The Nature Conservancy in North Carolina

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The Nature Conservancy in North Carolina

We're a conservation organization committed to protecting North Carolina.

09/04/2026

Oysters are the ultimate natural water filters!🚰 One adult oyster can clean up to 50 gallons of water a day—that’s the equivalent of running an entire Brita pitcher (which filters about 6 cups at a time) more than 130 times in a single day!
By pulling out excess nutrients and improving water clarity, oysters help underwater plants thrive, boost habitat health, and support stronger coastal ecosystems. That is why rebuilding oyster reefs is so important for our coastal communities!

Get conservation updates about this and all our work across North Carolina. Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/north-carolina/sign-up-email-newsletter/?en_txn1=s_p.ch_nc.eg.x.North.Carolina.NN

📸 Margaret Southern

08/31/2026

Millennial vs. Gen Z just trying to love nature together. From restoring wildlife habitat to using prescribed fire as a critical ecological tool, our teams and partners are working every day to keep these landscapes thriving. And yes… we also love the tiny wet bean.

08/29/2026

Heading to the Outer Banks? Make sure Nags Head Woods Preserve is on your must‑visit list. Before you hit the trails, stop by our pavilion to explore our new 3D model and interactive features.

It's the perfect way to learn about this incredible maritime forest before stepping into it.😀

08/27/2026

Aaron McCall takes us out in the field to the Outer Banks, where our team is monitoring oyster reef restoration sites. During the summer, plastic bags filled with oyster shells were placed over the reefs for about a month before being opened. Every critter the team finds is documented to help measure and understand how biodiversity changes in these restored sites over time.

This work wouldn’t be possible without our partnership with the North Carolina Coastal Federation, which leads the oyster‑shell recycling program with local restaurants in the Outer Banks.

Learn more about our oyster reef restoration work: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/north-carolina/stories-in-north-carolina/oyster-reef-restoration-in-north-carolina-1/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_sou.x.x

08/24/2026

Bachman’s Sparrows are basically the longleaf pine whisperers, they tell our conservation staff if their restoration efforts are working! 😀
These little grassland specialists only thrive when the understory is just right—think lush native grasses, wildflowers, low shrubs, and plenty of open space beneath towering pines. And the secret ingredient? Fire.🔥
Regular burns keep the forest floor open and vibrant, creating the perfect setup for nesting, foraging, and staying safe from predators. Bachman’s Sparrows have been increasing in our Calloway Forest Preserve. Their song is a great reward to all our work.
https://blog.nature.org/2026/07/20/the-bird-that-needs-fire-what-bachmans-sparrow-can-teach-us-about-restoration/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_sou.x.x

📸 Brady Beck

08/20/2026

Enjoy a mouth-watering oyster tour through the Outer Banks’ best eco-conscious oyster restaurants 🦪.
These restaurants have joined the Restaurant to Reef oyster shell recycling program, which means the oysters go from your plate to our reefs🌊. Recycled oysters from these restaurants help build reefs along the coast to create habitat for new oysters.

Black Pelican - Kitty Hawk
Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar - Manteo
Dirty Dick's Crab House - Nags Head
Dune Street Rawbar & Grill - Nags Head
Goombays Grille & Raw Bar - Kill Devil Hills

Dive into our work with oyster reefs:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/north-carolina/stories-in-north-carolina/oyster-reef-restoration-in-north-carolina-1/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_sou.x.x

08/18/2026

Good news is flying all over TNC's Dunahoe Bay!🪹 Our conservation team conducted wading birds surveys and the results are incredible.
Breeding numbers for anhinga, great egret, and great blue heron have all recovered after a couple of down years. Anhinga hit a new record with 58 nests, the highest since surveys began in 2022. Great egrets reached 36 nests, climbing back up from 2023 and 2024. And great blue herons set a new high with 6 nests.😃
After disappearing for two years, cattle egrets are finally returning—10 adults were spotted this season. Even better, some species started nesting earlier than usual, with more chicks already on the move.

Dunahoe Bay is a rare clay‑based Carolina Bay that holds water year‑round. TNC protected the site in the 1990s and has monitored wading birds here for the past five years, giving us a front‑row seat to these incredible rebounds.

📸 Jeff Marcus

08/17/2026

These oyster bags are a monitoring method we’re using to understand and measure the success of the new Atlantic Reefmaker installed at the Outer Banks.😀 These castle‑like structures act as living barriers that buffer shorelines by slowing down wave energy and reducing erosion. The “castles” also support oyster growth, creating rich habitat for aquatic life—crabs, fish, and even more oysters.🐟
Oyster populations have declined across North Carolina, which is bad news for oyster lovers and for water quality, since oysters are natural water filters. Thanks to our partners at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we’re building new oyster reefs and helping this coastal community become more resilient.
Dive into our work with oyster reefs:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/north-carolina/stories-in-north-carolina/oyster-reef-restoration-in-north-carolina-1/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_sou.x.x

08/13/2026

Our Southern Blue Ridge fire crews had a very different controlled‑burn season this year.🔥 Planning, training, and implementation all centered around Hurricane Helene recovery. Much of the work focused on understanding changes in fuel loads—the downed trees, leaves, and mid‑story growth that increased dramatically after Helene.

These shifts required the crew to adapt their operations, and strong partnerships with federal, state, and Tribal agencies were essential for planning, sharing knowledge, and carrying out the most beneficial and impactful burn operations.
Controlled burning remains a vital tool for forest management—especially now, as we work to reduce fuel loads and lower the risk of devastating wildfires.

📸 Adam Warwick

08/10/2026

Keep public lands in public hands. 🤚
Public lands are where many of us first fell in love with nature. They’re playgrounds to explore and seek adventure. They’re where generations of families hunt, fish, hike and pass down outdoor traditions.
But threats to our country’s public lands are growing. We’ve seen proposals to sell off millions of acres of public lands, opening the door to mining, drilling and development.
But we’ve proven something powerful: when people speak up, we can stop these threats. Keep letting Congress know that public lands belong in public hands. Join us and take action today: https://preserve.nature.org/page/171039/action/1?engrid_session=NTBhZDg3NmItZTQ5Zi00YTI3LWJmN2QtMmUxMmRiODhlNjlhfDE3ODE1NTUyNDd8MTc4MTU1NTI2M3wyfGRpcmVjdHx2dT1taXNzaW9ucG9zc2libGV8ZGlyZWN0fA%3D%3D&en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_sou.x.x

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334 Blackwell Street Ste 300
Durham, NC
27701

Website

https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/northcarolina/index.htm?src=r.v_nc.local.na.nc

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