Dear Friend,

At Wildlife for All, we believe life thrives where care is woven into every connection. The forests around us are living proof. Science shows that trees do not survive in isolation—they share nutrients through vast underground networks, nurture seedlings, support elders, and respond to stress together. Forests are mutual aid made tangible: thriving because each individual looks out for the collective.

Right now, our human communities face crises that reveal the failure of our governance systems to do the same. Families are about to lose access to food and health care; wildlife is threatened by misguided policies like the Fix Our Forests Act and the plan to kill barred owls, decisions that prioritize extraction or control over care and resilience. These failures are reminders that, unlike the forest, our human systems are not yet organized to protect the most vulnerable.

The lesson is clear: if forests can sustain life through cooperation and shared responsibility, so can we. True governance—of connected wild and human communities—must be rooted in interdependence, resilience, and long-term vision. It must prioritize the wellbeing of all members, especially those most at risk.

This is why mutual aid matters. Neighbors feeding neighbors, communities organizing to cover gaps left by failing systems—these are the circles of care that mirror the forest’s wisdom. And this is why Wildlife for All exists: to transform wildlife governance into systems that reflect these living principles—systems that protect life, nurture connection, and grow stronger through shared responsibility.

We invite you to step into these circles with us: to act, to advocate, and to help build governance that thrives not through control, but through care. Together, we can create a society—like the forest—where every individual is supported, and every life matters.

In solidarity,

Michelle

P.S. Inspired by my grandmother’s dedicated volunteering with Meals on Wheels, here are ways you can help families facing hunger as SNAP benefits are eliminated:

• Financial contributions: Food banks can use funds to purchase bulk food and meet specific needs.

   

• Food donations: Those cans of soup collecting dust in the back of the cabinet can find a higher purpose! Donate non-perishable food items to local food banks and pantries.
• Volunteer: Offer your time to deliver meals to seniors, or help food banks sort and distribute food—especially important as demand increases. Our favorite org Food Not Bombs recovers food that would be wasted and feeds people delicious and nutritious vegan and vegetarian food. 

Every action—large or small—strengthens the circles of care that sustain us all.

Thinking like a tree

At Wildlife for All, we often look to the natural world itself for guidance. What models of leadership, resilience, and cooperation already exist around us?

As we discussed above, one answer lies in the forest. Read on if you’re intrigued to learn more…

An article in The Guardian from August reminds us that trees are not passive scenery, but world-shapers that influence our bodies, cultures, and habitats. Coupled with Suzanne Simard’s groundbreaking discoveries about the “wood-wide web”—the underground fungal networks that allow trees to communicate and share resources—we see a governance system as complex and interconnected as any human one. Literature, too, reflects this wisdom: Richard Powers’ Pulitzer-winning novel The Overstory shows how the lives of trees can reveal deep truths about connection, legacy, and fighting for our forests (they don’t need “fixing” by us fallible humans).

These perspectives challenge us to rethink governance in ways that mirror healthy forests:

• Distributed leadership over centralized command: Root networks thrive by sharing strength, just as effective wildlife governance must empower diverse voices—not just those with political or financial power.

• Interdependence over independence: Like trees exchanging nutrients across species, wildlife governance must embrace cooperation across communities, cultures, and interests.

• Resilience over rigidity: Forests adapt over centuries through diversity and redundancy; wildlife policies, too, must be flexible and inclusive to withstand change.

• Legacy thinking over short-term gain: Trees sustain soil and shelter over lifespans that outlast generations. Wildlife governance should reflect the same foresight, caring for future people, wildlife, and landscapes.

For us at Wildlife for All, these lessons resonate deeply, especially in a time when each day brings a new crisis. Just as forests thrive through connection, reciprocity, and long-term vision, so too must the enduring systems we build to protect all life. 

So, inspired by the genius of trees, we invite you to consider: What if governance worked like a forest—interwoven, adaptive, and alive? Perhaps our future would be far more resilient, abundant, and alive.

November wildlife commission meetings

Your voice matters! State wildlife commissions are meeting this month, and WFA is tracking the agendas so you can weigh in. We provide easy tools to help you submit public comment and influence decisions that impact wildlife and ecosystems. Stay informed and make your voice heard.

Podcast: 90 Miles to Needles

Ideology vs. Wildlife Science: WFA Communications Director Mandy Culbertson joined the 90 Miles to Needles podcast to discuss how ideology impacts wildlife management, why democratic governance matters, and how grassroots advocacy can protect species and ecosystems.

Atascosa Borderlands Episode 5: The Gray Ghost

WFA Communications Director Mandy Culbertson joins Atascosa Borderlands mixed media storytelling project to examine the North American Model of Conservation and its effects on Arizona’s wildlife. Mandy highlights how dependence on hunting fees and excise taxes has skewed state wildlife priorities toward game species, leaving non-game species and ecosystem health underfunded

On the Blog: Wolf Awareness Week 2025

We celebrated Wolf Awareness Week, held every year during the third week of October, by highlighting the critical role wolves play in healthy ecosystems and the ongoing challenges they face. From historical persecution to modern policy battles, we spotlighted why restoring and protecting wolves matters for biodiversity, ecosystem balance, and democratic wildlife