Introducing Everwild Land Trust: The Future of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy

Written by Executive Director Whitney Gleason

Everwild staff from left to right: Bethany O'Hagan, Kim Turner, Daniel Conklin, Twan Leenders, Justina Dore, Whitney Gleason, and Carol Markham.

After more than three decades serving the region as the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, our organization is excited to announce a new chapter and a new name: Everwild Land Trust. This change is more than a rebrand, it reflects both who we have become as an organization and the future we are working to build together with our community.

Since our founding in 1990, our mission has always centered on caring for the lands and waters that sustain this region. Over the years, that work has expanded as the challenges facing our landscapes have grown. Today, Everwild Land Trust is a nationally accredited land trust stewarding over 35 nature preserves and leading conservation, restoration, and education efforts across forests, wetlands, streams, shorelines, waterways, and lakes throughout our region.

As our work evolved, it became increasingly important to have a name that more clearly reflects the full scope of what we do and the interconnected systems we care for. The name Everwild speaks to the enduring relationship between people and the natural world around us. It reflects our belief that stewardship is not a one-time effort, but an ongoing shared responsibility.

While our name and look are changing, our mission remains deeply rooted in the same values that have guided our organization for decades: bringing people together to care for the lands, waters, and wildlife that define the Chautauqua region and make it such an incredible place to live and visit. We will continue to combine evidence-based science with hands-on stewardship and community engagement. We will continue to conserve and care for our lands, restore streams and habitats, monitor and improve water quality, respond to invasive species, expand community access, and create opportunities for people of all ages to connect with and care for the natural world.

This new identity also reflects the principle that conservation works best when people feel connected to it. Healthy ecosystems and healthy communities go hand in hand. Everyone has a role to play in shaping the future of this region. As we move into this next chapter, we remain committed to collaborative, science-based stewardship that protects the places people love while supporting the long-term health and resilience of our communities.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported this organization throughout its history, and we are excited to continue this work together under a name that reflects both our roots and our future. To learn more about Everwild Land Trust, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, or ways to get involved, please visit everwildlandtrust.org

Everwild Land Trust is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to lead, inspire, and nurture collective stewardship of the life, lands, and waters of the Chautauqua region, uniting action, science, education, and community in perpetuity.