Both David and Lucile Packard deeply appreciated the special significance of the region where they were born, started their company and raised their family--- including its rich biodiversity and iconic landscapes. What began with their own personal giving grew to become a long-standing commitment by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to the successful conservation of land across California and the North American West.
Over the years, the Foundation has supported a wide range of activities related to land conservation--- including scientific research, policy research, advocacy, and capacity building. With our grantees, we have contributed to major conservation achievements that have met the needs of local communities, states and provinces across Western North America. Our efforts to protect the fragile landscape and resources of this region have allowed us many opportunities to work closely with partners, and within communities, to engage new voices, build consensus, and ultimately strengthen the conservation field. The successes we've experienced couldn't have happened without such meaningful partnerships and engagement.
The Packard Foundation has supported land conservation efforts through both grants and program-related investments, assisting our partners in the purchase of ecologically important lands or in the establishment of conservation easements. To paint a picture of what we have achieved together over 50 years, we have developed a website that maps our history of contributions to land and easement acquisitions in the North American West since 1964. On the site we have also gathered stories of progress highlighting different themes and threads of work done in collaboration with our partners.
I encourage you to explore the map and read about the Foundation's support of our partners' work to protect exceptional places like Independence Lake in Northern Sierra Nevada, Great Bear Rainforest along the British Columbian coast, the Crown of the Continent ecosystem in Western Montana, and more. We've designed the site and mapping tool to be dynamic, giving us the ability to update or add information over time, with a goal of providing as complete a picture as possible. As you review the site, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with any questions or feedback you may have.
The Packard Foundation's land conservation efforts were built upon David and Lucile's personal interest and support and have expanded to touch nearly every state in the United States west of the continental divide, along with areas of Canada and Mexico. As we look to the future, we hope to continue exploring different ways to support our grantee partners in the conservation of these special places through a variety of both traditional and innovative approaches.
