Western Sustainability Exchange

WSE aims to restore land, water, and biodiversity throughout the rocky mountain west by partnering with ranchers to implement regenerative land management practices. By restoring soil quality--particularly on grasslands--the scientific community believes we can begin to reverse climate change. Montana's millions of acres of grasslands hold a key to addressing climate change. Regenerative land management practices are proven to:
1) restore land, soil, and water quality,
2) produce more nutritious food,
3) capture and store carbon deep in the soil where it belongs, and

These practices also increase the profitability of ranchers by qualifying them to participate in lucrative markets that value outstanding land stewardship, such as in the natural food and culinary sectors and the growing market for carbon offset credits. WSE's programs provide education and economic incentives to ranchers to implement holistic, regenerative land management practices, thereby preserving the unique ecological landscape of Montana and other western states.

WSE believes ranchers hold the power to preserve whole ecosystems and the local economies that depend on them. Their stewardship affects wildlife, water, and the scenic and recreation values that make Montana unique. Good stewards need vibrant markets to stay in business.

WSE works with ranchers and some farmers to encourage the use of agricultural practices that protect land, wildlife and water. Our comprehensive Resilient Ranchlands Program advances regenerative land management practices through educational workshops throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) and the connectivity corridors that link the GYE to ecosystems in Central Idaho and Glacier National Park. WSE's Sustainability Certification Program verifies operations using regenerative practices through legally binding affidavits. To reward this stewardship and to expand stewardship that protects the environment and helps to sequester carbon, WSE's programs connect certified producers to prime markets for their products. Through these programs, WSE has facilitated the use of sustainable practices for more than 1,300 ranchers and farmers on over 1.5 million acres of land. We also recruited 35 restaurants, caterers, hospitals, national park concessionaires and universities to buy from WSE-Certified farmers and ranchers, which generates more than $1.75 million in annual sales for participants in our programs.

WSE's market-based programs enhance the financial viability of food producers, proving that great stewardship is also good business. We promote outstanding stewardship by providing agricultural producers with the information and tools they need to convert to regenerative practices. We then reward their stewardship with connections to niche markets in the culinary and natural food sector. Lastly, we make it easy for chefs and consumers to find local sources of sustainably grown food through special marketing events and our Local Food Directory.

Since 1994, WSE has worked diligently to create a solid foundation at the crossroads of conservation and sustainable ranching profitability. We are uniquely positioned to lead Montana's ranching community toward a regenerative and holistic land management model. Our 29-year history has established our reputation in Montana as the go-to organization for regenerative ranching. WSE has achieved important milestones and is poised to take our work to the next level over the next few years.

In 2014 WSE was chosen as one of 50 organizations from a pool of over 600 nonprofits to receive a SHIFT Sustainability Award. The award recognizes the most effective, innovative conservation and sustainability initiatives in North America. WSE was also chosen as the recipient of the Quivira Coalition's prestigious Clarence Burch Award for its leadership in promoting outstanding land management stewardship.

WSE is governed by a diverse board representing the major constituency with whom we work. Our staff also reflects this diversity with deep ties in Montana's rural communities.

WSE's milestones through 2021 include: trained 1,600 ranchers in regenerative agricultural practices; facilitated regenerative practices on 1.75 million acres in some of the most important wildlife habitat in the country; generated $1.75 million in yearly sales for WSE producers; organized range rider trainings for 120 ranchers, range riders, and agency personnel about proactive tools to minimize conflicts between livestock and predators and improve habitat for wildlife and livestock; supported 2 range rider programs covering 175,000 acres in critical habitat; completed a study to determine the viability of a grassland carbon sequestration program to incentivize ranchers to sequester carbon through regenerative grazing techniques; operated the Livingston Farmers Market, which generates $239,000 in sales annually for 228 local farmers, ranchers, and artisans each year; mentored over 500 children in sustainable business practices and helped kids create products to sell at WSE's Livingston Farmers Market.

Additionally, WSE has the most extensive nature-based carbon capture program on grassland in the United States and the second-largest grassland program in the world. Currently, over 100,000 acres are enrolled in our carbon program. Our three-year goal is to enroll 1 million acres into the program.

Our five-year goals are to facilitate stewardship on over 2 million acres and generate over $2 million in annual sales for producers in our programs.