Fostering community to catalyze conservation solutions together

Western Meadowlark singing, Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota. Photo credit: Ed Boggess

image of a dam extending into the water

Who We Are

The Midwest Landscape Initiative is a collaboration of fish & wildlife organizations that identifies shared conservation priorities to develop solutions for healthy, functioning ecosystems in the Midwest.
image of a dam extending into the water

Midwest Conservation Blueprint

A basemap of priority lands and waters for conservation in the region.
image of a dam extending into the water

Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need

This project identified species of high regional concern and collaborative opportunity.

Where We Work

We identify shared conservation priorities and develop solutions for healthy, functioning ecosystems in the Midwest. The MLI is working across boundaries to conserve our shared nature through coordinated planning, actionable science, and collaborative conservation.

Current Work

The Midwest Landscape Initiative is engaging across the Midwest on a number of issues:

  • Rolling out and supporting use of the Midwest Conservation Blueprint
  • Using the RSGCN database to coordinate conservation planning for at-risk species.
  • Developing dashboard tools and other resources for cross-boundary coordination around State Wildlife Action Plans
  • Continuing to facilitate regional coordination for grant funding opportunities

Learn more on the Our Work page, and explore our data products in detail on the Midwest Conservation Action Portal.

Close-up, abstract view of architecture.Northern Riffleshell Mussel. Photo Credit: Indiana DNR

MLI News

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New Publication on the Midwest Conservation Blueprint

New Publication on the Midwest Conservation Blueprint

Over forty current and past members of the Midwest Landscape Initiative contributed to a new publication about the Midwest Conservation Blueprint. The publication, “Connecting and coordinating conservation action across landscapes through regional planning processes and syntheses“, is now available in Conservation Science and Practice. The MLI would like to thank everyone who contribute to this paper for […]

Dive into the data of the 2026 Midwest Conservation Blueprint

Dive into the data of the 2026 Midwest Conservation Blueprint

The Midwest Conservation Blueprint is a living spatial plan, and thus a continual work in progress. It is regularly updated utilizing a rapid prototyping framework that allows us to respond to partner priorities, incorporate input from blueprint users, and ensure the use of the best available science.   The 2026 version of the blueprint is no different, incorporating feedback from many partners, leading to improvements such as data […]

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Midwest Landscape Initiative
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