Leadership Capacity for Large-Scale Conservation Change

THE Western Conservation Leadership Development Program builds leadership capacity for a diversity of partners to implement landscape conservation for the future.

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

– Nelson Mandela

Western Conservation Leadership Development Program

Photo credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

The Future of Conservation in the Western United States

Fish and wildlife agencies and conservation organizations across the western United States and Canada are faced with complex social, political, and biological challenges while serving an increasingly diverse society that holds different values and beliefs on how to manage, conserve, and enjoy natural resources.

Partnerships, collaboration, and inclusivity are often a part of addressing these conservation challenges. To be successful, the conservation community needs a workforce where individuals at all levels, regardless of title or position, possess the leadership skills, behaviors, and mindset that contribute to durable, well-supported solutions and decisions.

Fundamentals of Western Conservation Leadership:
Through the Looking Glass 2024-2025

Now accepting applications! The application deadline is May 17, 2024.

This program is designed to help individuals gain new capacities in navigating and adapting to uncertainty, complexity, and challenging arenas in landscape-scale conservation where new mental models and ways of seeing the system are required to make progress. The training differs from other types of professional development experiences as tensions, conflicts, and challenges in the room–and the greater conservation system–are surfaced to create adaptive learning related to deeply-held beliefs and values.

Program Sponsors

The Western Conservation Leadership Development Program is collaboratively supported by the following partners:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Alaska Department of Fish and Game

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