For more than twenty-five years American Wildlands [AWL] has fought to protect wild America throughout the western states. While we have sought the protection for the West’s wild places, we also advocate for the careful management of its natural resources. For two and one half decades we have built a long list of impressive accomplishments. For example, AWL was instrumental in securing legal protection for 100 million acres of Alaska’s wildlands, as well as millions of acres of wilderness and hundreds of miles of wild rivers in the West. To name a few early successes, in 1981 AWL initiated one of the first Wildland Resource Research Programs in the country focusing on the economic values and benefits of wildland resources. In 1985, we hosted the first policy dialogue ever held between conservationists and hydro permitting committee members on the protection of free-flowing rivers. AWL founded the first successful coalition to address management problems and operation of Glen Canyon Dam, which damages resources of the Grand Canyon. AWL was also one of the first organizations in the country to combine wilderness experiences with conservation policy, helping to create a real version of “eco-tourism.” AWL staff and board members have been advisors to numerous members of Congress and three U.S. Presidents. In the past we have championed wildlands in Alaska, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon. Today our efforts focus on wild places and healthy rivers in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho—the great Northern Rockies.



Our Programs

American Wildlands currently has four main programs through which we work:



Corridors of Life

Scientific research has shown that unless we connect wild places by protecting wildlife travel routes between them many species will disappear forever. Corridors of Life is a solution-oriented program. We use public lands advocacy and work with community residents, local land trusts, agency biologists and county and transportation planners to create a network of habitat linkage zones that allow wildlife movement between the core protected areas in the Northern Rockies.



Living Waters

Healthy watersheds are the source of life and well being for the entire region. Living Waters identifies, protects and restores the key rivers, lakes, streams and their adjacent lands that are crucial to the supply of clean water, the survival of native species and the quality of local recreational opportunities.



Human Connections

The success of our Programs depends on the active support and involvement of people and groups who value the unique natural heritage of this region. Human Connections works with local communities, residents and visitors to develop creative responses to the challenges posed by rapid development, changing economies, spreading roads, urban sprawl and pollution.



GIS Mapping

Our Geographic Information Systems [GIS] computer lab uses the best available scientific data and analyses to create maps that identify the location of high quality terrestrial and aquatic habitat at regional and local level and strategically. The lab also provides GIS services to a range of non-profit conservation groups in the area.