"As I reflect back on the last year at Legado, I am left with a sense of immense gratitude. Our work has spanned the globe—from Indonesia, to Australia, to Kenya, to South Africa, and Ethiopia. We’ve spent time in deep listening and learning from people and potential partners about the importance of recognizing local expertise, knowledge, culture and history to ensure that people everywhere feel like they have the agency and power to drive their own visions of Thriving Futures.

Watching and listening to my colleague Walter share how his people from the Samburu tribe have benefitted from the Thriving Futures Process with a Xhosa community in South Africa brought a particular smile to my face. The people from the community were enthralled listening to how women in the Ngilai community conservancy came together to remove invasive grasses from their territory, as this was an important priority for them as well. As rangelands across the world face similar challenges, it reminded me of the power of Indigenous-led and -centered storytelling and knowledge exchange. When communities see and witness examples of other communities like them creating visions of regenerative and sustainable economies and futures, they often feel a sense of pride, agency and possibility.

Throughout this year, I fished with Karajarri elders in Australia, participated in a local Timket festival in Ethiopia, and watched Samburu women looking on in awe as elephants emerge from the forest. Through it all, I was reminded that our work is about a place and its people. The people who know lands and waters the best are also the best placed to conserve it for future generations. It is a true honor to be doing this work alongside the most passionate and dedicated team of colleagues and partners building personal, communal, landscape and global legacies of Thriving Futures we can all imagine and work toward every day."