Willard Heck has dedicated his career to conservation and now manages approximately 35,000 acres of rangeland in eastern New Mexico. In this episode, Heck explains why healthy land, not cattle, is the foundation of a successful ranching operation and how playa restoration helps improve grasslands, wildlife habitat, water quality, and overall landscape resilience. He shares why conservation is an ongoing process of making the land function a little better every year.
Heck also discusses the value of strong conservation partnerships, and why functioning wetlands become even more important during prolonged drought. Although restoring a single playa won’t solve all water issues, he believes each project contributes to a healthier, more resilient landscape that will benefit both people and wildlife for years to come.