Wild Landscapes Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Wild landscapes inc. (wli) is committed to the preservation of expansive, ecologically significant landscapes that play a vital role in both wildlife conservation and the well-being of local communities. Our conservation approach centers on empowering a diverse spectrum of stakeholders, including communities, conservationists, indigenous peoples, ranchers, foresters, fisherfolk, and government entities, to safeguard habitats critical for a wide array of wildlife. Our strategy is firmly grounded in science, fostering collaboration, optimizing efficiency, and displaying entrepreneurial spirit to address the formidable challenges of scale and complexity. 2024 activities included: the green heart of the everglades, Florida, USA: the goal of this project is to facilitate the acquirement of the gas, oil and mineral rights by the federal government under hundreds of thousands of acres of everglades wetlands.in Florida, in partnership with the miccosukee and seminole tribes of indians of Florida, conservation organizations, government agencies and local advocates. Stopping fossil fuel exploration in this part of the everglades is crucial to protecting its ecological integrity, safeguarding a vital water source for millions, and restoring indigenous stewardship. It also helps prevent industrial risks that could threaten Florida's real estate, tourism, and long-term economic stability. The organization, with its partners, has been working to protect, restore, and reunify this vital land since 2022 and is working to secure the funding needed to finalize the acquisition by 2026. Bear hill, New Hampshire, USA: the goal of this project to safeguard a thriving appalachian cove forest within one of New Hampshire's largest remaining wild landscapes - protecting key wildlife corridors and honoring the region's rich ecological and cultural legacy. Bear hill represents one of the northeast's great conservation opportunities: a biologically rich, historically layered forest where local communities, private philanthropy, and federal agencies are working together to ensure lasting protection, access, and ecological health along the appalachian trail. Conservation partnerships, Oregon, USA: the goal of this project is to build ecological and economic durability across harney county through landscape-scale conservation and restoration. Harney county's sagebrush steppe and flood-irrigated hay meadows are vital to wildlife, agriculture, and the pacific flyway. These working wetlands recharge groundwater, sustain stream health, and provide critical forage and habitat- especially for migrating waterfowl and the declining greater sage-grouse. Drought, fire, and invasive species threaten this landscape, making its protection essential to climate resilience across the great basin. A broad coalition of local, federal, and nonprofit partners came together to design a solution- drawing on the usda's regional conservation partnership program (rcpp), a national model or collaborative, locally led conservation. This rcpp initiative is tailored specifically to address the entire region's water, wildlife, and wildfire challenges. The plan is ambitious with work unfolding in phases over the next five years. Kidepo rhinos, uganda: the goal of this program is to bring back free-ranging rhino to the kidepo valley national park. Kidepo is missing this essential member of its landscape - and has been for the last 40 years. This project will restore balance to one of uganda's most iconic national parks, and in so doing, will help promote the park as a prime destination for both local and international guests. In 2024, momentum grew around the kidepo rhino reintroduction project, which began in 2022. Plans took shape for a 17,000 -acre fenced sanctuary in the narus valley, designed as a safe haven where the first rhinos could settle before eventually roaming freely across the park. Initially, a small number of white rhinos, ideal "ice breakers" for the project, being easier

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 72.2%; rating input score 72
• Program expense ratio: 87.6%; rating input score 88
• Fundraising efficiency: $38.41 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 46.7%; rating input score 47; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 17.6%; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.48; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.2; rating input score 43; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.7%; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 23.1% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 25.2% per year; rating input score 100; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 26.5% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings