WLA’s Federal Policy Recommendations

As landowners and land managers, we recognize that well-managed lands are the cornerstones of both human communities and the ecosystems on which we all depend. We have a deep, vested stake in these lands and the lived experience of what it means to own and manage land, produce food and fiber, and to steward wildlife and natural resources on a daily basis. We are at a pivotal point in deciding how we move conservation policies, the economy and our food systems forward. The right mix of pro-active investments and policies to support land stewardship and conservation can ensure the scales tip towards a more sustainable future.

Our federal policy recommendations reflect those priorities and lay out a path forward.

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Cover from Working Across the Rural-Urban Divide - Messaging for Conflict Reduction - v.F.063021

Working across the rural-urban divide: Messaging for large carnivore conflict reduction

Conflicts between large carnivores and livestock can be polarizing. The words used around large carnivore-livestock conflict reduction can either further polarize a sensitive situation or bring people together in a…

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Securing Your Legacy on the Land, Part 5: Best Practices of Non-Resident Landowners

How is succession planning different for non-resident or “absentee” landowners? With this ownership type becoming more and more common in the West, how can these landowners best steward their investment to the next generation?

Redefining Conservation for the 21st Century

Our roadmap to a conservation model that works for rural America, working lands and wildlife. Conservation as usual isn’t working. We are literally losing ground and natural resources every day.…

New Mexicans Agree

New Mexico needs permanent statewide funding for agricultural and natural resources projects

Working Wild Challenge Policy Recommendations

Working lands stitch together the patchwork of land ownership that creates the character of the American West – open space, valued by both people and wildlife. Many rural communities have…

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Securing Your Legacy on the Land, Part 4: Considerations when transferring your property

How does one begin the task of planning for the transfer of a family business, real estate and farm or ranch?

Aspen Next Generation

Aspen trees and forests are especially important in the Rocky Mountains. Aspens add beauty to landscapes, foster high diversity and productivity of understory plants, provide for the habitat needs of many species of animals, and moderate fire behavior. There is a perception that aspen trees and stands are not regenerating well in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico; cohorts of trees younger than a few decades are scarce, at least in some areas. The next generation of aspen in the southern Rockies will be influenced by land use decisions, including harvesting, fire policy and management, and browsing by livestock and wildlife.

Paying for Stewardship

This guide presents some ways landowners can earn compensation for their stewardship efforts directly or indirectly—schemes sometimes referred to as payments for ecosystem services, ecosystem services markets, or conservation finance. It goes beyond description to provide illustrative case studies of these strategies at work.

Collaborative Wildlife Migration Corridor Workshops

This report provides an overview of the latest efforts towards migration corridor management in each of the three states, and reports findings from the workshops. The report summarizes the discussion by workshop participants about what is working in their state, as well as opportunities to improve migration corridor management and conservation.

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Securing Your Legacy on the Land, Part 3: Alternate Ownership Structures

What factors should you consider when selecting an ownership structure for your ranch? What questions should you be sure to answer before deciding? What are differences between an LLC, a C Corporation, and an S Corporation? What are the benefits to partnership, cooperative or shared ownership structures, and what are the drawbacks? Why or when would someone choose a less common ownership structure?

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