2024

Thirty-five years ago, a conversation between friends sparked an ambitious idea — providing tools and legal support to help people protect the environment. From those humble roots, Western Resource Advocates (WRA) has grown into a powerful voice for conservation across the Interior West.

Over 10 years ago, shortly after I joined WRA, we witnessed a turning point for global climate action: the adoption of the Paris Agreement. Its goal to limit climate warming requires coordinated efforts, global commitments, and innovative policy solutions. And I’m proud WRA rose to the challenge. We stayed true to our core principles while exponentially expanding our efforts, sharpening our focus, and implementing policy changes that protect communities and wild places.

Our focus on state-level action is key to our success.

By bringing scientific, policy, and legal expertise to the places where decisions are made, we ensure state and local decision makers understand the urgency and practicality of forward-thinking environmental policy.

This year, as the U.S. withdraws from the Paris Agreement, our commitment to effective state action has never been more important. More intense drought, wildfires, and extreme weather continue to underscore the urgency of our work. But I remain hopeful because our talented team and our strategic plan, For Home, For Nature, confront these threats with determination, resources, and a clear vision to avert the worst impacts of climate change. Throughout my time with WRA, we’ve evolved to meet growing challenges, and three transformative moments remind me how far we’ve come.

We renewed our commitment to land protection by rebuilding our lands team, expanding efforts to prevent biodiversity loss, safeguard natural landscapes from development, and secure critical conservation funding. This work unites diverse partners around policies that preserve the West’s unique landscapes and habitats.

We created and invested in a tangible, data-driven plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions, an initiative we call the Climate Fix. Our bold goal to reduce carbon pollution attracted significant support from individuals and foundations alike, demonstrating that when you have an ambitious goal and clear strategy, momentum builds quickly. WRA supporters have demonstrated their eagerness to back a plan that tackles big problems and realizes real results.

We diversified our funding streams and continue building internal capacity across all WRA programs to deliver results more effectively. While a single multiyear grant once felt monumental, we now have many long-term supporters investing in our critical work to fight climate change and its impacts. Each new staff member and supporter broadens our collective reach and amplifies our impact, helping us craft stronger plans and develop solutions that benefit people and nature alike.

In this report you’ll see how each success — from securing historic conservation financing to advancing comprehensive climate legislation — moves us closer to our For Home, For Nature goals. It’s a testament to what happens when communities, advocates, and experts come together with a shared commitment to protecting the West we love. And it’s just the beginning.

With your support, WRA will continue to evolve, adapt, and strive for the ambitious changes that are necessary to safeguard our home — now and for generations to come.