C&I is celebrating the folks working to preserve the wildlife and land that define the West. Here are five conservation heroes we are cheering on.
Nature plays a starring role in every Western movie and TV show. It's the Siren that draws people to visit the West and never go home; it's what prevents those of us who grew up here from ever truly leaving. For the people of the West, the land and its creatures are life-giving resources, critical for water and food, for our livelihoods and spiritual health. As Conservation Month comes to a close, we are grateful for those groups and individuals doing the hard work of conservation.
The West is full of heroes, masked vigilantes on horses and brave warriors in battle regalia. In April, however, we celebrate the quiet heroes of the West who use their voices and resources to ensure the future of the West and its creatures.
King Of Conservation
When people think about the King Ranch, they think big trucks, fast ponies, lots of beef. The reality is, all of the exciting things about the historic South Texas ranch are rooted in a multi-generational commitment to conservation. The family that owns the King Ranch knows that preserving native grasses and hosting a variety of wildlife are the best roads to a profitable cattle ranch, horse breeding operation, and hunting grounds. The company educates outside leaders in its ranch management approach through a master’s program with Texas A&M Kingsville, and it supports the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, named for the late family member who was a pioneer in conservation.
Image courtesy of King Ranch
It’s In Her Nature
Soon after returning home to Texas from Washington, Laura Bush founded a nonprofit focused on conservation. Texan by Nature brings together expert conservationists and businesses to make a big impact on preserving wildlife, native habitats and natural resources. For example, the organization worked with oil and gas producer EOG Resources to develop a program for private landowners to restore native grasses on land used for energy. And last year, Texan by Nature worked with Sam’s club in El Paso, Texas, to pay consumers to recycle clear plastics, with the goal of creating a scalable approach. Rather than casting corporations as the enemy of environmental improvements, Texan by Nature assumes everyone loves nature and wants to help.
Image courtesy of Texan By Nature
Put It Back Like It Was
Northeast of Junction in Texas Hill Country, the seeds of change are bursting from the soil under the care of Bill Neiman’s Native American Seed Farm. Formerly an owner of a landscaping and nursery business in Flower Mound, Texas, Neiman came to realize that the many foreign plants shipped to the U.S. are not compatible with the native animals dependent on plant life. After vowing to no longer be part of the problem, Neiman founded Native American Seed Farm to “get in front of the bulldozers” to protect the endangered native plants from developers. Native American Seed Farm continues to spread the history of the West by providing native seeds, working with developers toward more sustainable development, and educating the public on the power of plant preservation.
Envisioning A Future
Between its breathtaking beauty and vast history, Yellowstone Park is unmatched in its legacy as a national treasure. But, regardless of fame and legacy, all wildlife is vulnerable. Yellowstone Forever, the official nonprofit of Yellowstone National Park, aims to secure the future of the national park’s wildlife through initiatives that protect the park’s animals, educate the public, and put strategic conservation plans in place. Projects such as the Bison Conservation and Transfer Program, Yellowstone Cougar Project, Native Fish Conservation, and Yellowstone Beyond Institute have contributed to the restoration of endangered wildlife that continue to make the Yellowstone National Park a national treasure.
Preserving Culture, Protecting Habitat
To some, nature is a commodity. For others, it is an identity. Native Conservancy, an Alaskan nonprofit conservation organization, aims to empower the native people of Alaska to connect with and preserve endangered habitats on their ancestral homelands. Native Conservancy emphasizes the spiritual importance of conservation in the lives of native people across the globe. Native Conservancy also works to restore ancestral homelands, traditional food sources, and subsistence practices to rehabilitate Native culture, health, spirituality, and habitat.
Image courtesy of Native Conservancy
Throughout the month of April, stay tuned for more sustainability news, stories, and tips.
Header image: A Morning Kiss, Jenny Lake, Bobby Strader
