The idea of developing conservation leaders in a world-class forum is an exciting, ground-breaking concept for the natural resource profession. Several years coming to fruition, everything culminated in 2005. A board was formed and the Management Assistance Team of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies was asked to work on the project.

The founding Board of the National Conservation Leadership Institute included many of the most respected conservation organizations and agencies in America: Boone and Crockett Club, The Conservation Fund, Izaak Walton League, Wildlife Management Institute, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The Institute concept was developed with the mission of:

“preparing extraordinary conservation leaders”

Part of the impetus for this timely idea was 2004 research findings that 77 percent of senior leadership of state fish and wildlife agencies will be leaving by 2013. More than half of Senior Executive Service employees of federal natural resource agencies will retire by 2007! NGOs and conservation related industries are also facing a similar exodus of babyboomers from their leadership ranks.