One of the most important pathways for expanding conservation, whether for biodiversity, agroecology or climate response, is expanding landbases in which environmental protection can be prioritized. Historically, large conservation organizations have leveraged real estate expertise and legal advocacy to protect large territories. Today, there is a movement afoot whereby smaller communities with deep environmental ethics are leading efforts to use real estate expertise to expand their conservation efforts, whether in rural or urban areas. Yet the reality is that these efforts are not just about real estate, but about expertise in economic and social planning, negotiation, consultation, networking, cultural revitalization, community participation, leadership, ingenuity, and legal and policy strategy. The course introduces students to some of the basics of how such expertise can be harnessed to grow conservation areas, with an emphasis on how Indigenous peoples have done so in ways that combine rights, culture, and environmental protection. While the cases will be relating to Indigenous peoples, the course will be beneficial to anyone seeking to gain introductory knowledge in this important area.