Our Mission, Vision & Enduring Legacy

"The Greater Yellowstone Coalition works with all people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations."

Why an Ecosystem-Scale Vision Matters

Established in 1983, our organization pioneered the radical concept that wildlife and river systems do not recognize park boundaries or state borders. Spanning over 20 million acres across Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem requires landscape-scale conservation planning and ecosystem restoration to endure.

At its core anchor Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. But the true lifeblood of the region lies in the surrounding public lands—including the millions of acres of unroaded national forests protected under the Roadless Rule that serve as critical seasonal buffers.

Our Core Guiding Values

• Grounded in Rigorous Science: Every campaign we launch, from highway crossing structures in Madison Valley to carnivore connectivity, is rooted in peer-reviewed biological data.
• Respecting Sovereign Tribal Rights: We partner directly with more than 49 sovereign Indigenous nations, centering Indigenous land stewardship and wild bison repatriation in our regional priorities.
• Community-Driven Collaboration: Real conservation succeeds when ranchers, anglers, business owners, and scientists sit at the same kitchen table.
• Uncompromising Defense: When public lands or clean rivers face existential threats from toxic mines or illegal clearcuts, we stand vigilant in federal courtrooms to enforce environmental laws.

Milestones of Conservation Triumph

Over four decades of relentless advocacy, our coalition has achieved historic victories:

1. Retiring Hundreds of Speculative Leases: Permanently shielding the Wyoming Range and Bridger-Teton from industrial oil and gas exploitation.
2. Protecting Wild Free-Flowing Rivers: Defending the undammed Yellowstone and Gallatin River cutthroat trout habitats from reckless pollution and private encroachment.
3. Recovering Apex Predators: Playing a central role in the recovery and genetic connectivity of grizzly bears and wolves across the Northern Rockies.