Dear John,
Our founders were some of the first conservationists to realize the value of landscape-scale protection of wild places and wildlife. We got our start in the early 1990s with a group of visionaries who understood that to save North America’s tremendous biodiversity, we needed to think big about reconnecting, restoring, and rewilding the continent.
We then dove into mapping out what that would look like, beginning with regional Wildlands Network Designs. From there, we produced inspiring new vision maps covering entire Wildways, our term for continental-scale networks of habitat that can serve to tie the ecosystems of North America back together.
With maps in place, we emphasized using on-the-ground research to better understand the conservation needs of specific species in specific places. For example, in 2015, we launched a field project looking at the ecological impacts of critically endangered red wolves, with the goal of communicating the results with local communities to promote coexistence.
Thanks to your generous support, we can continue to expand our work illuminating wildlife’s role in the landscape and laying the foundation for protecting and rewilding North America.
For the wild,
|
|
As the concept of rewilding is becoming increasingly popular, we sat down with our chief scientist, Ron Sutherland, Ph.D., to hear his perspective on the trajectory of rewilding North America through on-the-ground research. With over 25 years of experience in wildlife research, Ron has been a formidable force for wildlife and natural spaces through his fact-based approach to conservation.
|
|
Liz Hillard, Ph.D., one of the best and brightest scientists around, is actively shaping the future of conservation by both conducting top-tier research and promoting diversity as an LGBTQ+ member and advocate. As our Senior Wildlife Biologist for the Appalachian Region, we couldn’t be prouder to work with Liz every day as she shapes the field for the better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ever wonder what life is like in the field? It can be grueling and hot, beautiful and fascinating. Most importantly, data from field research is vital to supporting rewilding efforts with evidence and direction. Follow José Miguel Gabutti, our Northwest Mexico Program Associate, for insight into what data collection and ecology research looks like in real time.
|
|
|
|
|
Jaguar and ocelot populations are critically low in the U.S. Southwest and Northwest Mexico. Rewilding their native lands requires nuanced on-the-ground research with the help of ranchers and landowners. We teamed up with the local community in the field to gather data on jaguar and ocelot movement, aiding their natural recovery.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pathways for Wildlife, our incredible partners, have been helping us rewild California through on-the-ground research for years. They specialize in habitat connectivity modeling, camera research, roadkill data collection, animal tracking, and camera trapping, all to inform road development and conservation efforts.
Have you seen their video of a coyote and badger meeting outside a culvert, likely to hunt together?
|
|
|
|
The San Bernardino Valley has long been an important migration corridor for 20+ mammal species living in the area that is almost completely severed by the border wall. Last year, we launched an expansion of our research in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, alongside Sky Island Alliance, to study the border wall’s effects on wildlife movement and other impacts on wildlife behavior.
|
|
Wildlife need you, John!
Our projects depend on generous donations from folks like you.
Will you give to sustain connected landscapes that promote climate-resilient communities for people and wildlife?
|
|
|
|
|
|
