Urban Conservancy

The Urban Conservancy (UC) is a New Orleans-based nonprofit organization leading and collaborating to strengthen our urban environment and local economy through equitable practices, policies and programs. We serve as a catalyst for residents of all ages who want to take an active role in helping the city address climate vulnerability by providing them with the resources to affect meaningful change.

Since 2001, the Urban Conservancy has promoted sustainable solutions to New Orleans' distinct land use needs through K-12 and neighborhood-level engagement. We create, educate, and advocate in partnership with the community so that together we can take informed action that moves us closer to sustainability. Since 2003, StayLocal, an independent business alliance, has supported our local entrepreneurs in their efforts to foster a sustainable and inclusive circular economy. Most recently, StayLocal has been working with food and beverage businesses to divert food waste from landfills and catch basins. Building Active Stewardship in New Orleans (BASIN), an experiential learning curriculum, has involved children as young as eight in the conversation about New Orleans' environmental future since 2013, and the Front Yard Initiative (FYI), a technical assistance program, helps homeowners to replace paving with greater permeability and biodiversity and collaborates to reduce paving throughout the city. Our programs are expanding to meet the needs identified by residents, including youth, retirees, and business owners. Our work is community led, data driven, and involves quantitative input from focus groups and surveys, and qualitative input from community meetings, convenings, and advisory groups. Current programs include BASIN, StayLocal, Native Plant ID Signs, and Tree Canopy Protection!