Join The Conservation Conversation

February 25, 2025 I By Katie Cox, Executive Director

A Rainy Hello,

There has been a large question bouncing around in my head since I was able to speak at a meeting for Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition this past fall. One of the presentations focused on the work that Wallowa Resources was doing in support of what they termed the Stewardship Economy (SE). The work sounded rich, impactful and connected to place. The ultimate goal was to help create a thriving community based on sound land stewardship practices.

This new vision hinges on adoption of the stewardship economy, which Wallowa Resources has defined as “an economy shaped by the need, and responsibility, to manage for the sustainability of both land and communities.”

The idea was impactful for me. I was at the meeting presenting on workforce housing, a challenge that has been exacerbated both by our amenity-rich location as well as impacts on our rural economy. It seemed that our community may be ripe for a deep dive into this conversation about the SE, I knew I was at least. The conversations felt so connected to who we are as a community.

The most hopeful outcome in this typology is that of amenity-rich rural America. It applies to a community capable of attracting affluent professionals who prefer to live in small towns close enough to cities for work, entertainment, or culture. However, these areas’ beautiful natural landscapes spur growth by attracting new residents, which increases property values and creates barriers to affordable housing.

After the meeting, Wallowa Resources sent me some detailed information which included a research paper from the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability  titled, Building a Stewardship Economy: Insights from Community Innovation in the Rural American West. As I have started to read this body of work I thought it would be interesting for us to read it together. I am curious what you think. 

I guess this is a little like a book group. I want to dive into this with whoever is interested and then talk about it together.  It’s as simple as that, are you in? 

If so, you can find the research paper here by following the link that says View/Open. Then, send me an email at katie@kaniksu.org and let me know you are interested and we will get together for a conversation in a few weeks. Sound good? Let’s go! 

Happy reading, 

Katie