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Conservation has often been framed as in conflict with economic activities. Throughout the West, communities economically dependent on timber, oil and gas, mining, and agriculture often oppose federal conservation designations and other conservation actions. Yet, conserved lands are increasingly recognized as natural assets that produce significant economic benefits through the suite of ecosystem services they generate. Conservation can also help revitalize rural economies through investments in natural solutions to climate change (e.g., carbon forestry), labor for ecological restoration, and public lands designations and infrastructure that are a draw for visitors and new residents. This webinar will reframe conservation through an economic lens and discuss the role of conservation in stimulating investment and diversifying local economies. Appreciating the economic contributions of conservation can help expand conservation constituencies, guide policy reforms, and inform investments to address economic declines in rural communities in the West.