One thing that makes Jackson Hole, Wyoming so unique is the amount of protected lands that surround it. Over 15,000 acres of open spaces within the valley are permanently protected, including cattle, horse, and dude ranches, scenic highway fronts, as well as bald eagle, moose, deer, elk, pronghorn, and trout habitat.

The Jackson Hole Land Trust in a non-profit organization that has been in operation for more than twenty years. Its mission parallels conservation values of Jackson by protecting open space from being developed in local and regional areas. Using three methods, it seeks to preserve ranching heritage, scenic vistas, and wildlife habitat in and around Jackson Hole. These methods include Protection, Development, and Stewardship.

The Protection department strives to protect land by working with landowners that value land conservation. These landowners can donate conservation easements, a voluntary contract with a land trust to permanently restrict the uses of the owner's property in order to protect conservation values. For various reasons, however, it cannot be expected that all landowner's can or will donate their land as a conservation easement.

The Jackson Hole Land Trust's Development department works through fundraising and public outreach events to potentially purchase threatened lands. It not only accepts monetary gifts, but also gifts of any type of land. If the land has significant conservation value, it will be protected. If not, it will be sold and profits will go to purchasing other unprotected lands.

The Stewardship department of the Land Trust monitors and improves owned and protected land to maintain its conservation value. There are still 25,000 unprotected acres of open lands within Jackson Hole and the Trust will continue to try to protect them.