ABOUT
Land Steward Services was initiated in 2009. Our office is located in Cody, WY with an active working range throughout the Rocky Mountain West. The goal of our business is to help landowners and land trusts maintain and enhance the biological complexities of land. We believe those complexities are what makes land economically and ecologically sustainable and productive.
Welcome to Land Steward Services! I co-own this business with my wife Tara Kuipers. Tara and I have a shared history of growing up on ranches in rural South Dakota. It was during that time that we started to develop our land ethics and appreciation for the people that make land stewardship happen.
My professional experience is drawn from 20 years of working in conservation through this business and a diversity of positions I've held with the University of Wyoming and two regional land trusts. My areas of experience and specialty include:
- Annual Conservation Easement Monitoring (Nationwide)
- Conservation Easement Baseline Inventory Reports
- Conservation Easement Implementation
- Private Lands Habitat Planning
- Flora and Fauna Inventory and Monitoring
- Sage-Grouse and Rangeland Research
-
Conservation Coalition Development and Implementation
I'm also active in professional societies. I served as president of the Nebraska Wildlife Society in 2006-08 and as a board member for Meadowlark Audubon 2016-17. In 2011 I achieved Wildlife Biologist certification from the National Wildlife Society. I also currently serve as chair for the Park County Program Advisory Council of Jackson Hole Land Trust.
I have an undergraduate degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from South Dakota State University and a master's degree from the University of Wyoming in Zoology.
MS Thesis and Joint Publications:
Greater sage-grouse nesting habitat selection and success in Wyoming.
Early brood-rearing habitat use and productivity of greater sage-grouse in Wyoming.
My husband and I own Land Steward Services, LLC. Throughout my career, I have also worked in several professional roles serving the nonprofit, community, and education sectors. I have master's degrees in education and counseling and adult education. In addition, I hold numerous professional certifications in facilitation, mediation, public participation, change management, and organizational development.
As a trained and experienced public facilitator and organizational planner, I assist through the business as opportunities arise, particularly by facilitating complex natural resources issues between resource agencies and the public such as native fisheries reestablishment, management of brucellosis risks from bison, and elk disease mitigation on feed grounds. More information regarding the services I provide can be found at: www.tarakuipersconsulting.com