Environment

Lands & Waters

01.12.26 | 2 min read

From forests to grasslands and rivers to wetlands, healthy ecosystems are foundational to prosperity. Thriving ecosystems keep our water clean and abundant, sequester carbon, provide habitat for fish and game, support cultural enrichment, and sustain rural economies. Unfortunately, many of America’s lands and waters are not in good health. Pollution, land use change, and an unstable climate pose unprecedented challenges to our ecosystems. Despite overwhelming bipartisan support for public lands at various levels of government, investment is not keeping up with the scale of the challenge. 

The good news is that potential solutions are as diverse as our ecosystems themselves. While these solutions must be informed by collaboration and local knowledge, substantial progress will be difficult without the federal government. As the manager of nearly a third of all U.S. land, the federal government (especially in the West where public land is concentrated) has substantial influence in the future of our ecosystems and the benefits they provide. 

Our Lands and Waters program focuses on ensuring all Americans have access to clean water and healthy lands by fostering evidence-based stewardship of natural resources. We work to improve uptake of science, data, and technology in public policy, particularly at the federal level, to sustain ecosystems and the benefits they provide. Particular areas of focus include wildfire resilience, air and water quality, and public lands.

Our team: 

• Identifies opportunities for policy innovation to improve how governments manage natural resources in a changing climate
• Develops actionable recommendations to address lands and waters challenges
• Supports decision-makers in leveraging the latest science to design better policy 
• Creates opportunities for scientists and policymakers to exchange knowledge
• Advocates for specific legislation or other public policies that align with program goals