is to protect the land, water and all the life that depends on it. In Milwaukee, our goal is to make the city the most thriving, environmentally sustainable urban ecosystem in the world.”
To address the urban heat island effect, TNC is working with local partner organizations, including the city and county, to identify locations to plant trees. Recently, the organization engaged Muskego Way Forward and MKE Plays to plant trees in Reiske Park, improving heat conditions, mitigating flood risk and providing recreation and wildlife benefits.
Beyond tree planting, TNC supports several other environmental initiatives, including Green and Healthy Schools Milwaukee, Branch Out and the Environmental Youth Collaborative. These nature-based initiatives impact Milwaukee by replacing asphalt on schoolyards with native plants and outdoor classrooms, planting thousands of trees in areas vulnerable to urban heat islands and creating education and career opportunities for young adults.
“The environment is one of the most pressing issues of our time,” Smith says. “Our hope is that with restored, sustained, protected natural spaces, our city will thrive for generations to come.”
What We Do
- The Nature Conservancy envisions a future with a livable climate, healthy communities and thriving nature. We collaborate with local partners in Milwaukee and across the globe to identify community needs and implement innovative solutions to challenges like climate change, protecting land and water resources, and providing food and water sustainably.
Where Your Money Goes
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Donations to TNC support conservation efforts in communities like Milwaukee and help protect nature, tackle climate change, and provide food and water sustainability in the Midwest, North America and in more than 80 countries worldwide.
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To learn more about our ambitious goals for communities and the planet, visit nature.org.
The Nature Conservancy
25 W. Main St., Madison | 608-251-8140
