In a meeting in November of the board of directors of Western Watersheds Project, I had the honor of being elected president. I'd like to take this opportunity to let you know more about me and why I believe WWP is the most effective of all conservation groups working on the causes that are important to me.

I subscribe to Ed Abbey's philosophy that conservationists should be "half hearted activists." What I think Cactus Ed meant is that we should be half time activists. We should devote time to causes to protect the earth and also make time to get outdoors and enjoy nature's pied beauty, as Gerard Manley Hopkins put it.

As an environmentalist, it's easy to get caught up in the tedious minutiae of writing comments, attending hearings and organizing campaigns. I believe that it's crucial to get out and breathe the sage-scented air, meander through grassy meadows, watch butterflies flitting among the wildflowers; in short, to reconnect with the essential purpose of working for the environment.

Because I'm an avid hiker and mountain biker, I've spent a lot of time on the public lands of the West. Witnessing trampled streams, beaten-down vegetation and a dearth of wildlife in areas subjected to commercial livestock exploitation angered me. I wanted to do something to stop the destruction that I saw.

When I learned more about the archaic public-lands grazing system, which resembles the system of privileges granted to the landed gentry in old England, it deeply offended my sense of American egalitarianism. The outdated grazing regime makes a mockery of the free market.

From a societal perspective, I also wanted to work to reform this bizarre system in the hope of protecting our unique western public lands for wildlife and future generations of people.

This is where WWP enters the picture. The other side of the half time activist equation says that when we engage in activism, it should be effective and passionate. WWP's fervor and effectiveness is producing results on the ground.

WWP is winning state grazing leases in Idaho, the most politically conservative state in the union, to protect critical salmon spawning habitat. We're securing protection at the federal level for wolves on public lands in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. We're reducing cattle in the Owyhees by 1 million AUMs, or animal unit months. We're safeguarding rare native plants such as slickspot peppergrass and endangered fish and birds such as bull trout and mountain quail. We're restoring riparian and uplands habitat at our Greenfire Preserve, which has become a magnet for wildlife.

In my experience, WWP is more effective than any other local, regional or national organization in effecting real change. And I'm proud to be associated with the groundswell of public lands grazing reform that's developing among ranchers, conservation groups (including WWP) and federal legislators.

Last but certainly not least, I've found WWP to be the most fun of any environmental group. WWP's gatherings are full of congenial, intelligent folks who can also get down and boogie.

For all of these reasons, I'm truly excited about my new role at WWP I look forward to working with our members and supporters as we continue to protect and restore our spectacular native plants and animals and stunning western landscapes.

Debra Ellers, president of WWP's board of directors, lives in Boise, Idaho.