Land Ethic

Hallie Mahowald is the programs director for Western Landowners Alliance, a landowner-led group that advances policies and practices that sustain working lands, connected landscapes, and native species. At WLA, Hallie manages people and strategy to support private stewardship across the West. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Science from the University of Denver and a M.A. in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. In conjunction with her academic studies and early career in the non-profit sector, she worked on many natural resources management and sustainable development projects in the American West and Central and South America. Hallie currently serves on the advisory board of Colorado State University's Center for Collaborative Conservation and as vice president on the board of directors for the Central Colorado Conservancy.

We talked all about the reintroduction of Grey Wolves to Colorado, from the original ballot initiative that set it in motion, to the various arguments, to the management implications. It’s a complex issue that will require a whole lot of cooperation and experimentation. Lucky for us, Hallie is on the stakeholder advisory group that is helping to navigate all this. We also touched on public land cattle grazing, something I want to understand better and maybe cover on the podcast more fully in the future. Finally, we discussed a few of WLA’s various programs, which include their Habitat Lease Partnership program, the Working Wild Challenge, and Women in Ranching. You can learn about all these things and more at westernlandowners.org.

Travis Custer is the executive director of the Montezuma Land Conservancy, a Southwest Colorado land trust established in 1998 in the town of Cortez. They are working to explore unique solutions to conservation through an emphasis on a community-informed process, and believe that conservation is not just setting aside important lands, but also working to educate the community, address social issues, and connect people to the land that sustains them.

As for Travis, he has spent most of his life in Colorado, and nature has always been an important part of his life. He was formerly a board member of the Mancos Conservation District and spent time working for the Natural Resource Conservation Service and High Desert Conservation District where he worked closely with farmers and ranchers, as well as local and state agencies and land conservation organizations. In 2016, Travis was the recipient of the John Stencel Leadership Award from the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union for dedication and leadership in agriculture. He also serves on the Keep It Colorado board where he hopes to help drive forward the innovation of the statewide land protection community.

We talked about the amazing landscape of the Four Corners region that Travis and his team work to conserve. We covered MLC’s efforts to go beyond transactional land conservation and to build a community around love of land, including fostering connections with Tribal Nations and facilitating youth programs. Finally, we discussed creating a land ethic at home and raising kids to love and care for Mother Nature.

Check out Montezuma Land Conservancy at this link and Keep it Colorado here.

Nelson Mathews is the Vice President of Western Rivers Conservancy, a group whose slogan is “Sometimes, in order to save a river, you have to buy it.” WRC buys land along the West’s finest rivers and streams to conserve habitat, protect key sources of cold water and provide public access.

They buy strategic properties that allow for the greatest conservation impact, and then transfer those lands into the hands of permanent conservation stewards. They partner with long-term stewards like the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, state parks, Tribal Nations and universities to ensure their conservation efforts are permanent.

As for Nelson, he developed a passion for all things rivers when he took a summer job in the 80’s as a whitewater rafting guide in the Sierra Foothills. After a stint practicing law in California, Nelson followed his passion and went to work managing The Trust for Public Land’s river conservation efforts in the West. During his 27-year tenure with the organization, he worked to conserve more than 100,000 acres of land with recreational, historic and environmental significance.

Nelson grew up in the foothill town of Placerville, California, and now resides with his family in Bend, Oregon. He continues to lead trips as a whitewater guide and serves as the chairman of the board of directors for the American River Touring Association (ARTA).

Thanks to Nelson for the conversation, thanks Western Rivers Conservancy for their important work, which you can see at https://www.westernrivers.org/

Juan Carlos Bravo is the Conservation Director of Wildlands Network. Until recently, he led their efforts in Mexico and the borderlands region, where he advocated for improved conservation in the Sky Islands and the northern Sierra Madre Occidental regions, which we’ll talk about. He worked with landowners to advance the practice of private lands stewardship; collaborated with transportation authorities to develop wildlife crossings; and provided partners, media, and key decision-makers with information related to habitat connectivity and keystone species protection in both Mexico and the U.S. He advocates for wildlife and connectivity in regional planning, interprets conservation issues and approaches for U.S. audiences.

We talked about Wildlands Network, their organizational history and areas of interest, and their focus on landscape connectivity. We discussed the impacts of the US Mexico border wall, both ecologically and socially, at length. We also covered the Sky Islands region, an incredible hub of biodiversity that spans the Southwestern US and Northwestern Mexico, and a few other things like the power of maps and the reintroduction of Mexican Gray Wolves. I’m really glad to be able to meet folks like Juan Carlos from different backgrounds and life experiences, and looking forward to continuing to expand the subject matter covered on the podcast.

