West
Conservation in the West
The Alliance’s Western region covers a vast landscape — from arid deserts to old growth redwood rainforests, from Arctic tundra to Hawaii’s tropical islands, from productive rangelands to wildlife-rich estuaries. It encompasses wide plains, stunning canyons, high mountain ranges, dramatic volcanoes and active glaciers. This region spans 19 states: California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Alaska and Hawaii.
Approximately 260 Alliance member land trusts work in the Western region, with over 100 in California. While the land trust community is well-established, many land trusts are relatively young; approximately 85% were formed since 1995. Land trusts in the West have been working together to address big challenges, collaborating through landscape-level initiatives, peer networks and open communication. Federal policy, including conservation funding and tax incentives, is a high priority for land trusts in the West, particularly in rural areas without local funding. So far, Western land trusts have protected over 9 million acres.
Alliance Western Programs
The Land Trust Alliance’s Western program focuses on growing land trusts’ capacity, supporting accreditation efforts, fostering collaboration and coordinating political advocacy. We offer:
- Grants: cost-share support for collaboration, organizational development, strategic planning and accreditation prep
- Assessment: guidance identifying organizational strengths and weaknesses and getting ready for the accreditation process
- Training: workshops and webinars, as well as customized technical assistance
- Resources: case studies, reports, guides and more, accessed through The Learning Center
- Ask an Expert: conference calls for land trust staff and board with experts in communications, finance, fundraising and management.
Get in Touch
Connect with the land trust community in the West: