Discussing Stocks: An Exclusive Q&A with Mandy Warner, AMC's Key Policy Strategist
For a century and a half, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has demonstrated that a shared love for nature can catalyze impactful change. From preserving forests to influencing national conservation policies, we've demonstrated what's attainable when people passionate about the outdoors unite behind a common mission. Our members were instrumental in the creation of the national forest system in 1911 and the pushing for the Great American our website Act more than a century later. In an era where environmental challenges are becoming increasingly complex, AMC continues to rally its community to stand up for nature.
Enter Mandy Warner. As AMC's Senior Director of Policy, she joined our ranks in the spring of 2025 to steer our policy advocacy from local town halls to the Capitol. A seasoned environmental policy leader, Warner boasts a diverse background spanning the nonprofit, consulting, and federal government sectors. As a Biden-Harris appointee at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, she spearheaded strategic outreach and initiatives targeting threats to our climate, air, water, and lands. Prior to that, Warner spent fifteen years at Environmental Defense Fund, leading significant campaigns at the nexus of climate policy, advocacy, and coalition building, helping shape the implementation of landmark legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, and driving the advancement of multisector Clean Air Act regulations.
Originally from Fairfax, Virginia, Warner shared her journey to AMC, discussing what our community can achieve in the coming years. Below are highlights from our conversation.
Mandy Warner, AMC Senior Director of Policy
Pam: What drew you to the Appalachian Mountain Club? Does AMC hold unique potential to make a difference in connecting people to nature?
Mandy: The outdoors holds a vital role in my personal pursuits of joy and in sharing joy with my family. We have a tiny patch of woods with a stream near my house—it was our sanctuary during the COVID-19 pandemic. My older daughter is a mini-scientist, often exploring the woods, discovering tiny creatures, and bringing them back home.
Pam: I share a similar enchantment with my patches of woods close to my home in Westchester, New York. It's as if it's a state forest in my mind. Whatever woods is near you holds a special place in your heart, and you cherish it.
Mandy: Exactly. And as for the second part of your question, AMC's community encompasses a diverse range of interests, which is unique in the policymaking realm. While I go outdoors for hiking, there are others engaged in birdwatching, hunting, fishing, or backcountry camping. AMC is one of the few organizations that can bridge that broad spectrum of interests during a time of immense uncertainty about the future of our natural resources.
Pam: AMC has a reputation for being science-backed advocacy. Do you think that holds weight in the policy world?
Mandy: Absolutely. AMC scientists play a critical role in helping accelerate and inform research being conducted at the federal and state levels, as they can connect the dots between policy and on-the-ground effects. Having conservation policies informed by science makes for a stronger advocacy, as decision-makers often lack the technical knowledge that science provides. They need to know what the policies mean for their districts, and AMC can offer tangible examples.
Pam: AMC's recreational expertise also informs our policy positions. Does that factor into our policy stances?
Mandy: Yes, indeed. There are very few organizations that can undertake the tasks AMC executes: connecting people to nature while ensuring we serve as responsible stewards for the resources people access. It's about walking the walk. AMC's policy positions are rooted in striking a balance between different needs and uses for the outdoors.
AMC research team conducting alpine garden transects.
Pam: What are the main threats that we, as a region from Maine to Virginia, should focus on regarding connecting people to nature?
Mandy: The overarching challenge is investment—not just monetary investment, but also investments of time, energy, and attention. People are feeling overwhelmed and finding it difficult to stay informed and engaged. It's not just about securing funds to protect more land and resources; we also need programs that drive access for everyone.
Investment from decision-makers across the AMC region will prove to be a hurdle as they juggle numerous concerns. We need them to prioritize conservation and recreational policies even as they face numerous challenges.
Pam: I've noticed an upswing in coverage about the 'attention economy.' I appreciate that you don't just view investment as a financial issue but as one of focus, devoting time and attention to the outdoors and banding together to advocate for it.
Mandy: I also believe one of the obstacles we'll face is fatigue. Our conservation movement has seen both victories and setbacks—for instance, the Great American our website Act was signed into law in 2020, representing a bipartisan triumph for conservation, while we've also faced setbacks[3]. How do we keep people engaged and motivated in the face of setbacks? We need to keep finding ways to engage and remind people of the significance of their engagement, given that we'll experience both triumphs and defeats in a challenging environment.
Pam: Let's discuss a more immediate concern: the federal budget request for 2026 proposes gutting the funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). What actions can our readers take to ensure this policy change doesn't come to fruition?
Mandy: If they haven't already signed up for AMC's Conservation Action Network (CAN), they should. By joining, they can stay informed on issues that need AMC's voice and influence. The 2026 budget season promises immense consequences for both the federal government and the state and local budgets over the following year. By staying informed and raising their voice, readers can help protect the LWCF from being underfunded or reallocated[4].
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition's conservation map is an invaluable resource where people can see the sites and resources benefiting from a well-funded LWCF. It's hard to imagine that natural resources close to you won't be impacted if the government decides to disinvest from the outdoors[4].
Many of the decision-makers who voted for GAOA across party lines do not intend to underfund or reallocate the funds from the LWCF, but they're confronted with a formidable budget and asked to weigh in on every issue under the sun. AMC's CAN alerts provide a simple, effective method of sending this message to representatives. Making a call or attending town halls and other events can also prove highly impactful.
There is a pervasive belief that we need drastic budget cuts, and I want to ensure that conservation and recreation concerns are being considered and addressed as much as possible. The programs AMC advocates for provide substantial economic and quality-of-life benefits across communities. Our public land management agencies generate a remarkable return on investment by leveraging partnerships and revenue streams far beyond the tax dollars invested[4].
An AMC Mountain Classroom program in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire. Photography by Corey David.
Pam: How are AMC members uniquely placed to make a difference?Mandy: Given our 90,000 members, an AMC statement carries weight. Our members can stand up and voice their concerns locally, tabling at markets and speaking at town halls. They can also engage with representatives, sharing personal stories of the impacts of well-funded programs. Members offer unique, authentic stories about the real-world consequences of policy decisions, which resonates more than dry budget explanations.
Pam: You and your colleagues on AMC's Conservation Policy team are advocating at the national level, while AMC members can act locally. They can make a difference in their own communities.
Mandy: Correct. Decision-makers may see a dollar and cent in a budget or simply glance at a program title, but member stories can help explain the importance of these investments on a personal level.
Pam: Finally, what does success look like to you if we get it right?
Mandy: Success today represents recommitment to the policies that have already been promised, without losing sight of our long-term goals and the paths to achieve them. There is much work to do, but with committed staff, members, and partners, AMC is well-positioned to create the future we desire for the protection and preservation of nature.
Join AMC as a member and lend your voice to the fight to defend critical landscapes for the health of both people and the outdoors.
- Mandy Warner, discussing her role as AMC's Senior Director of Policy, highlighted the club's unique potential to make a difference by bridging a broad spectrum of interests, particularly in a time of uncertainty about the future of natural resources.
- Warner also emphasized the significance of science-backed advocacy in policy-making, as AMC scientists play a crucial role in accelerating and informing research conducted at the federal and state levels, allowing for stronger conservation policies informed by tangible evidence.
- In response to discussions about a more immediate concern, Warner called for AMC's readers to take action to ensure the preservation of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) by joining the AMC Conservation Action Network (CAN), staying informed, and raising their voices to protect the fund from potential budget cuts or redirection, which could have a significant impact on natural resources across the United States.
