When it comes to biodiversity conservation, Biophilia leads by example. Their 3,300-acre ranch in San Miguel County, New Mexico is a strong case in point. The Pritzlaff Ranch, owned by the Biophilia Foundation, is a showcase for working landscapes. The ranch simultaneously produces income while protecting biodiversity. According to Biophilia President Richard Pritzlaff, “We believed private lands could be managed for ecological good while sustaining livelihoods. So, we set about putting our ideals into practice.”

All of the land on the 3,300-acre ranch is protected through conservation easements held by The Nature Conservancy. Coupled with that, Biophilia entered into a partnership with the Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute of New Mexico at Highlands University where they have been practically and scientifically refining the effectiveness of a restored ecosystem within a working landscape for several years.

The Pritzlaff Ranch is part of the southwestern montane ecosystem and is a perfect place to introduce new pasture, riparian, and forest management techniques. While testing restoration practices for farming and forestry, Biophilia has also identified cost-share programs like those in the farm bill to support this working landscape. The lessons learned are incorporated into the ranch operations and shared with landowners to promote restored ecosystems and sustainable economic development within the local community.

Pritzlaff comments, “Farm bill conservation programs are very compatible with working landscapes. There’s a lot of help out there for private landowners, if they only knew where to look. As a landowner you have a responsibility to look at your land and see what kind of contribution you can make in terms of biodiversity conservation. Landowners don’t understand the power they have through restoration practices protected by easements; the power they have for dictating how that land will be managed in perpetuity. Private lands have much to contribute to biodiversity conservation, and if we’re not successful here, we’re in big trouble.”

Founded in 1999 by the Pritzlaff family, Biophilia supports a wide range of conservation efforts that create, restore and protect wildlife habitat, with a particular focus on private lands. The Foundation’s work extends far beyond the ranch boundaries. Biophilia works with local communities and land trusts throughout the country and has teamed up with the Defenders of Wildlife on the Living Lands Project in an effort to involve individual land trusts, state and federal agencies, conservation groups and others in working together on private lands conservation strategies.

“When Wildlands Project saw an opportunity to work with partners to protect the habitat of the northern Mexican jaguars and their migration routes back to the U.S., we thought of Biophilia. Fortunately, Biophilia thought kindly of us,” recalls Margo McKnight, Wildlands Project Executive Director. “Richard was excited by the jaguar sightings a few years back, and when we came knocking on the door, the Foundation generously agreed to a $50,000 contribution that sealed a land acquisition deal to protect the habitat of these amazing cats that are so important to the southwest ecosystem.” Pritzlaff is indeed on board. He adds, “Connectivity is essential for North American wildlife, and the jaguar habitat is a critical piece of the western corridor we all envision and are working toward.”

Pritzlaff sums up what it takes to do effective conservation work. “Taking the long view and showing up every day is what counts. It’s just hard work, and that’s all there is to it. Each success builds on the next and before you know it, change happens in a big way.”

Oftentimes foundations get their inspiration from the programs and the people they fund. According to McKnight, “When we work with Biophilia and Richard Pritzlaff, we receive way more than financial support. The Wildlands Project gets the inspiration we need and the moral support necessary to sustain a vision that will take decades of sustained effort.”