Program areas at ICL
Worked to guard against threats to sustainable management of large, connected landscapes to protect and restore the ecological function of our public lands and native plants, fish and wildlife that depend on them, to secure Conservation benefits on public land via collaborative land management projects, and to keep public lands in public hands. Encouraged best practices for current and proposed mining projects, monitoring activity and using regulatory means to address concerns. Advocated for habitat protection for native wildlife such as sage grouse, bighorn sheep, grizzly bears, wolverine, and bull trout, and to restore ecologically significant, harvestable populations of wild salmon and steelhead to Idaho by engaging local and regional partner organizations and supporters, seeking bi-partisan support for wild salmon recovery to mitigate the catastrophic ecological and economic effects their loss has had on the northwest.
Worked to make the snake river across southern Idaho safe, fishable and swimmable again, worked to ensure the enforcement of regulated discharges and reduce the amount of unregulated agricultural surface runoff and nitrate-laden groundwater discharges to the snake river, worked to create a framework for a joint state/federal/tribal/private basin-wide terrestrial and aquatic restoration plan. Engaged in a program to monitor health of northern Idaho lakes and rivers, and encourage policy that protects water quality. Monitored and engaged in regulatory processes related to water in Idaho.
Worked to reduce Idaho's contribution to the worldwide crisis of climate change by encouraging idahoans to conserve energy and our public utilities to divest from fossil fuel energy sources in exchange for renewables, worked to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles and mass transit, and engaged in ways to reduce agricultural methane emissions and promote the adoption of carbon sequestration practices in industries including agriculture, forestry and more.
We also worked to communicate, educate, create and organize grassroots actions that connect with local decision- makers and lead to policy change, participated in coalitions and partners with other like-minded organizations to achieve our Conservation goals, and communicate and informed the media, policymakers and elected official about Conservation issues and encouraged policies that support each of icl's program and issue areas.