The next era of conservation

We're building a better future for the West.

Western Landowners Alliance is a West-wide organization of landowners, natural resource managers and partners dedicated to keeping working lands whole and healthy for the benefit of people and wildlife. Join us!

Intro - Colorado River Basin Report (1)

Data points to trust gap with agencies, willingness to adapt among producers

We asked more than 6,000 agricultural water users in the Colorado River Basin what they thought about the current situation, their use of and interest in conservation practices, and their preferences for how to address water shortages going forward. More than 1,000 responded. Explore the data and read our report on the findings.

Working lands and wildlife get big boost from USDA thanks to your support!

Western Landowners welcome historic USDA working lands investment

On June 27th, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced major changes and new investments that recognize and support the vital role that working lands play in sustaining wildlife. The USDA is committing $500 million and leveraging resources from all available conservation programs, including the Conservation Reserve Program, into its highly successful Working Lands for Wildlife frameworks.

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Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund established

The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund became law in New Mexico in March. The fund is a bipartisan product of WLA's leadership over five years of negotiations among a broad coalition of legislators, state agencies, community stakeholders and non-governmental organizations. The historic bill, funded with an initial $100 million appropriation, will create the state’s first dedicated and long-term funding stream for land and water conservation. 

What we're all about

A Better Place

In this short film we celebrate Western landowners' visionary stewardship. Watch, share and be inspired to support our mission of sustaining working lands, connected landscapes and native species!

Priorities

The Habitat Lease

Critical habitat for wildlife in the West is disappearing at an alarming rate. We're working on a big solution.

A simple, proven model, applied at scale

Habitat leases are designed to secure existing habitat and ecological services currently provided on private lands that meet threshold requirements for ecological site condition. 

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America the Beautiful & the West

Ensuring this federal conservation initiative works for landowners and rural communities, respects property rights, and improves conservation outcomes.

Our roadmap to a new conservation model

We can’t afford to waste any more time with top-down solutions that don’t work. It’s time for an entirely new approach to conservation. Learn more about how WLA is shaping that approach by bringing the voice of land stewardship to bear at all levels of government.

Learn More

The Working Wild Challenge

Thriving ranches and thriving wildlife.

Landowner leadership to reduce conflicts between wildlife and livestock

Our approach leads to stronger partnerships, more resilient ranches, and ultimately, better-connected landscapes.

Learn More

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On Land

The Voice of Stewardship in the American West
Magazine + Podcast

 

WLA's magazine

On Land tells the stories of stewardship in a new West, in the voices of the people who are living it, at the leading edge of a future that puts people and nature together again for the benefit of both.

Read Now

Listen to our new Podcast!

The Habitat Lease

Critical habitat for wildlife in the West is disappearing at an alarming rate. We're working on a big solution.

A simple, proven model, applied at scale

Habitat leases are designed to secure existing habitat and ecological services currently provided on private lands that meet threshold requirements for ecological site condition. 

Learn More

America the Beautiful and the West

Ensuring this federal conservation initiative works for landowners and rural communities, respects property rights, and improves conservation outcomes.

Read our roadmap to a new conservation model

We can’t afford to waste any more time with top-down solutions that don’t work. It’s time for an entirely new approach to conservation. Learn more about how WLA is shaping that approach by bringing the voice of land stewardship to bear at all levels of government.

Learn More

The Working Wild Challenge

Thriving ranches and thriving wildlife.

Landowner leadership to reduce conflicts between wildlife and livestock

Our approach leads to stronger partnerships, more resilient ranches, and ultimately, better-connected landscapes.

Learn More

OnLand_Logo_SMark_Black

On Land

The Voice of Stewardship in the American West
Magazine + Podcast

WLA's magazine

On Land tells the stories of stewardship in a new West, in the voices of the people who are living it, at the leading edge of a future that puts people and nature together again for the benefit of both.

Read Now

Listen to our new Podcast!

AWARD-WINNING PODCAST

Working Wild University

Working Wild U is a new podcast that takes you out into the field, forest and range with the people and wildlife of the American West to tell you the big stories at the heart of the struggle to sustain resilient and connected landscapes and communities.
 
Season 1 explores wolves in the West - from extermination to recovery, to uncovering what it really means to share the landscape with these iconic carnivores.
LATEST FILM

The Fish & the Flame

Our award-winning short film shows how Tim Haarmann, ranch manager at Banded Peak Ranch, and Jim White, a biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, collaborated to save one of the last remaining populations of nearly-extinct San Juan cutthroat trout, just as a wildfire threatens to decimate the fish.

PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS IN THE WEST

WORKING LANDS, CONNECTED LANDSCAPES, NATIVE SPECIES

Together these things make up the revered and vital character of the American West. Landowner leaders are stepping up to keep them intact.

We know that the people living and working closest to the earth every day are our best hope for overcoming the challenges we face in the West. Can you help by answering just one question right now?

OUR MISSION

Western Landowners Alliance advances policies and practices that sustain working lands, connected landscapes and native species.

OUR VISION

We envision a future in which private and leased public lands in the West are resilient to stressors, healthy, and biologically diverse, and provide for prosperous rural livelihoods and critical ecological services.

OUR APPROACH

We provide a collective voice, a peer network and a shared knowledge base for landowners striving to keep the land whole and healthy.

What We Do

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VOICE

Bringing landowner perspectives and stories to bear on major issues shaping the West.

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STEWARDSHIP

WLA’s peer network and shared knowledge base is designed for landowners striving to keep the land whole and healthy.

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POLICY

Advancing pragmatic, common ground solutions that sustain working lands, connected landscapes and native species.

The West Needs Your Voice

Join our collective effort and enjoy the benefits of membership.

Critical Updates from around the West
Landowner Knowledge Exchange
Special Events and Member Discounts
Receive our magazine On Land

MEDIA CENTER

Western Landowners Alliance is proud to share our stewardship videos. 

Join WLA to stay up to date on the most important news and policy for land stewards.

Become a member for free today and we will send you the news and policy developments critical to the economic and ecological health of working lands.

WLA works on behalf of landowners and practitioners throughout the West. We will never share your contact information with anyone.

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