A Taste of Ranching

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Producing food, protecting wildlife

What does conservation taste like?

The Pioneer Mountains, Idaho. William H. Mullins

A common truism in the Rocky Mountain West goes like this: You can’t eat the view.

Contained in that saying is the common belief that, while pretty, mountain scenery and endless vistas don’t provide jobs, don’t put food on the table. You can’t eat the view.

The thing is, that saying isn’t quite right. Sure, you can’t literally eat a stunning scenic vista, but you can produce food there. Around Idaho, many ranchers do.

Ranching is embedded in the historic, cultural and political fabric of the state. Working ranches also hold a key to the future: Despite Idaho consisting of vast areas of public lands, ranchlands remain disproportionately important for wildlife.

The Nature Conservancy has a long history of working as partners with ranchers to keep them on the land while also protecting wildlife habitat, clean water and, yes, the view.

You can see this conservation on the ground. Some ranchers and consumers are now also asking: Can you taste it?

Read on for two examples of the Conservancy’s work that results in sustainable food around Idaho.

Into the Pioneers

Conservation A Salmon Would Die For

October 24, 2012

About the author

Matt Miller is a senior science writer for The Nature Conservancy World Office. He writes frequently about conservation for the Conservancy on nature.org, as well as the Conservancy's blogs Cool Green Science.

Matt is a board member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. His articles and essays have appeared in such publications as Living Bird, Sports Afield, Bugle, Mule Deer, Grist and many others. He has traveled around the world in search of wildlife and stories.