learn . inspire . act SPRING.2019 www.landtrustalliance.org VOL.38 NO.2

FARM BILL SUCCESS!

Climate Change Action Thought Leaders Come Together SPRING.2019 www.landtrustalliance.org VOL.38 NO.2

DJ GLISSON, II 14 COVER STORY The Farm Bill: Celebrating passage of a key land conservation resource By Madeline Bodin The Land Trust Alliance made reauthorization of the Farm Bill one of its top policy priorities, forming a powerful—and effective—coalition to speak as one for the needs of land trusts. DJ GLISSON,DJ II

ON THE COVER: Zenda Farms in New York has benefited from the Farm Bill in the past through the Wildlife Habitat Incentives and Environmental Quality Incentives programs (see page 12). THOUSAND ISLANDS LAND TRUST (ACCREDITED)

2 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org learn . inspire . act table of CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS FEATURE 18 A Growing Force 5 From the President By Marina Schauffler Big Challenges, Big Opportunities Land trusts can play a critical role in slowing climate change, especially when 6 Conservation News they engage their communities. Several new Saving a battlefield, empowering reports reaffirm the urgency of this work. women hikers, exploring conservation burial and more. 0 1 Capitol Connections

PATRICK WILLIAMS PATRICK A land trust board member talks about his experience as an advocate, and the power of united voices.

LAND WE LOVE 20 12 Voiced Conservation Dollars At a special farm in New York, on the Ground visitors get to experience a deep By Sandra Halpin sense of community. In 2019 we celebrate 30 years of the North American Wetlands 28 Board Matters Conservation Act, which benefits Make the most of the Alliance’s land trusts such as the accredited upgraded Learning Center. New Mexico Land Conservancy. 31 Accreditation Corner

CONNOR JANDREAU CONNOR Pilot participants praise a new online application system. 2 3 Fundraising Wisdom FEATURE 24 Harnessing the influence of celebrity The Kingsbury for conservation. Browne Dialogues By James N. Levitt and Rand Wentworth 34 Resources & Tools Two groups of thought leaders— The seventh Legal Symposium is past Kingsbury Browne Conservation coming; a new report on landscape Leadership Award winners and emerging conservation; new drone rules; and conservation leaders—came together to introducing a new section: Bookmarks. discuss the future of land conservation. 6 3 People & Places PAOLO DE SANTIS/123RF © The Farm Bill helps forests, too; an urban garden grows more than flowers and food; Ear to the Ground. 38 Inspired The farm as ecosystem.

OUR MISSION To save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America.

THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE REPRESENTS MORE THAN 1,300 LAND TRUSTS AND PROMOTES VOLUNTARY LAND CONSERVATION TO BENEFIT COMMUNITIES THROUGH CLEAN AIR AND WATER, FRESH LOCAL FOOD, NATURAL HABITATS AND PLACES TO REFRESH OUR MINDS AND BODIES.

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 3 SAVING

LAND TRUST ALLIANCE

BOARD Marc Anderson

Jameson S. French Jorge Astorga Jr. CHAIR Lorraine Barrett Laurie R. Andrews Sylvia Bates VICE CHAIR Lindsay Blair Frederic C. Rich VICE CHAIR Daron Blake William Mulligan Kevin Brice SECRETARY/TREASURER Mary Burke

Lise H. Aangeenbrug Kevin Case David H. Anderson Katie Chang Alan M. Bell Belle Chiu Peter O. Hausmann Linette Curley Laura A. Johnson Laura Eklov IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Suzanne Erera Kathy Leavenworth Cary F. Leptuck Lori Faeth Fernando Lloveras Hannah Flake San Miguel . Artis Freye P 3 h 1 Stephen H. Lockhart o 0 Terry Grady t LAND IS o 2 Mary McFadden, J.D. o d Joanne Hamilton f n T a Jim Millstein h L e g Meme Hanley re in George S. Olsen s av Jennifer Miller Herzog a S Michael A. Polemis Ma m ry D fro Amanda Hill FAMILY. owling at age 4 Steven E. Rosenberg Bruce Runnels Katrina Howey Thomas D. Saunders Lisa Lauben “It’s not every day you get a chance to touch the Julie R. Sharpe Joshua Lynsen Judith Stockdale Anahi Malig future. As I see my daughter’s life enriched by Darrell Wood Marissa Max Sarah McGraw Andrew Mead our time spent outdoors, it thrills me to know that STAFF Nikki Nesbary Andrew Bowman Marcia Nicholson support for land conservation in my estate plans PRESIDENT & CEO Wendy Ninteman Wendy Jackson will ensure that her children, too, can learn and just EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT MaryKay O’Donnell Chase Warden Brad Paymar be kids in the same beautiful, natural places.” CHIEF OPERATING & Caity Pinkard FINANCIAL OFFICER Kelly Presley Erin Heskett — Michael P. Dowling VICE PRESIDENT Leslie Ratley-Beach OF NATIONAL & Robert Schwartz REGIONAL SERVICES Past Board Chair, Land Trust Alliance, and Legacy Society Member Kimberly Seese Renee Kivikko VICE PRESIDENT Christina Soto OF EDUCATION Scott Still Clara Nyman, CFRE Katie Stores VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT Patty Tipson Elizabeth Ward Carolyn Waldron VICE PRESIDENT OF “I love being in nature, a joy that my dad helps protect. Catherine Waterston COMMUNICATIONS Kelly Watkinson He teaches my friends and me about trees and we go Rand Wentworth PRESIDENT EMERITUS Andy Weaver hiking on land he helped save. Thanks, Dad!”

