Massive habitat loss: The greater sage grouse, long an icon of the rural West, may be headed for Endangered Species status unless it's key movement corridors, particularly along Wyoming's Powder Rim, are protected from habitat loss caused by thousands of proposed oil and gas wells.

One of the most exciting and largest projects in conservation history is gaining momentum. Our unique, collaborative campaign, known as the "Spine of the Continent Initiative," continues to gain momentum in an effort to protect the free movement of native species and natural processes along the 4,000-mile stretch of mountains, mesas and basins stretching from Alaska to northern Mexico.

Protecting and connecting wildlife habitat throughout this legendary landscape—a key component of the Wildlands Project’s vision for securing a healthy future for North America's natural heritage - is a cause that has led to collaboration among numerous regional wildlands protection organizations in the formation of a Spine of the Continent Initiative steering committee and garnered strong support from other conservation organizations like Yellowstone to Yukon and New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. The Spine Initiative has also been embraced by private companies like Patagonia and other nature-based organizations including regional zoos and aquariums.

Generous funders, including Thaw Charitable Trust, Wilburforce Foundation, Earth Friends Wildlife Foundation, and Campion Foundation have already delivered important support for the campaign. Pyramid Communications of Seattle has been retained to launch the strategic planning process.

The goal of the Spine Initiative is twofold: to bolster the capacity of the organizations doing conservation work on the ground through a joint national and international publicity and fundraising campaign, and to raise the general awareness and understanding on the part of non-traditional audiences in North America of the ecological and cultural importance of a naturally healthy Spine of the Continent.

"There is no time to waste if we’re to have a chance at permanently securing the large landscape connectivity necessary to ensure the survival of the West’s most threatened native species and our most treasured parks, monuments, and wilderness areas," says Kim Vacariu, Wildlands Project’s Western Director.