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This paper rofiles the Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  The author explains the genesis of the WLFW, with particular emphasis on the expected conservation outcomes which may assist the USFWS in determining whether or not candidate species such as the lesser priaire chicken and/or greater sage-grouse should become federally protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).  The presentation will also explain in detail a unique facet of the WLFW partnership - that is the regulatory certainity available for participating private landowners.  Through WLFW, farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who implement and voluntarily agree to maintain the proven conservation practices will have addressed the related ESA regulatory responsibilities for up to 30 years.  In context with conserving at-risk species and the dynamic economic and management needs of private lands, this presents a potentially huge challenge to the partnership.  The author explores how the implemeting structure of the WLFW partnership addresses these challenges.  The author concludes with thoughts and perspectives on the future value of regulatory certainty as currently applied under WLFW and its role in conservation of at-risk species.