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Our Values

"The whole concept of ‘wild’ was decidedly European, one not shared by the original inhabitants of this continent. What we called ‘wilderness’ was to the Indian a homeland, ‘abiding loveliness’ in Salish or Piegan. The land was not something to be feared or conquered, and ‘wildlife’ were neither wild nor alien; they were relatives."
— Doug Peacock, Grizzly Years: In Search of the American Wilderness

We take our name from Aldo Leopold’s instructive essay Round River

“A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”

— Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac with Essays on Conservation from Round River
Round River was founded in 1991 out of a shared desire to move beyond the European perception of “wilderness” conservation. From the beginning, we have prioritized collaborations with local people with strong, enduring land ethics, and long-term commitments to the places in which we work. At the same time, we recognized the importance of bringing students into our work. Round River Student Programs are field-based, authentic experiences where students become part of our efforts working alongside our local community partners. As a small organization we are proud of our outsized impact, assisting with the creation of recognized conservation plans exceeding 100 million acres and over 10 million acres of designated protection. We have also continued our partnerships long after the plans are completed, staying true to our commitment to maintaining a long-term presence in each site. We have helped implement and monitor success of our collaborative efforts and continue to gather critical information to inform on-going conservation decisions.