It’s a surprising fact: Washington, DC is the greenest city in North America, with the continent’s highest percentage of public, urban green space. The Anacostia and Potomac

Browse the 2006 Nature Charities

rivers are rich in history, important in economic and ecological terms, abundant in scenic and recreational resources, home to hundreds of globally significant species, and crucial to the healthy and productive communities that rely on them and on which they rely. But preserving our natural areas, keeping our rivers healthy, ensuring that our drinking water is safe and that our air is clean – all these are significant challenges in a fast-growing urban environment. Each organization featured here is a committed citizen of the natural world ... with an emphasis on both “natural” and “citizen.”They all demonstrate their commitment by catalyzing communities, advocating for the environment and its inhabitants, and cultivating a culture of stewardship that strengthens communities block by block. Volunteerism is essential to their growth and well-being, and education and awareness are key. Whether policy analysts, advocates, initiators, or implementers, each knows that protecting our surroundings, and caring for our creature life, means ensuring that we stay green, for our own sake and that of future generations. Become a riverwatcher, develop a community garden, adopt an abandoned animal, transplant a native tree ... or make a gift to those who do.