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Spring Creek at Ft. Defiance State Park, Emmet County

Daniel Ruf

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Turin Prairie, Monona County

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Cedar Valley Nature Trail

Nathan Houck

Protecting and restoring Iowa’s land, water and wildlife.

We’ve helped protect over 200,000 acres of Iowa prairies, woodlands, lakes and rivers and blazed the way for Iowa’s trails.

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Recent Stories

  • Action Alert: Bills threaten future parks, trails and wildlife areas

    Action Alert: Bills threaten future parks, trails and wildlife areas

    MAR. 4, 2025

    House File 714 and Senate Study Bill 1198 would place unnecessary restrictions on efforts to protect and grow Iowa's public parks, trails and wildlife areas, prohibiting the Iowa DNR from purchasing land at auction, regardless of the public need or benefit.

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  • Action Alert: Protect the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund

    Action Alert: Protect the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund

    FEB. 27, 2025

    Senators in the Iowa legislature are trying to kill the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, and they need to hear from you that Iowans still support cleaner water, healthier soil, more wildlife habitat and more opportunities to get outdoors.

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  • Acorn Crew: Three Nature Finds to Bring Color This Winter

    Acorn Crew: Three Nature Finds to Bring Color This Winter

    FEB. 25, 2025

    With the snow melting and spring on the horizon, late winter may seem drab and dull. Luckily, the weather is warming up and there's plenty to explore outdoors to brighten you and your family's day! Here are three nature finds to get you through the rest of winter.

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  • Meet INHF's Volunteer Coordinator

    Meet INHF's Volunteer Coordinator

    FEB. 24, 2025

    Kayleen Leetch joins the INHF team as a Volunteer Coordinator, bringing eight years of experience in volunteer management. Since moving back to Iowa in 2014, working for INHF has been a longtime dream of hers. Her career has always been driven by a passion for the outdoors and a love for sharing the stories of those who care about it.

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  • Five Animals and Insects You Didn't Know Were Invasive (and Their Native Counterparts!)

    Five Animals and Insects You Didn't Know Were Invasive (and Their Native Counterparts!)

    FEB. 21, 2025

    When it comes to Iowa's invasive species, most available information focuses on plants that spread quickly, cause harm to beneficial or rare species, and have a negative impact on an area's biodiversity or otherwise harm the landscape. But, did you know that animals and insects can be invasive as well? Here are five common Iowa species that you might not realize are invasive, and how to identify them.

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