We protect our natural heritage, because its economic and ecologic values and scenic beauty are irreplaceable. Once a species is lost, it cannot be recreated. Our conservation and restoration programs help to ensure the health of our landscapes for the benefit of the people, plants, and animals that live here.
Active management and long-term stewardship is needed to maintain or restore ecological quality and function to native habitats, and to prevent forestlands and other native landscapes from conversion to other uses. On state-owned aquatic lands, conservation leasing offers the public a way to engage in restoration, enhancement, creation, and preservation actions.