The Importance of Private Lands for Wildlife Conservation

The best science available today shows that the public lands we have protected for wildlife habitat are insufficicent for the long-term survival of our native wildlife. The existing protected areas are too small and are increasingly disconnected from each other by development thus preventing wildlife populations from roaming where necessary to a) prevent in-breeding b) to respond to climate change c) to survive a disease epidemic like chronic wasting disease or d) to survive a natural catastrophe such as a large fire in a national forest or national park.

Part of the solution to long term survival for our native wildlife, especially predators like wolves, mountain lions and grizzly bears is more protected wildlife habitat on private lands in the United States. This is especially important for private lands with a large amount of biodiversity where the land is threatened by development. It is also important to protect private land that borders existing protected areas to increase the size of that protected area. This is shown to increase the probability of long-term survival of the wildlife living there and icnrease the diversity of species that can thrive in the protected area.

This is why we are offering a direct, private enterprise approach to protecting high conservation value private lands for wildlife habitat. Given the high cost of land Conservation Havens dramatically lowers the price of entry for people who vaue wildlife conservation to become conservation buyers, be part of the solution, and enjoy their land in the process.