Using Our Business as a Tool for Conservation
Unlike the first three areas, the fourth, that of conservation, is a bit trickier. This relates to diverse societal values toward the land, onerous and contradictory land management policies, and complicated legal and political barriers to reform.
Lets examine these points a bit closer. As stated, societal values toward the land are diverse, but for many there is no identity with nature, no intimate, direct experience with place. For these impoverished souls there is generally no realization that a connection with nature can help them to better realize their potential as humans, or that today's society is mounting an unprecedented assault on the natural world. In these cases exposure to the natural world can help to create an emotional identification with the land that can motivate day-to-day action on behalf of the places we love.
Emotional identification with the land is often a first step toward conservation, but it's not enough to simply love a place; effective environmental reform also requires scientific, legal, and political know-how. For example, resource management is often guided by science, but also by administrations with varying agendas. Because of this it is imperative that citizen activists and non-governmental organizations hold government accountable for their actions.
This century's first eight years of bipartisan politics gutted, ignored, or repealed the previous 40 years of positive environmental legislation, often in direct opposition to majority opinion. That is, a refusal by the Bush administration to join the Kyoto Treaty, the desire to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an attempted repeal of Clinton's Roadless Rule, a proposal to compromise the protections of our national parks, and a bias for corporate profits over conservation force action on behalf of those willing to "fight the good fight."
Our Partners in Conservation
With the above ideas in mind we're attempting to do our part by partnering with three organizations that we strongly believe in.
The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Iniatitive (www.y2y.net) combines science and stewardship to ensure that the world-renowned wilderness, wildlife, native plants and natural processes of the Yellowstone to Yukon region continue to function as an interconnected web of life. We partner with Y2Y to provide our educational, field-based conservation tours.
1% For The Planet (www.onepercentfortheplanet.org) is an alliance of businesses committed to leveraging their resources to create a healthier environment. As a member of this organization we recognize a responsibility to and dependence upon a healthy environment and donate at least 1% of our annual gross revenue to environmental organizations worldwide.
Leave No Trace (LNT) (www.lnt.org) is an organization that educates outdoor users about the nature of their recreation impacts and teaches techniques aimed at preventing and minimizing such impacts. The LNT position is that education is better than regulation. All our trips teach and promote LNT practices.
The Wildland Trekking Company was born from a passion for wild and beautiful land. We promote conservation and protection of the environment not from a sense of duty or obligation, but from a joy that stems from the privilege we've had in experiencing some fantastic landscapes.
Thanks for your support and happy trails!
All of us at the Wildland Trekking Company