— Theresa Mary Dowling, now age 11

SAVING LAND ®, a registered trademark of the Land Trust Alliance (ISSN 2159-290X), is published quarterly by the Land Trust Alliance, headquartered at 1250 H St. NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005, and distributed to members and donors at the $50 level and higher.

© 2019 BY THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE

This publication is designed to provide accurate, authoritative Pass Your Love of Land to Future Generations. information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is distributed with the understanding that the publisher, authors and editors are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the Contact Clara Nyman, CFRE, Vice President of Development, at services of a competent professional should be sought.

202-800-2220, [email protected] or visit lta.org/planned-giving. 100% GREEN POWER Bates Creative Group LLC WIND & SOLAR DESIGN & PRODUCTION GOETZ PRINTING from the PRESIDENT

Fall 2013 Vol. 32 No. 4

SAVING LAND Big Challenges Elizabeth Ward EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christina Soto SENIOR EDITOR & CONTENT MANAGER Big Opportunities

LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION COMMISSION AN INDEPENDENT PROGRAM OF THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE Molly Doran ast year I took part in two important gatherings CHAIR convened by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in Bruce Runnels VICE CHAIR Cambridge, Massachusetts. The discussions centered Jennifer Sims around the big issues facing land conservation today TREASURER and into the future as identified by long-standing and emerging Karen Ferrell-Ingram SECRETARY thought leaders in conservation (see the article on page 24). I was

Jamie Brown gratified to learn that two of the issues that rose to the surface have Marty Coleman-Hunt been the focus of the Land Trust Alliance for several years now: Scott Dickerson Lclimate change and relevance. Thomas R. Duffus There is no bigger issue than climate change and recent polling Heather Jobst shows that more Americans than ever understand the threat it poses Ann Johnston and are seeking solutions. Several new reports can help our community Andrew Kota make the case that land conservation and smart land management are Clint Miller essential tools in mitigating climate change. You can read more on page Anne Murphy www.lta.org/nature-power Michael Pope 18 and on our blog at . DJ GLISSON,DJ II Catherine Rawson One of the new studies, published in Science Advances, highlights the Tom Reed opportunity we have in the United States to reduce carbon emissions Andrea M. Reese and sequester carbon through better management of natural and working lands in the United Katharine Roser States. According to the study, nature-based solutions deployed at a national level could remove Chris Vaughn up to 21% of the country’s annual carbon pollution. The other theme highlighted at the Lincoln Institute meetings—relevance—goes hand in STAFF hand with climate change. People will not save what they don’t value, so our job is to help Tammara Van Ryn EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR them understand the importance of protecting land to their well-being, to their lives and to the earth itself. Jennifer Brady-Connor As I announced at last year’s Rally, the Alliance will launch a “relevance campaign” to Stacy Girmindl complement and amplify the local efforts of land trusts with a national, coalition-based Greg Good Melissa Kalvestrand call-to-action campaign around land conservation. This campaign is absolutely essential to Valerie Roof building broad and deep support for land conservation in communities across the nation. Jessica Whittaker Some of our work to date includes developing an overarching plan for the campaign and conducting a national market research study to identify potential audiences and messages that resonate with them. And we have created charters for campaign working groups, including one made up of land trust representatives, which we hope to kick off soon. Through the Alliance’s Land and Climate Program, and our forthcoming relevance campaign, we will do all that we can to help America’s land trusts face these huge challenges and seek the inherent opportunities in them. Together we can help our fellow citizens understand all the ways that land conservation creates healthy people and maintains a healthy planet.

