The Nature Conservancy’s Impact in Utah

In 1984, TNC took a leap of faith and bought 1,192 acres of at-risk wetlands in Utah, becoming the first private conservation organization to protect critical migratory bird habitat at the Great Salt Lake. That initial purchase launched the Utah Chapter’s 40-year journey—one marked by innovation, partnership and countless wins for nature and people. 

“Utahns from all walks of life have found common ground in TNC’s mission and our collaborative brand of conservation,” said Utah State Director Elizabeth Kitchens. Today, with thousands of members and volunteers, hundreds of projects completed and more than 1.2 million acres of private and public land protected statewide, we are pausing to reflect with awe and gratitude.

Dave Livermore, TNC’s former Utah state director, was here in the beginning, working as TNC’s only staff person in the Great Basin. “I saw Utah’s potential. There are so many valuable natural areas, and I was struck by the powerful, innate connection Utahns have to the land.” 

Right from the start, TNC took on a crucial role in Utah by saving some of this state’s “last great places.” Nimble and strategic, we have built a reputation for protecting vulnerable, ecologically important lands and waters, including special places like:

Each one of these acquisitions continues to benefit both nature and people, and our public preserves also offer exceptional recreation and educational opportunities. Over the years, TNC has also partnered with countless Utah ranchers, farmers and other landowners to secure lasting protection for key private lands through the use of conservation easements. Some of these projects include the Selman Ranch in northern Utah, which protects 6,700 acres of habitat for the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse; 2,700 acres on Kanarra Mountain near Zion National Park, which supports the headwaters for LaVerkin, Spring and Kanarra Creeks—all major tributaries to the Virgin River; and 10,000 acres of critical greater sage-grouse habitat near Grouse Creek in northwest Utah.

TNC’s foundation in land conservation is now helping us expand to meet the current crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. Today we are using cutting-edge models and climate science to secure large, intact habitats and corridors that are key to sustaining native species and ecosystems. Our goal is to connect existing protected lands and identify barriers for wildlife movements. We’re also working with partners to use science and technology to restore and protect important public lands, and we’re modeling innovative stewardship at our own preserves.

A commitment to science and innovation has always driven TNC’s work, enabling us to adapt and evolve, continually delivering conservation outcomes more effectively and at larger scales. In our early days, science drove our creation of Utah’s first sensitive species database; it guided our efforts to help establish the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve to protect desert tortoise near St. George, Utah; and it fueled our development and sharing of tools such as Conservation Action Planning and Landscape Conservation Forecasting, which help our partners—many of them public land managers—enhance the way they care for millions of acres.

In the past 40 years, we’ve seen an important recognition grow across our state. More Utahns, from diverse cultural, political and religious backgrounds, understand that our health, our economy and our special quality of life are tied to nature. This awakening is still ongoing, and unfortunately, it is often driven by crises like the shrinking Great Salt Lake or the depleted Colorado River Basin. But TNC believes that the increasing conservation ethic among Utahns—and all Americans—will ultimately prove vital to saving our future. That’s why we’re working with a range of new partners with diverse voices and perspectives to help more Utahns celebrate nature’s importance and prioritize its protection. By changing hearts and minds, we can count on Utahns to have the knowledge and desire to make better decisions for our state and the planet.

Since 2006, at our Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve, more than 26,500 Utah students have experienced the award-winning Wings & Water Wetlands Education program. Run by TNC in partnership with Utah State University’s Utah Botanical Center, this hands-on learning experience delivers targeted lessons that meet state core curriculum science standards and promote students’ appreciation for the Great Salt Lake ecosystem and conservation.

And through the CRC program at TNC’s Dugout Ranch, our NATURE program (Native American Tribes Upholding Restoration and Education) offers students from tribal backgrounds a unique opportunity to gain experience in the fields of climate change science, restoration practices and research on Indigenous foods. This program, run in partnership with Utah State University-Blanding, is part of TNC’s larger effort to foster the next generation of environmental leaders and amplify diverse voices in the fight to combat climate change and conserve and restore lands on the Colorado Plateau.

We’re also so grateful for TNC’s volunteers, members and supporters, whose ranks have grown exponentially since our founding in 1984. It’s deeply inspiring that so many Utahns have stepped up on behalf of nature and have given their resources, their talents and their time to make the future brighter for all of us.

When we think about nature and the future, there’s still a lot that keeps us up at night. The momentum we've built is nothing short of remarkable. Today, we know the stakes for our mission in Utah have never been higher. Thanks to our supporters and partners, TNC is poised to build on a powerful legacy of conservation, and we are better positioned than ever to tackle the crucial work that lies ahead.