“No other effort could have made the inroads that you have. Your approach is smart! And it’s working, for ranchers and for wolves. Unlike other groups that go around the root of the issue, you are willing to go right through it. It’s been enlightening to watch this unfold and it’s been an honor to work with you.” ~ Wildlife Project Manager (retired), California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Today’s wild and working landscapes are very different than they were 100 years ago. This is the reality we must all work within. Considering increased human population and additional competition for open space, the human created boundary between ‘wild’ and ‘working’ lands has become unsustainable. As large predators, such as wolves, often depend on the large tracts of land that private ranches provide, co-occurrence of predators and livestock is certain. WCI efforts are based on this reality. We look forward instead of backwards; towards a transformation of mindset, actions, and activities that will ensure that healthy wild-working landscapes can adapt and thrive in the modern world.
WCI recognizes that ranching, wildlife, and land conservation efforts are not linear processes-nor can we continue to look at them as completely separate efforts. Conservation requires a strategic, meaningful, and comprehensive approach to ensure continuing success. WCI partners with ranch families to discover and implement viable solutions to modern challenges so that wildlife and working ranches can succeed on shared landscapes.
We seek bigger-picture thinking as we strive to address the on-going concerns and conflicts both on the ground and socially surrounding large carnivore conservation and ranch sustainability. The vision is long-term and we believe that there are no short-cuts. Thus we recognize that implementation takes significant effort, time, patience, and resources.
"Ranch resiliency is the ability to hold multiple values while withstanding the tests and changes of time." ~ Hilary Anderson, Crazy D Ranch The WCI model is an on-going experiment by design with the collective understanding that we are all learning together. We make no promises of having all the answers or guaranteed solutions to predator-livestock conflict. WCI is committed to ensuring best-practices in all of our efforts as we work to merge local knowledge and experiences with outside expertise and approaches that have demonstrated success in other areas. As such, we seek to support proactive wolf-livestock conflict reduction strategies along with regenerative land management strategies suitable to each region’s unique and diverse landscape and ranching operations.
WCI recognizes that each individual livestock producer and operation needs to make their own decisions as to what level, or individual program components to engage in based on their needs, ability, and desire. WCI is committed to meeting, supporting, and serving people where they are at.
Trust and relationships are the foundation for our work. We believe that openness of mind and heart are key to finding a better way forward for all involved.
"It's not about changing minds, it's about understanding and respecting values" ~Author Unknown
Our no compromise philosophy When talking about building on common ground, or meeting in the middle, the concept of compromise is generally part of the equation. However, compromise can be an intimidating factor and immediately brings to mind the need to give something up, perhaps something of deep value. Because of this, compromise is often a stumbling block that can quickly bring an end to well-intentioned efforts to find meaningful solutions. What the WCI model presents is a no compromise scenario. The WCI model works to set up a true win-win scenario for the urban public who support wolves, the rural communities who live with the wolves, the agencies who are charged with managing and conserving wolves, and the wolf itself can finally exist as nature intended.
Working Circle Initiative aims to create a space where diverse values and perspectives can safely come together