Andrew Bowman

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 5 conservation NEWS

BY Kirsten Ferguson

Deal Preserves Historic Battlefield

threatened historic battlefield the Revolutionary War (when it served as outside Richmond, Virginia, the base for the Marquis de Lafayette). is now protected thanks CRLC acquired the much sought-after A to Capital Region Land property following extensive fundraising, Conservancy, which led a campaign to negotiations and partnership building. raise nearly $7 million to purchase the “The property had just been listed for 871-acre Malvern Hill Farm. sale and was being marketed for its ‘highest The farm was the site of the Battle of and best use’ as a residential subdivision Malvern Hill during the Civil War, when that exceeded 500 new homes. That would

Confederate General Robert E. Lee drove have devastated this area known for its CAPITAL REGION LAND CONSERVANCY the invading Union Army away from rural character,” says CRLC Executive Capital Region Land Conservancy raised nearly $7 million Richmond and into retreat. The battle Director Parker Agelasto. “The protection to protect the historically significant Malvern Hill Farm. precipitated Abraham Lincoln’s drafting of Malvern Hill creates an area of roughly of the Emancipation Proclamation a few 2,400 acres of conserved lands and encom- Henrico County for a public park. And weeks later. passes more than 85% of the battlefield.” the James River Association will build a The historic site has additional signifi- Eventually, half the land will go to canoe/kayak launch that connects pad- cance as the only documented place in the the National Park Service to enlarge the dlers to the James River, the Captain United States to experience troop activity Richmond National Battlefield Park. John Smith National Historic Trail and during the Civil War, the War of 1812 and Another 400 acres will be owned by Presquile National Wildlife Refuge. •

Group Hikes Empower Women in Nature

n remote nature areas, some women may not feel comfortable hiking alone. And news stories about attacks on women joggers haven’t helped, says Susan Hughes, a trustee of the accredited IGroton Conservation Trust in Groton, Massachusetts. In response, Hughes launched a series of “she-hikes” to give women a group of companions with whom to explore the land trust’s trails. “While our properties are beautiful, some are pretty remote,” she says. “So we thought, ‘Why not create hikes just for women and empower them to take back the outdoors?’” The land trust put a notice of the hikes in its newsletter, and last winter hikers started exploring a different trail each month. The she-hikes have been successful, attracting all ages but proving especially popular among older women who don’t feel comfortable being alone but miss being active outdoors. “The response has been great,” says Hughes. “As one elderly woman said, ‘I have slowed down a great deal, and I just feel more comfortable with a smaller group of sisters.’ Now we just call out for she-hikers and head out on an adventure!” • TRUST CONSERVATION GROTON

6 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org B I parcel l parcel a.57-acre to Club protect Civic Cooper East the with worked War. Civil the after area Carolina, South Charleston, the in formed communities American African- first one of the it was Scanlonville, as known Later size.” its beyond value a carries land development, encroaching of effects felt the has that of town area an but in .57 acres, only be may property The future. the into enjoyed being while past, the of reminder as a serve will parcel small “This Trust. Land Cooper of East director executive Main, Catherine 1868,” in sought says founders the that responsibility tive collec and respect for dignity, quest of the continuation a as project this view town’s of founders, the descendants residents. Pleasant Mount surrounding and community of the enjoyment for the park it apublic into of transforming Conservation Burial Takes Burial Root Conservation Valued Size Beyond Its nourish community members irrespective of faith or income. or income. of faith irrespective members community nourish and nurture they for conservation, opportunities and needs to the public the for educating venues unique As nature. with experience intimate or family’s individual’s an supporting by values and goals of conservation awareness community deepen to opportunity an trusts land offer They spaces. green healing burial. for natural land conserved existing or new dedicating of benefit mutual the recognizing are trusts More land land. the and people between relationship the to growing dedicated values, trust land with aligned strongly are champions These ways. sustainable environmentally in dead the burying with concerned leaders conservation visionary from came August the accredited East Cooper Land Trust Land Cooper East accredited the Last August “ Conservation burial grounds are affordable, equitable and equitable affordable, are grounds burial Conservation The residents of Scanlonville, many of whom are the are whom of many Scanlonville, of residents The 2-acre lots that provided land ownership to freed slaves. slaves. to freed ownership land provided that lots 2-acre with community Company, aplanned Land Charleston the to create at auction Plantation Remley former of the 614 acres purchased slave, afreed Scanlon, John n 1868, ocated at the entrance to Scanlonville, with the goal goal the with to Scanlonville, entrance at the ocated popularity, and its advocates have high aspirations. high have advocates its and popularity, in growing is processes invasive and chemicals toxic of use the eschews that or vaults caskets without urial The impetus for developing conservation burial grounds grounds burial conservation developing for impetus The • - (African Community Settlement American Historic Commission president). Wright John and director) executive Trust Land Cooper (East Main Catherine president), Club Civic Cooper (East Lee Ed chair), board Trust Land Cooper (East Craig Justin right: to left From conservation-burial-alliance.html Landmatters visiting by Alliance Burial Preserve Foxfield with Center Wilderness the and accredited) (all Carolina North in Sanctuary Memorial Carolina with Carolina Conserving Florida, in Cemetery Prairie Creek Conservation Trust with Conservation Alachua Preserve Creek Ramsey Forever with Upstate Conservation Larskpur with partnered Conservancy Nature The Recently rise. on the are grounds burial conservation with partnerships through of intention acquisition. land for new revenue generate and management their in involved people the with relationships donor intimate create management, for land practices best and promote restoration grounds burial conservation Importantly, Heidi Hannapel, Jeff Masten, Lee Lee Webster Masten, Jeff Hannapel, Heidi by —Submitted To explore this opportunity in your area, contact the Conservation Conservation the contact area, your in opportunity To this explore scope their to expand choosing trusts land country, the Across in Ohio, to name afew. to name Ohio, in in Tennessee, following in the footsteps of footsteps the in Tennessee, following in www.landtrustalliance.org . •

