Q: How is the Wildlands Project organized and funded?

A: The Wildlands Project was first incorporated in 1991. We are a privately funded, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Richmond, Vermont. The Wildlands Project's income is based on grants and donations from corporations, foundations and individuals.

Q: Is the Wildlands Project associated with any governmental or political groups?

A: No. The Wildlands Project is an independently operated, non-political organization. However, our land protection methodology is occasionally recognized by political organizations and governmental agencies. The Wildlands Project was noted in a brief reference to its land conservation strategy in the United Nation's 1996 "Global Biological Assessment" document. The UN did not support the Wildlands Project in the document, but cited the Wildlands Project's Chief Scientist, Reed Noss, in its description of The Wildlands Project's network design strategy. Other Wildlands Project-affiliated projects, such as the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, have at times been endorsed or noted by federal conservation agencies in Canada and the U.S.

Q: What is Dave Foreman's connection to the Wildlands Project?

A: Dave Foreman resigned from Wildlands Project staff in 2003 to form the Rewilding Institute, a non-profit "think tank" focused on promoting ideas and practices that result in continental conservation. A co-founder of the Wildlands Project, Dave Foreman left Earth First! in 1989 because he felt it was time to move the conservation movement in a new direction based on the combining of sound science and professional advocacy. This approach to conservation represents a natural evolution of the conservation movement that blends science with non-confrontational activism. Dave Foreman's dedication to this principle over the past decade earned him recognition by the Audubon Society as one of the 20th century's top 100 conservationists, joining a prestigious list that includes Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, E. O. Wilson and Aldo Leopold. The Wildlands Project continues to maintain a strong working relationship with Dave, and Margo McKnight serves as a Conservation Fellow at the Institute.

Q: Why does the Wildlands Project want to enlarge and connect wild areas?

A: The science of conservation biology tells us that existing protected areas are too small and too isolated from one another to allow for the natural migrations of animals, plants and ecological processes. Moreover, as development of all kinds moves deeper into the countryside, these scattered "islands" of protected habitat are increasingly threatened by a wide range of factors including pollution, invasion of exotic species, and habitat fragmentation and destruction, among others. Each of these changes can significantly impact nature's natural balance, resulting in a variety of unexpected and unwanted consequences for both people and wildlife. To keep our wildlands and wildlife healthy for future generations, we must change our strategy from protecting "islands" to protecting "networks," consisting of large core wild areas tied together by wildlife linkage areas and sustained by vibrant, healthy human communities.

Q: How long will it take the Wildlands Project to achieve its goals?

A: Aldo Leopold once said: In our attempt to make conservation easy, we have made it trivial." The Wildlands Project recognizes that there are no quick-fixes to North America's ecological problems. Creating a continental system of connected wildlands is a long-term, visionary project that could take 100 years or more to complete.

Photo © Susan C. Morse

Q: Will the Wildlands Project's wildlands networks need any private land?

A: Yes. Private landowners and land trusts interested in helping the Wildlands Project achieve its goals can participate in several ways, including voluntary adoption of land use restrictions via conservation easements, voluntary sale or donation of land, private restoration and protection efforts, and participation through other private protection and restoration incentives.

Q: Will the Wildlands Project remove people or businesses from private property?

A: No. Private landowners and businesses may voluntarily decide to alter management or ownership of sensitive lands based on available options and incentives. As a private, non-profit organization, the Wildlands Project has no authority to condemn or otherwise remove from ownership any private lands. Negative economic influences, such as rising costs of agricultural production and pressures from developers to sell private lands, pose a much greater threat to private land ownership. It is the goal of the Wildlands Project to assist private land owners in maintaining ownership through a focus on positive incentives and policies which further good stewardship of private property. This approach encourages continuation of traditional uses while at the same time providing a common sense solution for protecting native species.

Q: Does the Wildlands Project advocate reintroduction of wolves or other predators?

A: Yes, what happens to them eventually happens to us. We believe that these animals and humans can live alongside one another to the benefit of both. Conservation biologists widely agree that all members of an ecosystem must be present if it is to continue to provide optimum natural benefits to both wild and human communities. The scientific foundation of wildlands protection and restoration begins with the presence of a healthy population of native carnivores and other keystone species which have strong, "top-down" regulatory influences on ecosystems. The regulating effect such species have on other species and habitat quality is critical to the natural balance of plants and animals in the food web.

