Save the Boundary Waters, Join the National Wilderness Coalition

What does it take to protect one of the most visited, and most threatened, wilderness areas in America? Executive Director of Save the Boundary Waters, Ingrid Lyons, joins us to talk about the fight to defend Minnesota’s beloved Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from dangerous copper mining proposals and the broader movement to reinvigorate wilderness advocacy nationwide.

In this episode, we explore:

• How a childhood road trip from Brooklyn to Ely, Minnesota sparked Ingrid’s love for wild places
• Why the Boundary Waters matter, and how local voices, legal protections, and national advocacy intersect to protect them
• The growing momentum behind the National Wilderness Coalition, and why wilderness needs a bigger, more inclusive tent
• What’s at stake with HR 978 and the urgent fight to protect hard-won safeguards for the Boundary Waters
• How you can take action and why public pressure still works

From the swamps of Georgia to the lakes of northern Minnesota, this one is for anyone who believes in protecting wild places—whether you paddle, hunt, fish, or just want a future with clean water and quiet forests.

Visit Save the Boundary Waters to learn more, take action by opposing HR 978, and support the Boundary Waters Protection Act. You can find and contact your members of Congress, sign up for alerts and actions, and help by sharing this episode and issue with others.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, or at thewildidea.com.

Resources and mentions from today’s episode:

Legislation and Policy Tools (mentioned on the show):

• The Wilderness Act of 1964
• 20-year mineral withdrawal (2023)
• HR 978 – Boundary Waters Lease and Review Act
• Boundary Waters Protection and Pollution Prevention Act

Organizations and Coalitions:

Ingrid’s Organizations:

• Save the Boundary Waters
• Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness

Partner and Peer Organizations:

• National Wilderness Coalition
• Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
• Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters
• The Wilderness Society
• Earthjustice
• Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness
• Greater Yellowstone Coalition

National Wilderness Coalition Steering Committee:

• GreenLatinos
• Wilderness Workshop
• Colorado Wildlands Project
• Native Women’s Wilderness
• Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA)

Ingrid’s love for the outdoors was sparked by the vivid contrast between the hustle and bustle of New York City and the peaceful beauty of the Boundary Waters. Starting at just four years old, she made annual trips with her family from the city to Ely, Minnesota, where she fell in love with nature. Since joining Save the Boundary Waters in 2015, Ingrid has worn many hats, from Arrowhead Regional Organizer to Development Director and Interim Executive Director. She holds a degree in Environmental Studies from Carleton College, where she focused on Conservation and Development, and also earned her degree in Nonprofit Management and Governance from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Passionate about environmental advocacy and community engagement, Ingrid is dedicated to protecting the special places she loves.

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