Here in western Wyoming, we are a part of an ecosystem unique to the nation, known as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). This ecosystem is a vast area, spanning over 23 million acres across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Ecologically, the GYE is considered primarily intact, remaining wild and open space, as over 70% of the land within it is owned by the United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service. Most of this public land is considered high elevation with a short growing season. The higher elevation forests and alpine habitats remained unclaimed during the settlement of the West, and after the passage of the Forest Reserve act of 1891, became protected federal lands and in 1907, National Forests.
Figure 1: Land ownership and its distribution throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE).
While private lands in Wyoming make up 13% of the GYE, they hold the key to critical habitat connectivity and health throughout the western half of Wyoming. During settlement of the West in the early 1800’s, settlers established their homesteads at lower elevations along existing streams and riparian areas, allowing them to divert water and create hay meadows to support livestock. When the settlers began irrigating, they inadvertently expanded riparian areas. Their hay meadows not only replenished local aquifers through flood irrigation but have altered the landscape such that they are vital for many wildlife species.
To understand why private lands hold a vital role in ecosystem health in comparison to public lands, one must understand the movements of native wildlife species. Large ungulates such as moose, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, and elk have natural migration patterns where these animals travel from winter range to summer range every year. Typically, summer range can be found in the high elevation lands of our national forests and parks. As snow accumulates, these animals migrate out of the high elevation habitats into lower elevations that have typically milder winters, crossing thousands of miles of fence on their journey. These animals depend on the riparian, wetland, sagebrush, and foothill shrubland habitat types that dominate our private lands for survival during the most stressful months of winter. Not only are these lands critical for ungulates, but because they are situated on perennial streams, management of private lands directly impact the health of aquatic life and fisheries.
Figure 2: Crucial ranges for Wyoming wildlife and their intersection with private lands.
The heart of the Ricketts Conservation Foundation is a belief that conservation is everyone’s responsibility. The Natural Resources Conservation Service defines natural resource conservation as “the careful maintenance and upkeep of a natural resource to prevent it from disappearing. A natural resource is the physical supply of something that exists in nature, such as soil, water, air, plants, animals, and energy.”
Figure 3: Sunset on Tosi from the Hoback in Wyoming
Cumulatively, private lands hold a critical role in watershed and landscape health. Everything is interconnected, from the high mountain ridges to the valleys and open spaces below. Because of this, it is imperative for all landowners to understand the current state of natural resources on their property, no matter how large or small your ownership tract is.
Stay tuned for the next Conservation Connection article, where we will dig in a little deeper on the topic of conservation on private lands!