FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2021
DENVER—A new report released today by the Center for Western Priorities examines how Western states are contributing to the bold goal to protect 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030. Home to iconic natural landscapes, varied ecosystems that support wildlife, and strong local communities and economies, Western states can lead the way with state-level conservation efforts and funding, implementing creative solutions to promote, support, and continue the incredible work already being done all across the West. The findings in this report can provide a roadmap for individual states to identify opportunities to further advance conservation efforts.
The grassroots 30×30 movement will vary between states, as each has its own landscapes, natural environments, political considerations, and suite of stakeholders and landowners. As a result, different tools, partnerships, pathways, and priorities can be part of the 30×30 initiative in each individual state. The report assesses eight states across the West—Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—on a variety of aspects related to land and water conservation, finding best practices and success stories that can contribute to the 30×30 goal. The interactive report can be viewed at WesternRoadTo30.org.
“Conservation is part of the Western way of life, and states and local communities have been working to protect wildlife, open landscapes, and access to the outdoors for decades. As a result, these states are uniquely positioned to lead the country towards the 30×30 goal,” said Jennifer Rokala, Executive Director of the Center for Western Priorities.
Tyler McIntosh, Policy and Design Associate at the Center for Western Priorities and co-author of the report said, “30×30 is about more than just protecting land. It is also about supporting local economies, opening up recreational opportunities, respecting the sovereignty of tribal nations, and ensuring equitable access to the outdoors.”
Learn More:
- Road to 30 Storymap Collection
- Road to 30 Virtual Tour
- Western voters say “go big” on protecting public lands, conserving nature, and tackling climate change
For more information, visit westernpriorities.org. To speak with an expert on public lands, contact Aaron Weiss at 720-279-0019 or aaron@westernpriorities.org. Sign up for Look West to get daily public lands and energy news sent to your inbox.
Photo: Janelle Golden/USFWS