The Trudeau Administration's Budget 2018 outlines a $1.3 billion commitment to conservation over the next five years, in order to protect the country's ecosystems, landscapes, and biodiversity. Specifically, the funding is intended to help Canada meet its target of protecting 17 percent of land and 10 percent of oceans by 2020, and outlines a new model for collaborative conservation efforts bringing together Indigenous, provincial and territorial government partners. 

There is a growing body of analysis and action on landscape conservation as a positive component of community and economic development, especially in rural America. Large portions of the country are dealing with issues around the out-migration of people and jobs. Increasingly, such areas are recognizing that natural resources can be a significant asset, and are harnessing investments in conservation and stewardship of natural resources as essential for community and economic vitality. A recent blogpost from the Northern Forest Center's Executive Director Rob Riley underscores this overall theme. Among other projects, the Northern Forest Center is a partner in Local Wood Works, which was the feature of a recent Portland Press Herald article. This multi-stakeholder collaboration in Maine is working to support the long-term conservation of forests and forest-based economies by connecting consumers to locally sourced wood. Elsewhere, a Forbes article highlights the connection between thriving landscapes and rural economies, showcasing how cattle ranchers in Idaho and California are partnering with state and federal agencies to ensure wildlife habitat and the ranching way of life remain viable. In coastal Washington, The Nature Conservancy is in the midst of a watershed-wide forest restoration effort on Ellsworth Creek, an experiment in restoring the complexity of old growth forests while supporting the livelihoods of the local communities. Finally, the Bureau of Economic Analysis' recently released preliminary report (as mandated by a 2016 law) suggests that the outdoor recreation economy accounts for over 2 percent of the entire United States GDP, or more than $373 billion. This is a only a snapshot of the burgeoning attention focused on the significant importance of healthy landscapes and the associated natural resource-based economies for long-term community health and vitality.

A hallmark of the landscape conservation approach is recognizing the interconnectedness of landscapes as well as the interconnectedness of those landscapes to the people who live in them. An increasing amount of work is happening in the urban arena, as can be seen in the work of Metropolitan Greenspace Alliance members and beyond. A recent CityLab article highlights efforts by previously rural-focused land conservancies to work in urban areas, driven by the recognition that dynamics in the urban environment (including inequality, rising rents, and the outflow of residents to the surround exurban and/or rural areas) impact the entire regional landscape and ecological systems. The efforts highlighted are working to address inequality and serve underserved populations, whereas much urban conservation work historically has aimed to build parks and reclaim green space in urban environments. Another CityLab article addresses the complexities of restoring the Los Angeles River in downtown L.A - and the potential for such projects to confront 'green gentrification' and unintended consequences that exacerbate inequity. And an Outside Online article highlights a new report on the associated issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and to what extent the conservation community has made progress in this pivotal area.

This past December, Michael Whitfield retired from his position as Executive Director of the Heart of the Rockies Initiative to pursue other opportunities, including a return to fieldwork and research that has long been a passion. At this juncture in his career, we asked Michael to reflect on his many decades of work, what his experiences have taught him about conservation, and where he sees the future of landscape conservation.