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Dear Friends,
Daniel Burnham’s words, “make no little plans,” are etched into our regional identity. But it is the next line that carries the true challenge of our time: “Make big plans. Aim high in hope and work.” At Openlands, we believe that planning is an act of hope and that tomorrow begins with the work we do today.
This strategic plan embodies that spirit. While it charts a five-year course, it also looks ahead to 2050 and beyond. It reflects the thoughtful work of our staff, board, and partners to envision what next-generation conservation must become.
Next-generation conservation means protecting land at the pace and scale that climate and biodiversity imperatives demand. It means treating land as a public good that benefits everyone and ensuring all communities share in its abundance. Federal protections and resources are increasingly under strain, with agencies either being asked to do more with less or disappearing altogether. As a regional conservation organization, we must sharpen our focus and act boldly to create systemic change from the bottom up, at the local level where our power has always been strongest. This is how we move beyond defending what remains and begin expanding what is possible.
At the same time, this work is deeply personal. Today, so many people feel anxious, distracted, and disconnected; we need spaces that are both restored and restorative. From tree-lined city streets to a vast prairie landscape, to miles of connected fresh water, the land itself is essential infrastructure. The land is not just a backdrop. When we gather to care for our land, we strengthen our region’s vitality and resilience. We strengthen ourselves.
Next-generation conservation means protecting land at the pace and scale that climate and biodiversity imperatives demand.
To meet this moment, we’re putting forward our land-centered strategic plan built on five mutually reinforcing priorities:
- Land-Centered Leadership
- Resilient & Connected Landscapes
- People & Places
- Conservation Innovation
- Organizational Excellence
These priorities are our blueprint for action and our invitation to you. By 2050, our region will face challenges and opportunities we can scarcely imagine today. Burnham himself said that future generations would do things that would stagger us. Our job is to set the stage for that future, to aim high as an organization and as a region.
Join us as we conserve, connect, and create — together.
With gratitude,