at at www.thelandmatters.com/

SAVING in South Carolina, Carolina, South in land

Spring 2019 Spring

7

EAST COOPER LAND TRUST conservation NEWS

Through a New Lens COURTESY OF LITTLE TRAVERSE CONSERVANCY LITTLE TRAVERSE OF COURTESY

A young man practices photographing nature.

ow can we develop a deep and Fueled by passion and a baseline an education department strives for: “to lasting appreciation for the understanding of photography as a result foster an awareness and appreciation for our natural environment in young of her minor in art and design, she began environment, while doubling as an excellent H people when so many are more developing a nature photography program. means to achieve a cross-curricular outdoor interested in electronic devices? Sarah Thirty digital cameras were purchased experience for students.” Mayhew says, “Harness it!” through grant funding received from the “There’s magic that occurs when a Mayhew, director of education at Little conservancy’s local community founda- child has a camera in his or her hand,” Traverse Conservancy in Michigan, saw the tion. “The cameras are nothing fancy, just says Mayhew. “The camera allows the harsh reality of electronic dependency setting your basic automatic point-and-shoot style students to freeze time while igniting a in. “I’d seen the pack of teenagers resembling equipped with standard settings,” says keen observation for their surroundings. zombies: their heads down, eyes glued to Mayhew. “What they achieve however, by They’re exploring an artistic side of them- their phones as they blindly navigated the far exceeds anything I’d imagined.” selves that they’re oftentimes surprised sidewalk or crowded room. I imagined them The pilot program started with one to find they possess. As a result, there’s with cameras in their hands instead, seeking fifth-grade class and has since expanded a sense of pride and accomplishment for out the tiny overlooked wonders of nature, to grades six through 12. According to what they’ve captured. Not to mention being truly present in their surroundings.” Mayhew, the program embodies all that some pretty spectacular images!” •