Q: Are predator species a danger to people, pets and livestock?

A: People can coexist with wolves, bears and other wildlife, just as they have for thousands of years and continue to do in many parts of the world, including North America. In most cases, humans can easily learn to safely coexist with wildlife by making minimal lifestyle changes. More importantly, if wild ecosystems are restored to a healthy and diverse state, the likelihood of contact between humans and wild animals is greatly diminished because the needs of wildlife are met within the bounds of their natural habitats.

Q: Will reintroduction of endangered species restrict land use?

A: Presence of endangered species means that private landowners in the United States must be aware of the requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and be given appropriate public and private incentives to comply with the law. Usually, restrictions on land use that could result from ESA rules are minimal and logical for the health of the land. In other cases, landowners who agree to protect endangered species can benefit from several types of public and private assistance programs. The U.S. federal government, through the Farm bill of 2002, currently provides millions of dollars in incentives to promote landowner protection of endangered species, through conservation easement agreements, technical assistance, and other farmland protection assistance.

Q: How much land will the Wildlands Project's wildlands networks require?

A: There is no way to determine in advance how much land would be required for a continental system of connected wildlands. The amount of land needed will be determined by long-term, science-based mapping of ecosystems showing the areas required to sustain wildlife and natural processes into the distant future. Public and private decision-making processes will be required in order to turn any Wildlands Project-proposed land protection strategy into reality on the ground. Approximately 5% of the U.S. is currently protected in national parks, monuments, wilderness, wildlife refuges, and other public and private reserves. In order to restore the balance of nature, halt the current wave of extinctions, and preserve native biodiversity for future generations, our conservation proposals often include enlarging existing protected areas, creating new protected areas, and encouraging various levels of additional protection for other types of federal, state, and private lands.

Q: Will protected areas in wildlands networks be off-limits to humans?

A: No. New or existing federally-protected areas within Wildlands Network Designs will always be accessible to humans for a wide range of activities including hiking, primitive camping, nature study, photography, and wildlife viewing. Sustainable hunting and fishing opportunities will also remain available where permitted under existing laws.

Q: What are the human benefits of protecting wild nature?

A: The benefits of nature protection are not limited to plants and animals. Nature provides humans with a complete life support system. Healthy ecosystems give us the "ecological services" that make human life possible and give it meaning: fresh air oxygenated by plants; drinking water purified by wetlands, nutrient-rich soils for food production; hospitable climates tempered by the effects of regional ecosystems; and natural beauty that lifts our spirits and inspires our souls. Protecting nature ensures the health and well being of future generations. Healthy wildlands are the natural heritage that we will pass on to our children. To protect this heritage, it is our responsibility to reverse the human-caused loss of biodiversity which has occurred in our lifetimes. When we do what is right to protect creation, we also do what is right for nature, for our children, and for all future generations. Protecting biodiversity also has economic benefits for humans. It is no coincidence that many communities located in regions where nature flourishes have higher rates of job and income growth relative to areas lacking these benefits. Communities that choose to invest in protecting nature today will be at the forefront of economic and social development tomorrow, as North American's desire to live in clean, safe, and healthy communities becomes increasingly valued.

Q: Why did the Wildlands Project stop publishing Wild Earth?

A: Membership dues alone covered only a portion of the costs associated with producing Wild Earth. As revenue from other sources declined, it became impossible to continue producing the journal in its current form. As a result, the Wildlands Project board of directors found it necessary to cease publication of the journal, so that more of our scarce resources could be directed to our on-the-ground conservation programs. Back issues of the journal are still available at a minimal cost from our Richmond, Vermont office.

Q: How can I get more information about the Wildlands Project?

A: Contact our home office toll free at 877-554-5234 x0 between 8:00am to 4:00pm EST, or view the only official Wildlands Project website at www.wildlandsproject.org. You can also contact our field offices in Portal, Arizona at 575-557-0155 and in Thetford, Vermont at 802-785-2838.