Nominee's Key Links:
Bio: https://westernlandowners.org/our-board/
Resume or CV:
Writing or Publications:
Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinchera_Ranch
Video: https://youtu.be/H9Eb1KFtWiY?si=ftqc6vfHwo2h35T_
Socials:
Agency or agencies for which nominator feels nominee is best suited:
Organization name(s) and position(s) for which nominator feels nominee is best suited:
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
Policies which the nominator knows the nominee supports or in which they have expertise:
Craig Taggart brings a wealth of expertise in sustainable land management and environmental policy, shaped by decades of experience across both public and private sectors. His career includes pivotal roles, such as working with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and consulting with various government agencies, where he has consistently championed policies that balance ecological conservation with responsible land use. As the former Environmental Manager for Trinchera and Tercio Ranches, including Colorado's largest landholding of 175,000 acres, he pioneered the development of an environmentally conscious Coal Bed Methane project that received acclaim for its innovative and sensitive approach to significant environmental values.
Craig has been especially dedicated to wildfire prevention and restoration, advocating for comprehensive policies that address fire risk on large private lands and public lands alike. He understands the need for proactive strategies that include fuel management, controlled burns, thinning, beetle kill management, and ecosystem recovery, which help protect communities, wildlife habitats, and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfires. His efforts have also extended into habitat preservation for large game species, developing approaches that maintain healthy ecosystems while supporting the needs of landholders.
Key Policy Focus Areas:
Wildfire Prevention and Restoration: Craig emphasizes the importance of wildfire mitigation, from fuel reduction and forest thinning to post-fire land recovery strategies. He supports policy frameworks that empower landowners to reduce fire risks and restore affected landscapes effectively.
Large Game Habitat Preservation: Advocates for habitat restoration and sustainable land practices to support wildlife, particularly large game. Craig’s experience highlights the need for policies that maintain biodiversity and enable landowners to manage wildlife populations effectively.
Regenerative Agriculture: Committed to advancing regenerative agricultural practices, Craig promotes policies that improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and enhance land productivity. His work supports private landowners in adopting practices that align with environmental sustainability and economic viability.
Public and Private Sector Collaboration: With his background in consulting for government agencies and working directly with the BLM, Craig fosters policies that bridge the public-private divide, helping landowners adopt practices that serve both ecological goals and practical land management needs.
Through his board role with the Western Landowners Alliance, Craig has been a tireless advocate for policies that empower landholders to implement best practices in conservation, wildlife habitat restoration, and wildfire resilience across the Western U.S., ensuring that land stewardship supports both nature and community needs.
Nominator's thoughts on what would make this nominee a valuable member of a future Trump Unity Government
Competent in expertise: Over 25 years of experience in land management, including consulting with government agencies like the BLM and working on large-scale projects such as the environmentally sensitive Coal Bed Methane project on the Trinchera Ranch. His work is focused on preventing wildfires through mitigation and how to recover land that has had a wildfire.
Honest about conflicts of interest: Has worked in both public and private sectors, ensuring transparency in decision-making and advocating for balanced land management practices that prioritize public interests over corporate capture.
Respectful of freedom of speech and constitutional rights: Advocates for the rights of private landowners and defends their interests against local and state governments attempting to encroach on their property rights.
Integrity in serving the public: Focused on practical, sustainable solutions that benefit communities, such as wildfire prevention, restoration, and large game habitat preservation, ensuring that policies align with the public good.
Courage to challenge establishment views: Has spoken out against environmentalists who oppose land management and actively educates university students on the unique challenges of land management in the western U.S.
Proven record of positive results: Successful in managing the largest ranch in Colorado, implementing wildfire recovery strategies, regenerative agriculture for private landowners, and wildlife habitat restoration, leading to significant environmental improvements.