America’s environmental protections are being steadily dismantled while climate change and accelerating biodiversity loss continue reshaping the very landscapes conservation seeks to protect. Defending what generations before us built remains essential, and honoring that legacy requires sustained political will, long-term investment, and community stewardship. But defense alone is not enough. Conservation must also build durable institutions, practical skills, and broad community capacity to proactively design and manage landscapes that are resilient, equitable, and able to sustain both people and nature into the future.