About

When attorney Jon Mulford negotiated several small land swaps in Aspen, Colorado with the U.S. Forest Service, he discovered that private inholdings were creating management problems within designated wilderness areas. “I learned that nationwide, private lands within wilderness areas totaled several hundred thousand acres” explained Jon.

When faced with this challenge, Jon founded The Wilderness Land Trust in 1992 with an ambitious, long-range mission: acquire unprotected private land within designated wilderness and return it to public ownership to guarantee that future generations can enjoy the enduring resources of wilderness. The organization also felt it was important to embrace a set of values and establish a professional, business-like approach to working with landowners, federal land managers, elected officials and project partners that would ensure the long-term success of the organization.

Mission

They Keep the Promise of Wilderness – By acquiring and transferring private lands (inholdings) to public ownership that complete designated and proposed wilderness areas, or directly protect wilderness values.