Mark Menlove

September 27th, 2024

As a supporter of The Nature Conservancy, you know that our approach to conservation in Idaho takes many forms. It includes hands-on work, like testing soil on a farm, sowing native plants in the Sagebrush Sea or conducting prescribed burns to prevent catastrophic wildfires. It consists of analyzing the latest science to determine the smartest conservation actions. It involves real estate transactions and partnering with landowners to keep wildlife habitat intact. And it also means working with every level of government to advocate for policies that protect nature.

Good policies make conservation and climate action possible. Government policy is the most effective lever to ensure that durable solutions are implemented at a large scale, quickly and equitably. In a state like Idaho that is 62% public land, with much of it forested, partnering with state and federal agencies is essential to our success.

Policy creates enabling conditions for conservation programs to grow, brings in public funding to match and amplify the impact of private donations, and helps ensure that our important work lasts over the long term. Policy and public funding touch down across every landscape we work in and every tool we utilize in conservation, which is why it is  critical for TNC—and all of us—to advocate for nature.

Regardless of the political landscape, TNC remains committed to finding solutions that are practical, ambitious and equitable. Our approach stands the test of time, and we will continue to work creatively and collaboratively with every level of government. We all have more work to do to create a better future for nature and people.

Your steadfast support, especially when combined with policy and public funding, mean we can power our programs in ways that create huge impact. Thank you for supporting The Nature Conservancy, and most importantly, thank you for your commitment to nature.

Yours in conservation,

Mark Menlove