In the past few decades, the Rocky Mountain region has experienced sweeping economic and demographic change. The old west economy based on resource extraction – mining, logging, cattle – has been replaced by the new west recreation economy, which in many ways depends on the protection of natural resources.

“Ironically, this created a whole new set of conservation problems,” explained Dennis Glick, executive director of Future West. “Wilderness designation is now opposed by mountain bikers who don’t want to see their recreational pursuit curtailed. Rafters want to open up currently protected waters to boating. ATV and snowmobile users want to be allowed deeper into the backcountry. And our intense love of nature has inspired many people to build homes in the country or at the edge of public lands, further fragmenting wildlife habitat and introducing everything from noxious weeds to cats and dogs into formerly natural settings.”

All of this calls into question the promise of a more environmentally sustainable region, which is why Glick helped create Future West in 2009 with the expressed purpose of "helping communities create the future they want.” The nonprofit builds the capacity of community-based conservationists and their organizations through training and technical assistance, and provides key land use decision makers with the necessary information to make environmentally sound choices when it comes to development.

Future West is currently writing a best practices manual and hosting workshops on collaborative conservation. They are also working with a small group of seasoned professionals who have helped communities in transition craft visions for their future. “Our goal with this group is to identify ways that these community planning processes – which in the past have had mixed results – can be more effective and enduring,” Glick said. “This is critical information for communities in the Northern Rockies that are challenged by rapid growth and change.”