Heartland Conservation Alliance

Happy #BlackHistoryMonth from HCA! This month we’re highlighting Black people who have contributed significantly to the conservation efforts we know today, highlighting today Dr. John Francis who has traveled throughout much of the Americas on foot to bring awareness to the environment.

We’re so excited to announce the return of our volunteer work days at the Heartland Overlook Preserve this March! 🌳✨ RSVP for a Woodland Restoration Work Day at tinyurl.com/hcawr26 or RSVP for a Trash Trek at tinyurl.com/hcatt26 because humans need nature and nature needs you!

It’s #NationalInvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek, and we’re shining a light on 5 unwelcome plants crashing KC’s ecosystem! 💥 Swipe to learn about these uninvited guests —> and stay educated about our native species and their challenges.

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson …marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and Brooklyn native. She is co-founder of the non-profit think tank Urban Ocean Lab, co-editor of the bestselling climate anthology All We Can Save, and…

Learn more:
www.ayanaelizabeth.com

Happy #BlackHistoryMonth from HCA! This month we’re highlighting Black people who have contributed significantly to the conservation efforts we know today, highlighting today Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson who’s not only an advocate for the ocean but equitable solutions for climate change.

HCA sees the 3rd District Mobility Plan as an opportunity to connect more than a dozen adjacent neighborhoods along the Blue River corridor, provide equitable access to parks, jobs, and regional destinations within Swope Park, and community recreation assets

tinyurl.com/d3mpadvocacy

Learn more:
www.nps.gov/people/mavyn...

Happy #BlackHistoryMonth from HCA! This month we’re highlighting Black people who have contributed significantly to the conservation efforts we know today, keeping it going with MaVynee Oshun Betsch who fought to protect American Beach and remind people of its history for decades to come.

We 💙 the Blue—and we know you do too.

Show some love this #ValentinesDay by supporting HCA’s conservation work: bit.ly/hcadonatenow

Learn more:
brigadiergeneralcharlesyoungfoundation.org
nps.gov/chyo/learn/historyculture/charles-young

Happy #BlackHistoryMonth from HCA! This month we’re highlighting Black people who have contributed significantly to the conservation efforts we know today, kicking it off with Brigadier General Charles Young who broke barriers and strived for more his entire life.

We’re excited to soon welcome our next group of environmental leaders who are ready to learn, lead, and make an impact.

✨ Application closes on February 13 at 5pm
🌍 Learn more & apply: tinyurl.com/hcagg2026

Together, we’re growing a healthier, more resilient future—one steward at a time. 💚

Last night’s 12th Annual Partnership Summit was all about carrying our momentum from 2025 into 2026. We're feeling grounded, energized, and excited for what’s coming this spring at Heartland Conservation Alliance!

Big thanks to Evergy for sponsoring the summit!

During the cold and snowy weekend that kept many of us in, Heartland Conservation Alliance’s Board Member Robin Martinez wrote a reflective essay about how our connection with watersheds goes beyond boundaries drawn by people.

You can read the full essay at tinyurl.com/tislwtsf

The Blue River can be seen from the trail again. This milestone lays critical groundwork for native recovery and clears the way for the next phase of ecological restoration, which will include targeted treatment of regrowth and planting native species to restore a healthier ecosystem.

One of our lead contractors, Blue Oak Environmental Group, completed the 1st phase of mechanical invasive species removal along the Blue River Trail clearing nearly 20 acres of invasive bush honeysuckle, Siberian elm, Bradford pear, and Tree of Heaven.

Not all green is created equal! Much of our riverbanks and midstory forest across KC are infested with invasive species. That’s why we’ve hired seven lead restoration contractors to help remove invasives and restore native plants—work that ultimately benefits people, wildlife, and the environment.

Have you heard the news about the #RenewtheBlue restoration project—or even seen the changes firsthand along the banks of the Blue River recently?

Vegan Recipes | Veganuary From plant-based beginners to vegan veterans we have dozens of vegan recipes for you to try!

January can be your opportunity to reconsider your relationship to the food you consume and how it affects the environment!

These vegan recipes are a great place to start: veganuary.com/en-us/recipes/

Veganuary encourages and motivates people worldwide to go vegan for January and beyond! The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimated that animal farming contributes between 12% and 19% of global greenhouse gas emissions!

This ensures continued growth of Bloodroot and the many spring ephemerals that also call Bloodroot Bluff home. We can’t wait to see them popping up this spring in their newly restored zone. We promise to post photos when they do!

To further mitigate erosion on these slopes, cut honeysuckle material is strategically laid across the ground in a blanket-like fashion. This practice helps slow surface water flow and capture displaced debris, while still being applied thinly enough to allow adequate sunlight to reach the soil.

To protect the integrity of the soil and prevent damage to the Bloodroot root systems, work within this area is intentionally limited to only a few individuals at a time. Volunteers and staff are required to be mindful of where and how frequently they step to avoid soil compaction.

Honeysuckle removal has been underway in the Bloodroot Bluff area, a zone located on the north side of the Heartland Overlook Preserve that supports a uniquely large Bloodroot colony spanning more than two acres.

We're excited to share that HCA will have a trunk at Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council's Trunk or Treat on Friday! Drop by between 5:30pm and 7pm to see our Blue River trunk, play a fun fishing game to win some prizes, and get some sustainable palm oil candy!

Today’s a reminder of our commitment to taking action for our environment. We can’t heal the climate without healing our rivers.

The Blue River needs our help. Join us in protecting and restoring this vital waterway—and take local action that makes a global impact.

BRRC: tinyurl.com/hcabrrc

At the same time, the BRRC shows declines in the Local Ordinance, Parks, and Stream Visual Assessment indicators, along with the fact that 58% of indicators scored a D or lower, highlight the urgent need for stronger, sustained conservation efforts.

Our recently completed assessment of the Blue River Watershed in the BRRC received a “C” letter grade overall.

Although the overall grade remains unchanged from the last assessment in 2021, there are signs of progress in the Riparian Cover, Protected Open Space, and Macroinvertebrates indicators.

This #InternationalDayofClimateAction, we’re reminded that climate resilience starts locally. The recently released Blue River Report Card (BRRC) shows how restoring riparian cover, protecting open space, and improving water quality all help our region adapt to a changing climate.