New Leaf

Restoration

The landscapes we see today are not the places our parents and grandparents grew up in. Fortunately, because of the pioneering work of researchers and naturalists who came before us, we know a great deal about what it used to look like. With creative solutions, we can certainly bring back pieces of it, but the realities of restoration mean that some landscapes are lost for good; they are simply too deeply changed to ever be put back the way they were. Instead of despair at this thought, we choose to see opportunity. We look for ways to make more beautiful and diverse ecosystems on every landscape, even if they aren't the ones of generations past. We do this through:

• grassland restoration
• selective brush removal
• woodland establishment
• erosion control
• riparian restoration
• wildlife management plans

Conservation

Biodiversity conservation covers a lot of ground, and the academic history of conservation biology goes back at least to the 1960's. This tradition has led to an understanding of the omnipresent influence of human society on nearly every ecosystem on the planet. New Leaf is committed to turning conservation science into sound and effective conservation policy. We do this by:

• partnering with other non-profit organizations to address conservation and education issues  
• engaging with local, state, and federal agencies to assist policy implementation
• participating in scientific communication designed for the public and for policy-makers

Research

Rigorous scientific research is critical for conservation and restoration efforts to be successful. When we make recommendations about how land should be managed to promote biodiversity, we want it to have substance. It is for this reason that we base our decisions on sound science. And if we do not have the answers, we go out and find someone who does. Beyond using existing science, we take every opportunity we can to contribute new research to the collective body of knowledge by:

• empirically tracking progress of our restoration projects
• leading and participating in scientific research projects focused on biodiversity conservation, land management, and habitat and ecological restoration