But it is disappearing at an alarming rate worldwide and in the United States, eroding vital systems upon which we all depend. The United States is the 10th most biodiverse country in the world.
The Wild America Fund (WAF) was created to counteract this loss. WAF accelerates the protection of the nation's richest ecosystems by employing best analysis of current science and an entrepreneurial ethos laser focused on preserving long-term ecosystem health and resilience in partnership with existing organizations.
Founded and operated by nationally recognized conservation leaders with decades of experience delivering key wins for nature against long odds, WAF's mission is to close the deals that nature needs most faster, at a larger scale, and on better terms than before.
Declines measured from approximately 2000 to present, except U.S. wetlands loss, which has occurred over the past ~400 years.
Wildlife populations worldwide have declined by 73% since 1970, and one million species face extinction. In the United States, one of the world's most biodiverse countries, 34% of plant species and 40% of animal species are at risk.
Protecting intact ecosystems directly addresses the primary driver of biodiversity loss — habitat destruction — while also strengthening climate resilience. Well-protected landscapes enable species to adapt to a changing climate and provide essential public benefits, including carbon sequestration, water purification, and disaster mitigation.
WAF focuses on protecting the most scientifically critical landscapes before they are lost.
WAF's ambitious goal is to protect 1 million acres of these key ecosystems by 2030 working with non-profit partners, government agencies, and philanthropy.
WAF developed this map with ecologists with the mission to curate deals for maximal biodiversity impact.
Map of 16 priority biodiversity regions across the continental United States
WAF harnesses skill, science, partnerships, and financial sophistication to significantly accelerate the protection of our nation's most valued natural lands and waters for the long term.
WAF protects wild landscapes with scientifically selected biodiversity and climate resilience. We have mapped out a national agenda of 16 priority areas in the continental U.S. Our agenda is the product of where those opportunities overlap to offer the best opportunities to protect biodiversity.
Like its real estate competition, WAF is set up to act quickly and aggressively in the marketplace, by building a capital fund dedicated to landscape conservation. Our goal is to invest early grants and loans to catalyze success. We expect to leverage grant and loan funds with matching commitments from other public and philanthropic sources. To the extent possible, we will use sales to public agencies whenever possible to recover and recycle funds and stretch our capital across multiple transactions.
Our goal is to invest early to catalyze deals. WAF will either initiate transactions and develop the deal structure, or select a partner NGO or agency through competitive grantmaking to acquire the property. Using WAF's biodiversity maps, which reach to the individual parcels in the selected landscapes, we will develop clear criteria and select sophisticated partners — consultants and NGOs — to work with our experienced staff to negotiate acquisitions and to employ best practices in all transactions.
WAF actively leverages its broad network of trusted conservation, real estate, and philanthropic contacts to deliver the supplemental funding (public and private) and sophistication needed. We work with local NGOs to ensure that there is community support and carrying capacity for the transactions we initiate. We will develop staff skills in partner NGOs to manage targeted properties and focus on habitat conservation.
WAF moves quickly and decisively to build the capital and partnerships needed to protect the most essential habitats.
Up against private sector real estate firms, leaders, and private equity counterparties, WAF will deploy strategic discipline, low-cost capital, and skilled professionals to compete and win in the marketplace for key transactions with partner NGOs.
We commit money early in a deal's lifecycle, to create momentum, to negotiate better terms, and to attract more funding. We expect that WAF will employ a mix of sources to fund transactions, given regional variations of public and philanthropic support.
Our collective knowledge of other land trusts and conservation leaders will leverage our capital, our staff, and our expertise to deploy capital in effective investments.
We select strong partners to manage the lands and steward easements, as required.
We have already commenced work to protect the first region of focus: the Gaviota Coast of California — a key component of one of the 16 regions we have identified across the country for its high biodiversity value and readiness to succeed.
With preexisting protected lands and supportive local NGOs in this priority area, WAF's efforts can identify and acquire key private parcels for core habitat, corridor, and buffer protection — affording species migration and resilience.
The Gaviota Coast is a rugged 76-mile stretch of coastline and the largest remaining undeveloped coastal landscape in Southern California. Where the Pacific Ocean meets the mountains, this rare Mediterranean ecosystem supports exceptional biodiversity and serves as a refuge for iconic and imperiled species — including southern steelhead, white-tailed kites, endangered pollinators, and California's native grasslands.
The Gaviota Coast serves as both a case study and a proving ground for our model: demonstrating how focused collaboration and a commitment to ecological integrity can deliver lasting, landscape-scale conservation.
WAF is run by some of the nation's most esteemed conservation leaders: Kim Elliman and Michael Mantell co-founded WAF, and Michael Bell is founding CEO. Widely recognized for their conservation achievements, fundraising success, and skillful dealmaking, they have collectively protected millions of acres of high-priority landscapes across the U.S. while enhancing wildlife connectivity and public access.
They bring decades of experience in real estate, law, finance, and public policy, and have conducted thousands of real estate transactions worth billions of dollars. Throughout their careers, they have built an unparalleled network of trusting relationships with government officials, private sector leaders, and grassroots organizations. They are uniquely positioned to execute this conservation mission at the scale and speed demanded to counter the current pace of biodiversity loss.
