Make a Difference in Kansas
The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. For more than 30 years, we’ve worked in Kansas to do just that. We've permanently protected 161,000 acres across the state, including six preserves that are open to the public.
Your Support in Action
This year, The Nature Conservancy continued to make meaningful progress protecting Kansas's prairies and streams—and helping others manage their land with conservation in mind.
![Two birds with wings in the air jumping from snow covered ground.](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/dancing-prairie-chickens-dale-stephens-kansas.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4003%2C1250&wid=1600&hei=500&scl=2.501875)
![/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/TNC_PC2023_Lands5_0dc14d1567f04e8a0eda5ffb4bc3e51b-original.jpg](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/TNC_PC2023_Lands5_0dc14d1567f04e8a0eda5ffb4bc3e51b-original.jpg?crop=640%2C0%2C2560%2C2560&wid=640&hei=640&scl=4.0)
Contest
Winning Images from Kansas
This year, photos taken in Kansas and submitted to our annual global photo contest were also eligible for additional local prizes. More than 500 photographers submitted 1,389 stunning pictures that captured the beauty and wonder of nature in Kansas.
![A few strands of tall grass wave above rolling fields.](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/a/Tallgrass_prairie_Dave_Bryan_4000x2200.jpg?crop=900%2C0%2C2200%2C2200&wid=640&hei=640&scl=3.4375)
Places We Protect
Hiking Trails in Cassoday Now Open!
For the first time in 50 years, the Flint Hills Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Cassoday, Kansas is open to the public. This TNC property is located 30 miles south of Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and is less than an hour's drive from Wichita.
![A wood bench sits at an overlook point at Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park on a clear day. In the distance is a view of rock formations and prairie.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/little-jerusalem-overlook-bench.jpg?crop=583%2C0%2C2434%2C2434&wid=640&hei=640&scl=3.803125)
Places We Protect
Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park
332-acres of dramatic chalk rock formations and rare plants protected by The Nature Conservancy. We partnered with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism to make portions of the area open to the public in 2020.
Safeguarding Species
Nature’s Comebacks
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. To commemorate this landmark legislation, we’re celebrating 50 underdog species that are bouncing back from low numbers thanks to conservation efforts by TNC and partners. Check out these species from across the nation, like the interior least tern in Kansas.
![An adult least tern with raised wings shelters a chick on sand.](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/LeastTern_HarryCollins.jpg?crop=0%2C512%2C3800%2C1187&wid=1600&hei=500&scl=2.375)
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Read the stories of TNC's work to protect Kansas's prairies and streams—and helping others manage their land with conservation in mind.
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![Sunflowers with rolling green landscape in background.](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/konza-prairi-wildflowers.jpg?crop=0%2C1043%2C4000%2C1500&wid=3200&hei=1200&scl=1.25)
![](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_96292543_4000x2200.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C2200%2C2200&wid=640&hei=640&scl=3.4375)
Feature
See the Places We Protect in Your Community
For more than 30 years, The Nature Conservancy has worked to conserve the lands and waters of Kansas, permanently protecting 161,000 acres including 6 preserves open to the public.