The greater Zion landscape

Protecting the landscapes that make Zion possible.

Zion Forever Project works with public agencies, private landowners, conservation organizations, and local communities to protect the lands, waters, wildlife, and cultural resources of the greater Zion region.

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Why conservation matters here

Zion is part of a connected landscape where wildlife, watersheds, viewsheds, cultural resources, and recreation corridors extend well beyond park boundaries. Protecting the greater Zion landscape is essential to sustaining healthy communities, public lands, wildlife, visitor experiences, and the local economy.

What conservation means at ZFP

Our conservation work can be organized around five interconnected pillars:

Protecting lands and viewsheds

Restoring habitat and watersheds

Conserving wildlife and biodiversity

Preserving cultural landscapes

Building a lasting conservation legacy

Together, these pillars provide a clear framework for connecting land protection, science, restoration, Tribal partnership, education, responsible recreation, and high-quality visitor experiences with long-term investment to achieve tangible conservation outcomes across the greater Zion landscape.

Zion Forever Project Secures Permanent Protection of 145 Acres at the Eastern Gateway to Zion National Park 

Zion Forever Project today announced that it has successfully advanced a conservation initiative to protect nearly 145 acres adjacent to the park. This unprecedented step will help safeguard wildlife habitat, watershed resources, open space and the visual integrity of the park’s eastern gateway.  

The project was made possible through significant private charitable support and cooperation among willing landowners and business interests. The land will be protected by a perpetual conservation easement held and monitored by ZFP, ensuring the area remains privately owned and responsibly managed while maintaining the natural character of the area. 

 The protected property includes prominent views from State Route 9 and contributes directly to the scenic experience of entering Zion National Park from the east. The private acreage also connects with surrounding public lands and existing and planned trail infrastructure, creating opportunities for compatible nonmotorized access, outdoor education and future visitor programming. 

The role of ZFP extends well beyond facilitating the initial transaction. ZFP will serve as the holder and long-term steward of the conservation easement. In this role, the organization carries the ongoing responsibility to monitor the property and permanently guarantee that all conservation commitments are permanently upheld. ZFP has undertaken extensive due diligence to ensure the project is transparent, responsible and consistent with recognized land-conservation practices. 

“By safeguarding this vital gateway, we are not only preserving critical wildlife habitats and watersheds but also ensuring that the iconic scenic views and natural character of the eastern entrance to the park remain intact for generations to come.”

Natalie BrittPresident and CEO, Zion Forever Project

The new conservation easement is also closely connected to the Zion National Park Discovery Center, which will open in 2027. The Discovery Center will provide visitor orientation, interpretive experiences, ranger programming, permitting assistance, educational resources, retail services, and connections to a future East Zion transportation, trails, and recreation network.  

  

How ZFP conservation projects happen

For nearly a century, Zion Forever Project has evaluated conservation opportunities through a disciplined process that considers conservation value, public benefit, feasibility, financial sustainability, partner alignment, and long-term stewardship. This approach helps ensure that each project is both meaningful today and capable of delivering lasting conservation benefits for future generations.

  1. 01Identify
  2. 02Evaluate
  3. 03Partner
  4. 04Fund
  5. 05Protect or Restore
  6. 06Monitor
  7. 07Report

Conservation by the numbers

473 Acres permanently protected
310 Acres of habitat restored (in progress)
4 Wildlife passages improved
9 Rare species or ecosystems studied
$10M+ Public and private dollars leveraged
1932 First Conservation Land Transaction

Partnership model

Durable conservation usually requires collaboration among:

Willing landownersThe decision that makes every project possible, and the local knowledge that comes with generations on the land.
National Park ServiceBoundary-adjacent priorities, resource data, and alignment with how the park is managed.
U.S. Forest ServiceManagement of the surrounding public lands that wildlife and watersheds move across.
U.S. Dept. of AgricultureFederal conservation programs and funding that reach working and private lands.
Tribal governments and representativesAuthority and knowledge regarding cultural landscapes and the long human history of this region.
The State of UtahStatewide wildlife, water, and land policy, and coordination across agency lines.
Washington, Kane, Iron CountiesLand use authority, zoning, and the local decisions that shape what gets built where.
Conservation organizationsEasement expertise, transaction capacity, and partnership on projects too large for one group.
Scientists and technical expertsThe habitat, hydrology, and species data tell us which land matters most.
Foundations and donorsThe capital that lets us act when land becomes available, often on short timelines.
Local communitiesThe support that determines whether protection holds over decades rather than years.

Do you own land with conservation potential?

Zion Forever Project welcomes confidential conversations with landowners interested in protecting the natural, scenic, agricultural, recreational, or cultural values of their property. We work collaboratively with willing landowners to explore conservation options that respect private property interests while creating lasting benefits for the greater Zion landscape and future generations.

We appreciate your interest. We will be in touch about this year's Art Invitational event. 

Ways to participate

Make a conservation gift Fund a specific project Include ZFP in an estate plan Donate land or conservation interests Introduce a prospective partner Receive conservation updates

Support conservation

Protecting Zion requires caring for the entire connected landscape around it

Zion Forever Project brings together the people and resources needed to make that protection possible

Zion Natural History Association, DBA Zion Forever Project, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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