Locally-Led Conservation in Action
Across the country, communities are coming together to sustain the places they love. These locally-led, community-based efforts are rooted in trust, shared vision and deep connections to place. From enhancing natural systems to strengthening rural economies and supporting cultural heritage, these groups are finding and implementing place-based solution that work for both people and the land.
Explore their stories below to learn how collaboration is enhancing landscapes-and lives-across America!
Uniting landowners, agencies, and communities to steward the Blackfoot River watershed and sustain a rural way of life through collaboration.
Friends of the Winooski River protects and restores Vermont’s largest watershed, promoting clean water, healthy habitats, and community connection.
Whether you're a seasoned rancher or new to land management, Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition connects you with the tools, people, and practices to build healthier, more resilient grazing lands.
Karval Community Alliance connects landowners and community members to strengthen rural economies and conserve wildlife habitat. Known for the Mountain Plover Festival, the Alliance celebrates conservation, local culture, and generational ranching.
Lomakatsi Restoration Project brings together tribes, landowners, and agencies to restore forest health, reduce wildfire risk, and build resilient communities across the West through collaborative, landscape-scale partnerships.
The Longleaf Alliance leads efforts to restore and conserve longleaf pine forests across the Southeast. These vital ecosystems support rare wildlife and offer economic opportunities for landowners.
The Malpai Borderlands Group unites ranchers across Arizona and New Mexico to conserve 800,000 core acres—part of a nearly 2 million-acre landscape. With over 90,000 acres protected, they’re redefining conservation through fire, land stewardship, and community action.
At the heart of The Missouri Prairie Foundation's collaborative conservation efforts is the Grow Native! program—a regional education and marketing initiative that promotes the use of native plants in urban, suburban, and rural landscapes.
Uniting landowners, agencies, and advocates to conserve the rare longleaf pine ecosystem and protect North Carolina’s natural heritage.
Protect & Preserve Hawaiʻi unites community, culture, and conservation to restore 330 acres of native forest in Pia Valley.
Ranchers Stewardship Alliance is a rancher-led nonprofit in Montana’s Northern Great Plains, helping landowners improve soil, water, and wildlife habitat while supporting productive, resilient ranches. Their work shows ranching and conservation go hand in hand.
In Southeast Alaska, Tribes, local communities, and conservation partners are restoring salmon streams and revitalizing watersheds while supporting local jobs and cultural traditions.
The South Dakota Grassland Coalition connects producers with practical tools, education, and peer-to-peer support to promote healthy, profitable, and resilient grasslands.
The California Grazing Lands Coalition is a producer-led initiative that unites ranchers, researchers, and conservation partners to promote sustainable grazing, elevate rancher voices, and ensure the long-term health and viability of California’s working landscapes.
Winnett ACES is building a more resilient future for Central Montana—restoring grasslands, supporting ranchers, and revitalizing community life through innovative, locally-led conservation.