Christopher (Kim) Elliman is co-chair of the Wild America Fund. Kim retired as CEO of the Open Space Institute in 2024, after 32 years with OSI. In those years, in over 1000 transactions, OSI conserved more than 2.5 million acres in the eastern United States and created or enhanced over 600 parks and protected lands. Mr. Elliman has recently cofounded (with Michael Mantell) the Wild America Fund, to accelerate the pace of biodiversity protection in the continental United States. Having developed the first map of nationally significant biodiversity, our goal is to protect 1 million acres of key habitat by 2030.
Prior to his conservation career, Mr. Elliman worked for investment management companies and diversified holding companies for 25 years. Specializing in retail food and land management companies, Elliman served as Chairman of Piggly Wiggly Southern and a founding Director of Fresh Fields Markets, later Whole Food Markets. He was President of Grey Siefert & Co, of Overhills Group, General Partner of Elmrock Partners, and Director of Barrett Associates, all financial services companies.
He has also served on corporate, non-profit and foundation boards, chairing The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; Overhills Foundation; Wild Wings Foundation; Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust; The Wilderness Society; Grow NYC; and as a trustee of the Wildlife Conservation Society; Black Rock Forest Preserve; Storm King Art Center; Center for Humans and Nature; the Dalton School, and on numerous advisory boards and investment committees. Mr. Elliman received his B.A. from Yale University and now serves on the Leadership Council Steering Committee of its School of the Environment.
Mr. Elliman was an award-winning journalist, acted in an Academy Award winning documentary, and worked in NYC government and in renewable energy early in his career. Mr. Elliman has received numerous awards for his work in conservation from Black Rock Forest, GrowNYC, Open Space Institute, Parks and Trails NY, the Adirondack Council, Palisades Park Conservancy, among others.
Mr. Elliman lives in NYC and has four grown children, two granddaughters, and is married to Jennifer Cunningham.
Michael Mantell is co-chair of the Wild America Fund, which he co-created with Kim Elliman to help preserve biodiversity in some of the most important regions of the continental United States. Prior to that, he founded and led the Resources Legacy Fund and its affiliated entities, the Fund for a Better Future and Shared Ascent Fund to design and implement initiatives for philanthropic foundations and individuals that result in a just and resilient world.
Since the late 1990s, he has designed and participated in programs and projects that broadened leadership and constituency for natural resources protection and climate change, while achieving extensive outcomes for land, park, freshwater, and ocean resources. Michael helped lead the 2010 campaign that prevented a rollback of California's landmark climate change legislation. From 2000–2018, he also chaired and participated in campaigns resulting in voters approving over $30 billion of investments in water, land, park, and ocean conservation.
Previously, as Undersecretary for Resources for the State of California, he oversaw the $2.8 billion budget of the Natural Resources Agency. Prior to that, he was General Counsel for the World Wildlife Fund and a Deputy City Attorney in Los Angeles.
He is author and co-author of several books and articles, the recipient of several national conservation awards, and serves on the boards of the Monterey Bay Aquarium and The Wilderness Society.
Michael is the co-founder and CEO of Wild America Fund, a conservation initiative launched in October 2025 to accelerate the pace, scale, and sophistication of biodiversity-focused land transactions across the United States. Wild America Fund operates as a catalytic partner and “buyer for nature,” mobilizing philanthropic capital to compete more effectively in high-stakes land markets and secure priority conservation outcomes.
Prior to founding Wild America Fund, Michael spent 26 years at The Nature Conservancy (TNC), most recently serving as Director of Protection for California. In that role, he led a team of transactional specialists managing a large and complex pipeline of conservation projects across and beyond California, with a portfolio exceeding $1 billion. Over his tenure, he cultivated an extensive network of donors and partners and completed more than 100 conservation transactions.
In 2017, Michael led the negotiation and fundraising effort to acquire and permanently protect the 24,460-acre Point Conception property—one of the most significant coastal conservation achievements in California history. The project was enabled by a $165 million gift from Jack and Laura Dangermond, the largest in TNC’s history. Following the acquisition, he led the design and fundraising for the Point Conception Institute, an open-data, collaborative research center that partners with institutions including NASA, the Smithsonian, and National Geographic.
Earlier, Michael served as Director of Oceans for TNC’s California Chapter, where he led a multidisciplinary team advancing innovative, transaction-based solutions to coastal and ocean challenges. Working closely with industry and government, he helped pioneer fisheries reform approaches that contributed to the recovery and long-term sustainability of the West Coast groundfish fishery and have informed similar efforts globally. He has co-authored several scientific publications on fisheries co-management and conservation innovation.
Michael joined TNC in California in 2003 as Project Director for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, following his role as Director of Protection for TNC’s New Jersey Chapter. Earlier in his career, he served in the Peace Corps in Uruguay and conducted research on small-scale fisheries in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
He holds a B.S. in Biology from Saint Anselm College and lives in Los Osos, California with his wife, daughter, son, and dog.
Wild America Fund launched on October 1, 2025 as a project of the Resources Legacy Fund (RLF). Our goal, by 2030, is to increase key protected acreage by 1 million acres across America. We anticipate initiating 5–10 transactions annually, deploying up to $100 million per year, and scaling these goals upward as we go.
WAF will innovate. We will create a faster and more competitive approach that will deliver the protected natural landscapes we owe the next generation.