A message from our President

February 6, 2026-

Dear Friends,

I’m writing to introduce myself and say how excited I am to be joining this community as President of The Wilderness Land Trust.

For much of my career, I’ve worked at the intersection of wilderness conservation and storytelling, helping locals seek more durable protection for their big backyards- the places they grew up hunting, fishing, hiking, or paddling.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from almost two decades of engagement on preserving the shared heritage of our public lands, it’s that there are no quick wins. Instead, building reliable partnerships through patience and persistence is what carries the day. That kind of work requires discipline, trust, and a long view… qualities that I’d say feel especially important right now, as pressures on wild lands continue to grow and the pace of decision-making accelerates around them.

Patience. Persistence. Discipline. Trust. The Wilderness Land Trust has long embodied those values. Quietly, thoughtfully, and often without fanfare, the Trust has stepped in where others couldn’t, ensuring that extraordinary landscapes are made complete. I’m honored to help carry that work forward.

In fact, one of the things that drew me most strongly to the Trust is its unique role on the conservation spectrum. There are plenty of groups doing good work to expand the National Wilderness Preservation System, and plenty of groups doing good work to steward the lands in that System, but in the middle one finds The Wilderness Land Trust, doing very good work to make that system whole and healthy.

I feel lucky to be supported in our work by a world-class staff and a stellar Board of Directors. Together, we intend to continue to strive to preserve a rich legacy of protected wilderness through persistent, professional, and fair acquisitions of private land in and around wilderness areas, to help complete the promise of wilderness. Our work as a reliable partner to agencies and local communities will endure. And we’ll continue to steward our resources responsibly, knowing that every acre protected represents a promise kept.

We do all this because we know how meaningful wilderness is to you and your family, generating stories of adventure, discovery, and inspiration. These are special places that you and I both cherish, and that we both hope will remain wild and free. As an organization, we are motivated by the same values as you: a reverence for the land and the complex communities of life it supports.

Thank you for being part of this community and for supporting The Wilderness Land Trust. I’m excited for the work ahead, and I look forward to learning from you as we continue it together.

With gratitude,

Anders Reynolds

President, The Wilderness Land Trust

anders@wildernesslandtrust.org