** New merch is up on the website! For the remainder of May, you can get 20% on extra soft tri-blend shirts and enamel coffee mugs by using code LEOPOLD20 at check out. The bugling Elk lustration is by wildlife artist Ty Hallock. Have a look!

Vanessa Caldarelli is the president of EcoEra, a conservation group protecting 7,500 acres of rainforest in one of the most biodiverse regions of Costa Rica. Their mission is to protect the rainforest's ecosystems by preventing poaching and deforestation, and to re-connect people to nature, which they are also doing through their sister project Posada Natura, a wellness retreat devoted to holistic healing located at the base of their conservation lands.

We talked about how Vanessa’s family got involved with this land, the ecological function of the rainforest, the species they are trying to protect from poaching, the factors that contribute to tropical deforestation, and we covered some tangents like globalism and Zen Buddhism. It was a really nice chat, and I want to thank Vanessa and Eco Era for reaching out to spread the word about their efforts down in Costa Rica. To learn more, you can go to EcoEra.org!

Whit Fosburgh is the president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, an organization dedicated to advancing America’s legacy of conservation, habitat, and access to public lands.

Prior to joining TRCP in 2010, Whit spent 15 years at Trout Unlimited. Additionally, he served as fisheries’ director for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and was a wildlife specialist for the National Audubon Society. Whit grew up hunting and fishing in upstate New York and was a member of Team USA in the 1997 World Fly Fishing Championships. He has a BA in Government from Georgetown University and a Master’s degree from the Yale University School of Forestry.

We talked all about TRCP and their various areas of focus, from the Farm Bill, to the Colorado River, to Chronic Wasting Disease in deer species. Whit and the TRCP are keeping the spirit and vision of Theodore Roosevelt and the early American conservation movement alive by leveraging the voice of outdoor enthusiasts to influence policy.

You can visit their website for more, sign up for their newsletter to stay informed on these issues, and consider a donation to help the cause.

Kristy Bly works for World Wildlife Fund's Northern Great Plains Program as their Black-footed Ferret Restoration Manager. She’s involved in conserving and restoring populations and habitat for ferrets, black-tailed prairie dogs and swift foxes across the Great Plains.

We talked all about the conservation story of the Black-footed Ferret, the only ferret native to North America, once thought to be extinct. This story includes clones, drones, plague, peanut butter, and a dog named Shep. I really enjoyed picking Kristy's brain and learning all about these enigmatic animals!

To learn more or to offer your support, visit worldwildlife.org

Jason Lauritsen is the Chief Conservation Officer for the Florida Wildlife Corridor, where he and his colleagues are helping to connect, protect and restore essential conservation habitat throughout the state of Florida.

We discussed the vision for the Florida Wildlife Corridor, the various stakeholders, the biggest threats facing habitat connectivity in the state, Jason’s experience working at the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp, and some general thoughts relating to the Land Ethic.

Head to Florida Wildlife Corridor to see some of their expedition films, and to explore maps of the corridor!

Gabe Brown is one of the pioneers of the current soil health movement, and a proponent of regenerative agriculture. He’s the author of Dirt to Soil: One Family’s Journey into Regenerative Agriculture, co-founder of the Soil Health Academy, and co-owner of Understanding Ag, an agricultural consulting agency. Gabe’s property, called Brown’s Ranch, is a diversified, no till 5,000-acre farm and ranch near Bismarck, North Dakota.

We discussed Gabe’s transition away from conventional agriculture and some of the lessons he learned, including his 6 principles of soil health. We also talked about some of the economic policies surrounding agriculture, and the hurdles farmers and ranchers face. Gabe’s entire message is about farming in nature’s image by understanding the biological processes taking place beneath our feet, rather than fighting them. You can find his book wherever they are sold, and you can see him in the documentary Kiss the Ground on Netflix.

Jess Johnson leads Wyoming Wildlife Federation's efforts on behalf of wildlife through policy and local advocacy. She grew up ranching in Montana, Northern California and Wyoming, and has a deep appreciation for wildlife and wild lands. She's a bowhunter, co-founder and advisory board member of Artemis Sportswomen, and serves as the policy seat on the board of directors for 2% for Conservation.

I reached out to Jess in the hopes of understanding a bit more about some of the recent developments and changes happening in wildlife management at the level of state policy. We talked about the current state of hunting, federal and state protections around wolves and grizzly bears, Jess’s once-in-a-lifetime hunt for Dall sheep and caribou in Canada’s Northwest Territories, and the need for empathy and cooperation in conversations of wildlife management.

If you have ideas for topics or people you’d like to hear on the podcast, write in at [email protected].