The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) was founded to provide high quality technical assistance on privately owned grazing lands on a voluntary basis and to increase the awareness of the importance of grazing land resources.

Established in 1991, GLCI is carried out through coalitions of individuals and organizations functioning at the local, state, regional and national levels.  The coalitions include livestock producer organizations, scientific and professional grazing resource organizations, conservation and environmental groups, and state and federal natural resource and agriculture agencies.

•  GLCI was developed as a process to identify priority issues, find solutions, and effect change on private grazing land.
• It provides a basis for coordination with units of government, institutions of higher education, producer organizations and among agencies.
• This initiative is designed to complement and enhance existing conservation programs for Technical Assistance, Education and Research.
• The GLCI is a Producer Initiated and Producer Led effort, carried out through local coalitions supported by livestock producer organizations, scientific and professional grazing resource organizations, conservation and environmental groups, state and federal agencies, and other interested groups.

 Grazing lands are Wyoming’s largest single natural resource, with more than 2/3’s of Wyoming made up of lands suitable for grazing.   Grazing lands in Wyoming provide critical habitat for numerous plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. They provide environmental benefits such as habitat for wildlife, open space, and healthy watersheds, as well as food and other commodities. These lands provide many economic and environmental benefits not only to those who own them, but to all citizens of Wyoming.  The extent of these benefits and impact for our citizen’s is dependent upon how well these lands are managed.  If not managed properly, these benefits will not be realized.  If managed properly, then many will benefit.  As land managers and professionals providing assistance, our goal is to promote the wise use of our grazing land resources and manage them so that the benefits are widespread and enjoyed by all. 

The Wyoming Private Grazing Lands Team (WyPGLT) is a grass-roots voluntary effort to enhance private grazing lands in Wyoming.  As a state member of GLCI, the WyPGLT promotse voluntary technical assistance to landowners and managers, as well as an increased emphasis on grazing land research and education. Every year, the Executive Committee of the WyPGLT sets priority issues, works to find solutions, and promotes the use and benefits of  private grazing land in Wyoming.

The WyPGLT works to:

• Promote voluntary action and respect of private property rights
• Strengthen partnerships between grazing lands managers and others who support the purpose of GLCI
• Encourage diversification to achieve multiple natural resource benefits
• Increase economic, environmental, and social stability on private grazing lands
• Close the gap between the availability of knowledge and the application of knowledge on private grazing lands
• Enhance the private landowner’s ability to achieve greater profitability on ecologically sound and sustainable basis
• Educate the public through the dissemination of scientific knowledge on the conservation and management of grazing lands in Florida