© Louise Johns
Conservation innovation is accelerating. We are excited to announce a new partnership between the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), building on a history of collaboration on successful conservation projects. Our expanded partnership marks the beginning of a multiyear effort focused on pioneering big game conservation efforts across the Rocky Mountain West and Pacific Northwest regions.
This collaboration is rooted in a shared passion for advancing private land conservation tools, enhancing forest management, and promoting hunter access to federal, state, and private lands through voluntary, cooperative, and incentive-based solutions with private landowners.
Shared Vision for Conservation
Both PERC and RMEF are dedicated to wildlife habitat conservation, particularly for species such as elk, mule deer, and moose, whose populations and well-being depend on healthy ecosystems. Through a Memorandum of Understanding, our organizations will leverage our collective strengths and resources to achieve a common goal: strengthening wildlife conservation on both public and private lands.
A Respected Conservation Leader
Founded in 1984 and fueled by hunters, RMEF has conserved more than 8.9 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Today, RMEF is one of the most effective and efficient conservation organizations in the United States. Working together with members, volunteers and conservation partners, it is a strong voice for elk, elk country, hunters and public access as well as wildlife management and conservation issues.
“PERC brings a creative and thoughtful approach to conservation,” said RMEF Chief Conservation Officer Blake Henning. “By combining RMEF’s expertise in habitat conservation with PERC’s incentive-based approach to engage landowners in stewardship, leadership on forest management policy, and innovative approaches to elk migration, we are confident this partnership will make a lasting impact on the landscapes we cherish.”
RMEF and PERC share a history of collaboration, with RMEF supporting PERC’s innovative Brucellosis Compensation Fund to enhance elk migrations and winter range on private lands in Montana’s Paradise Valley. The organizations have also supported each other in advancing various wildlife and habitat conservation policies over the years.
A Commitment to Innovation
The new agreement will deliver a range of impactful projects that reflect our shared commitment to conservation innovation. Together, PERC and RMEF will collaborate across disciplines from law and policy to field conservation to research:
- Law & Policy: Collaborate to remove barriers to habitat conservation in national forests, improve incentives for habitat restoration, and enhance hunter access through voluntary, collaborative, and incentive-based approaches. Work to eliminate policy obstacles to land exchanges, access agreements, and other voluntary tools that benefit conservation efforts.
- Field Projects: Support the continued growth of PERC’s Conservation Innovation Lab by harnessing new incentive-based tools for big game conservation. This includes expanding the Brucellosis Compensation Fund to new geographic areas and creating or leveraging new flexible conservation tools such as virtual fencing projects.
- Research: Explore innovative approaches to wildlife policy and conservation, with a focus on understanding the value of private land conservation and the contributions of landowners to wildlife conservation. PERC’s research team will work in partnership with RMEF’s research team to explore ways to leverage each other’s strengths and expertise.
“At PERC, we believe in the power of harnessing incentives to address conservation challenges,” said Brian Yablonski, CEO of PERC. “Partnering with RMEF is a natural fit, as we are both committed to finding effective and innovative ways to conserve wildlife habitat. We have enormous respect for the work RMEF has done over the years, and we’re excited to see what we can achieve together.”
Looking Ahead
As we embark on this exciting new chapter, we look forward to the positive impact this partnership will have on the landscapes and big game of the Rocky Mountain West and Pacific Northwest. Together, PERC and RMEF are committed to advancing conservation efforts that not only protect our natural heritage but also empower private landowners and engage hunters and outdoor enthusiasts in the process.
Stay tuned for updates on our progress and the innovative projects that emerge from this partnership. We invite all conservationists, hunters, and lovers of the great outdoors to join us in supporting these vital efforts.
