bike seeds: You’ve made a difference for our wild places this year

Dear Momoko,

As we head into the season of gratitude, I've been reflecting on what an extraordinary—and challenging—year it's been for our nation's public lands.

In our 90-year history, The Wilderness Society has rarely faced such an onslaught of attacks threatening nature, people and wildlife. The most fragile Arctic landscapes, the wildest areas of our national forests and the beloved national monuments that span our country are at great risk. And yet I'm hopeful: Because through every dangerous executive order, every attempt to chip away at our bedrock environmental laws, every scheme to sell off our public lands … you've shown up.

Every petition you've signed, every letter you've sent, every gift you've made this year has made a difference. In fact, earlier this year we helped stop one of the most aggressive efforts to sell off public lands ever attempted by Congress—proof that collectively raising our voices has the power to protect the irreplaceable landscapes that belong to all of us and to future generations.

I stepped into this role at The Wilderness Society because public lands are one of America's best ideas, because protecting wild places is our obligation to the future, and because I wanted to lead and stand with steadfast defenders who will, in the words of founder Bob Marshall, "fight for the freedom of the wilderness." YOU are the reason why we're able to work day in and day out to do just that, facing a relentless barrage of threats aimed at dismantling our nation's one-of-a-kind system of public lands protections.

So, before we gather around the table with our loved ones this holiday season, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Every acre we've protected (and there are over 100 million now), every voice that has spoken up—it all began with people like you who refused to give up on the wild.

From my family to yours, have a wonderful holiday season.

With gratitude,

Margot Krieger headshot.

Tracy Stone-Manning signature.

Tracy Stone-Manning
President
The Wilderness Society

P.S. The future of public lands depends on what we do right now. Your generosity powers every legal defense, every campaign on the ground, every victory for our shared wild places. If you can, please consider making a tax-deductible year-end donation today to help safeguard the places we all cherish. A generous donor is matching all gifts 5X, multiplying your impact to defend our nation's public lands and waters.