Mercury concentrations in adult and juvenile bald eagles are elevated within New York's Catskill Region and Catskill Park according to a report prepared by the BioDiversity Research Institute (BRI) of Gorham, ME, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) with support from The Nature Conservancy.

Ranch owner works with Conservancy to protect Polk County site critical for water resources, wildlife.

The Nature Conservancy has purchased four tracts totaling 1,116 acres from International Paper Company for $6,445,000. The tracts, located in Charleston and Berkeley Counties, protect critical upland and wetland habitat as well as buffering existing protected lands of the Francis Marion National Forest, Santee Coastal Reserve and Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.

The Nature Conservancy's new online corporate giving center allows companies of all sizes to recognize their staff, customers, clients and partners in an Earth-friendly way this year. The site offers a range of options at www.nature.org/holidaypartner. The center allows for self-fulfillment--thus cutting down on delivery time, packaging and transportation costs.

This holiday season, The Nature Conservancy is encouraging consumers to give gifts that will go twice as far - gifts that will delight loved ones while also protecting and preserving some of the world's most precious habitats for future generations. From adopting land to purchasing apparel, these meaningful gifts are also budget-friendly.