Places We Protect

Historic Mount Olivet Cemetery welcomes visitors to respectfully enjoy its grounds, its history and its myriad conservation projects, many of which include TNC as a partner.

The 88-acre cemetery is located on a historic hill overlooking the monuments of the nation's capital in the District of Columbia. Operated by the Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Washington, it is the largest Catholic burial ground in the city, and it was the first cemetery in the city to be racially integrated.

A partnership between Mount Olivet Cemetery, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and other local non-profits began in 2017 when TNC met with Mount Olivet to discuss the cemetery’s vision for the future of its grounds. The plans that emerged would transform the cemetery into an urban arboretum, green space, and demonstration site for many important conservation practices.

The Maryland/DC Chapter helped the State of Maryland acquire this important area which contains approximately 70 acres of wetland in the floodplain of the Little Patuxent River. At 250 acres total, Oxbow is half in county or state land ownership, while other portions are owned by the local community association.

The key feature of this preserve is the Little Patuxent Oxbow, an impoundment of the Little Patuxent River that was created over hundreds of years by beaver activity. Another important element is Laurel Oxbow Lake, which is the largest naturally occurring body of freshwater in Maryland; other lakes are the result of damming creeks.

Oxbow is also a birders delight, with more than 150 species identified here, including the bald eagle, little blue heron, egrets, ducks and greese along with coopers and red-shouldered hawks.

Over many millennia, a rare combination of natural forces carved the unique Potomac Gorge. Running from Great Falls to Georgetown, this 15-mile section of the Potomac River is one of the most ecologically significant natural areas within our entire National Park System.

The National Park Service invited The Nature Conservancy to help manage the incredible ecological diversity of the Potomac Gorge. With your support, TNC has worked for more than 50 years to protect and restore the 9,700-acre Potomac Gorge natural area.

Hundreds of thousands of annual visitors—hikers, runners, bikers, fishermen, photographers and paddlers—enjoy the beauty of the Potomac River and the C&O Canal National Historical Park towpath.

The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge includes over 20,000 acres of estuarine habitats, wetlands, and scrub forest along the Blackwater River in Dorchester County. TNC has protected and transferred more than 5,000 acres of land to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge since the 1970s, with a focus on climate-resilient lands in recent years.

The Blackwater Refuge is located in Dorchester County on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, which is on the front lines for sea-level rise in the Chesapeake Bay region. Salt marshes, like those found at the Blackwater Refuge, have the ability to adapt to rising seas, but they need space and the right conditions to migrate inland and TNC is focused on helping facilitate that transition. The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1933 as a waterfowl sanctuary for birds migrating along the Atlantic Flyway.

Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area is a natural treasure in Maryland, spanning over 29,000 acres of beautiful tidal marshes and woodlands. It’s the largest wildlife management area in the state and boasts the biggest stretch of publicly owned tidal wetlands in Maryland.

Since the late 1970s, The Nature Conservancy has played a crucial role in protecting this area. We’ve transferred over 1,300 acres to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and continue to work tirelessly to preserve its rich habitats and biodiversity.

Located near the head of Fishing Bay and along the western shore of the Nanticoke River, this area is a haven for wildlife. It’s especially known for being a fantastic wintering and nesting spot for diving ducks like canvasbacks and scaup.

Mattawoman Creek is often called a miniature Chesapeake Bay. This beautiful creek is a vital breeding ground for a variety of wildlife, including beavers, herons, deer, mink, foxes, muskrats, otters, and raccoons. It’s also a bird lover’s paradise, with nesting and feeding habitats for bald eagles, ospreys, wood ducks, wild turkeys, American egrets, and black-crowned night herons.

The creek’s clean waters are crucial for fish, serving as an important spawning and nursery area for species like striped bass, shad, herring, white perch, and yellow perch. The surrounding floodplain forests are home to trees such as ash, ironwood, white birch, and sycamore.

In 1989, The Nature Conservancy helped the State of Maryland acquire this area, which is now a Natural Environment Area (NEA). These areas are dedicated to preserving natural features and providing undisturbed outdoor experiences for everyone to enjoy.

Pocomoke River State Park is home to the northernmost of the great southern riverine swamps and the largest bald cypress-black gum swamp in Maryland. Originating in the Great Cypress Swamp in Delaware, the Pocomoke River flows south through Maryland, eventually emptying into Pocomoke Sound at the Chesapeake Bay. Along its path, you’ll find stunning, jungle-like swamps that are home to many rare plant and animal species.

In winter, bald eagles can be seen in large numbers along the river. The area also supports pockets of Atlantic white cedar, a tree now scarce due to its valuable wood. The swamps provide an ideal habitat for wildlife such as deer, raccoons, and muskrats.

Since 1977, The Nature Conservancy’s Maryland Chapter and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources have been dedicated to protecting these unique swamps and bald cypress forests. Together, we’ve secured over 2,800 acres through purchases and gifts, ensuring these lands are preserved and managed by the State of Maryland.

Soldier’s Delight Natural Environment Area in western Baltimore County is home to Maryland’s largest serpentine barren, a unique ecosystem that supports many rare species. These serpentine ecosystems are underlain by serpentinite, an oceanic rock that creates shallow, erosion-prone soils with high magnesium levels and low essential nutrients.

One of the most notable plants here is the fringed gentian (Gentiana crinita), found at its only natural site in the state. This area also hosts the world’s largest population of the federally endangered Agalinus acuta.

Between 1985 and 1986, The Nature Conservancy helped the State of Maryland acquire over 55 acres of this area. Today, it remains a nature preserve dedicated to scientific research and educational purposes.