The mission of the center for natural lands management is (a) to conserve native species, their habitat and functioning ecosystems in perpetuity, (b) to own and/or manage lands in an ecologically beneficial manner consistent with local, state, and federal environmental laws and with science-based stewardship, (c) to promote the conservation values of such lands through education, (d) to promote and facilitate uses of lands by the public that preserve the conservation values, and (e) to cooperate with public and private entities in their efforts to protect native species and their habitats for the public benefit.
As of september 30, 2025, the center for natural lands management (cnlm) has permanently protected, through in-fee ownership and conservation easements, 75,547.65 acres of land and wetlands that provide associated habitat for at-risk species. Protection and stewardship were provided through patrolling, public education, control of non-native vegetation, biological monitoring, boundary security, habitat restoration, research, and other activites. Through this stewardship, cnlm protected approximately 177 federal or state listed or special-status species, including 28 mammal, 40 bird, 18 reptile, 8 amphibian, 5 fish, 13 invertebrate, and 65 plant species on its preserves in california, oregon, and washington. These are increases from the previous reporting period, and largely based on inclusion of species of greatest concern in washington, new detections of species, and some new species through preserve acquisitions. To support these stewardship activities, cnlm held 117 restricted accounts with a cumulative value of $316,946,110 as of september 30, 2025, of which $22,499,312 was newly contributed during the fiscal year. Additionally, at the close of the fiscal year, cnlm held $37,843,494 in funds restricted for the purpose of funding additional conservation activities.cnlm also manages conservation lands under contract with others. During this reporting period, cnlm managed over 5,219 acres under contract in california and washington, all of which provided habitat for listed or rare species or represented sensitive or rare habitat. In addition, cnlm provides a suite of biological monitoring, restoration, and vegetation management services to others to enhance the ecological value of conservation lands or to assist in species recovery efforts. In these cases, cnlm holds no direct realty interest but the organization's experience and expertise are appropriate for the habitat types and management objectives.additionally, cnlm provides services to assist others (such as