8 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org Embracing A True Fish Story Recreational Access Bill Jackson, facility manager with the Nez Perce Tribe’s edicine Wall, a limestone bluff and popular sport Department climbing crag in San Antonio, is one of many private of Fisheries Resources properties protected in recent years by partnerships Management, between local climbing organizations and land trusts. happily displays M a healthy salmon. The bluff, a gateway to the outdoors for urban climbing enthusi- asts, was protected in December by Texas Climbers Coalition in WALLOWA LAND TRUST partnership with Access Fund, an accredited land trust representing millions of climbers nationwide. Access to Medicine Wall will open allowa Land Trust in Oregon got confirmation next year when the city of San Antonio’s greenway trail is completed. this past fall on something it has waited for years “Acquisitions like Medicine Wall make much-needed recreation to see happen. Coho salmon have returned to space available to the public,” says Joe Sambataro, national access W Lostine River in Wallowa County. That’s no director for Access Fund, which directly acquires land and easements small feat. It’s actually a development 40 years in the making. and partners with land trusts on joint projects to protect threatened The coho disappeared from the river years ago for a variety of climbing areas. reasons. Dams prevented passage. They were heavily fished. “And The organization also teams up with land trusts like Lookout if you asked regional wildlife,” says Eric Greenwell, conservation Mountain Conservancy (accredited) to create sustainable trails and program manager at the accredited land trust, “they’d agree that staging areas around cliffs and boulders for visitors to enjoy with the coho are rather tasty. Their runs, which at one time numbered minimal impact on the environment. “We steward all of our properties in the tens of thousands, dwindled to none.” in accordance with Land Trust Standards and Practices to ensure sus- It was the Nez Perce Tribe’s Fisheries Department that secured tainable recreational use of these open space areas,” says Sambataro. funding in 1988 to study how to reintroduce coho to the river. For land trusts concerned about risk, Sambataro mentions that That study eventually gave rise to conversations and collabora- Alliant’s Conserve-A-Nation® insurance program covers public tions that set the stage for the coho’s return. Key to that was the access for recreation, including climbing on land trust properties, tribe’s work with the Wolfe family, which owns property along easements and managed lands (see www.lta.org/insurance). the Lostine River. In 2011 the tribe began operating a fish weir Embracing recreational access on private land has multiple benefits and research station along the river, and the land trust partnered for land trusts, including engaging new partners and community with the Wolfe family to place a conservation easement on the members and connecting more people to the land. “People who use family farm. As plans progressed, a second easement was com- the outdoors responsibly tend to value and protect those spaces when pleted and 3.5 miles of fish habitat were permanently conserved. they are in danger,” Sambataro says. Eventually the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife was Learn more at www.accessfund.org. • ready to rear coho smolts at a nearby hatchery. That fish weir turned out to be the perfect place to release them. So in March 2017, the Nez Perce Tribe and ODFW held a ceremony on the Lostine River that culminated with 500,000 little cohos being shot out of a hose. “Of course, we didn’t know if they would survive,” says Greenwell. “These fish weren’t acclimated to wild waters. They had to make a 1,200-mile journey to the ocean and back in waters absolutely full of threats.” Success would require not just survival, but a near flawless retracing of steps to return to their original spawning grounds. Then they started to return. “It’s another example of what conservationists and dedicated partners, working together, can help our communities achieve,” JOE SAMBATARO, ACCESS FUND says Greenwell. “And while this story is about fish, I’m happy to Medicine Wall was protected in December by Access Fund and Texas Climbers Coalition. say this fish story is true.”

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 9 capitol CONNECTIONS

BY Robert Schwartz

Rob Wade III attended Advocacy Days 2018. “Board members provide land trusts with a powerful voice.”

How Board Members Engage For boards like Wade’s, advocacy is a critical part of their job. They are ambassadors for the lands they love within their communities, at the statehouse and in Washington, D.C. More often than not, this ambassadorship breaks out into one of two distinct categories. First, the role of a board member in advocacy often starts with setting the land trust’s policy agenda to ensure the organization is speaking with one voice. DJ GLISSON,DJ II Board members amplify this in a bipartisan manner using their influence to help land trust staff secure important meetings with key decisionmakers, such as elected officials, members of zoning boards and staff at local, state and federal agencies. As A Board Member powerful members of their communities, GOES TO WASHINGTON board members often have existing relationships with key decisionmakers. These connections are ones that land trust s the 116th Congress was sworn into office on January 3, staff should not be afraid to leverage when the Land Trust Alliance was already gearing up for its planning important meetings as they open annual legislative fly-in, Advocacy Days, and helping to doors and opportunities, and provide a prepare land trust staff and boards to advocate for policies powerful voice for land conservation. that will conserve and protect our lands for generations Second, board members engage in advocacy through their own participation. to come. (See last quarter’s column, “A New Congress Brings New A perfect example of this is the Alliance’s Opportunities to Advocate.”) annual Advocacy Days event. Each year hundreds of supporters of conservation, AWhile our work has resulted in an How Boards Leverage Advocacy including board members, converge on increased awareness regarding the Like land trust staffs, boards are composed Capitol Hill to meet with their members importance of advocacy, we believe there is of individuals who share a passion for of Congress and administration officials. still untapped potential. Specifically, land land conservation. From attorneys to For many board members the experience trust staff should utilize the influence of philanthropists, local officials to scientists, is eye-opening. their board members to help advance their they are the fuel that keeps the lights on and “Advocacy Days affords land trusts an policy goals and agenda. To understand the wheels turning for land trusts across the opportunity to speak with a unified voice. how to unlock this potential, we recently sat country. They are also respected leaders in Being a part of the Alliance government down with one such leader, Robin Wade III, their communities whose ideas and opinions relations effort is critical to the work we do immediate past board chair of the accredited are highly valued by elected officials. at the Freshwater Land Trust. It allows us Freshwater Land Trust in Birmingham, “Board members provide land trusts with to conserve more land and helps ensure our Alabama, to discuss how board members can a powerful voice,” says Wade. “As such, we work is everlasting,” says Wade. “I think and should play a critical role in leveraging have a shared responsibility, along with land every land trust should have its board the work of their land trusts by advocating trust staff, to use our influence, connections come to Washington for Advocacy Days. It for government policies and funding in and skills to advocate in meaningful ways makes a real difference, is educational, and support of conservation. for our community and for the land.” you meet some truly amazing people.”

10 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org Board member engagement in advocacy Additionally, the Alliance often hears can make a big difference. Yet the reality from members who say advocacy is If you miss Advocacy Days 2019 April is that despite proven results, many board expensive. This mindset, however, fails to 8–10, please consider joining us next members have never engaged in advocacy on recognize that advocacy is already deeply year. Participants hear our annual issue behalf of their land trusts. The reason may ingrained in organizational programs briefing, enjoy networking opportunities be simply a matter of misperceptions. and events. It is simply an extension of and receive training to prepare them for your education efforts, and educating meetings with elected officials. To learn Correcting Misperceptions decisionmakers about the importance of more visit www.lta.org/advocacy-days. One of the most common misperceptions your work in the community has a great of board advocacy is that it takes too much return on investment. time. Land trust staff are appropriately “Last year a primary policy priority of sensitive to the busy schedules of their ours was advocating for a new Farm Bill. Steps to Get Your Board Engaged volunteer leaders, and their focus is Now we have that bill (see story on page Here are three quick and simple actions you often on priorities that are perceived 14). This is an accomplishment that would can take: as being most urgent or time-sensitive, have not been possible without advocacy,” • Host a call. Keeping your board such as fundraising. But when it comes says Wade. updated on what policy priorities your to advocacy, board members can actually Furthermore, we hear from members who land trust is working on via quarterly save staff time and energy. Scheduling a say advocacy is too risky or prohibited for a or monthly calls is one way to get meeting with an elected official may take nonprofit. Yet what many fail to recognize board members more interested in staff weeks of back-and-forth, start-and- is that while rules and regulations govern advocacy. These calls not only educate stop conversations. But because of a board what land trusts can say and do, with regard board members on the policy matters member’s standing in the community, he to advocacy, board members and land trust impacting your land trust but also or she can often get on an elected official’s staff have the right under the law to educate help encourage them to raise their meeting calendar in a much shorter time. and inform public officials about how hands to assist. The same goes for securing an elected specific policies might impact their mission. • Invite them to attend important official’s support for a policy measure. “If you aren’t at the table, you are on the policymaker meetings. Asking “That’s the power of board advocacy,” says chopping block,” says Wade. “Advocacy is a a board member to join you for a Wade. “It’s far from a heavy lift, and with chance to tell your land trust’s story, discuss meeting with an elected official the Alliance lending a hand by providing the successes, say thanks and remind elected is another great option. Meetings wonderful tools and resources both pre and officials that our work matters. When it’s done provide board members the post Advocacy Days it doesn’t even take a right—and it really is easy to do it right—it opportunity to strengthen and considerable amount of time.” can be educational, beneficial and helpful.” leverage their community connections while providing everyone with a wonderful photo opportunity. • Identifying and leveraging board connections. Whether it’s a call- to-action letter, invitation list for an annual fundraiser or simply scheduling a meeting with an elected official, identifying board connections is a great and easy step. Understanding who they know so you can call on the proper board member can go a long way. Remember, your fellow board members are part of your organization because they want to help, so why not let them?

While instilling the importance of advocacy is not something that happens overnight, these simple steps are ones any land

DJ GLISSON,DJ II trust can take no matter its size or resources.

Advocacy Ambassadors gathered last year at Advocacy Days 2018 as part of a larger group in D.C. to talk to their ROBERT SCHWARTZ IS AMBASSADOR PROGRAM MANAGER FOR members of Congress about issues important to land conservation. THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE.

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 11 BY Rebecca Dahl | | voiced A close encounter with ATTORNEYS SENIOR PRACTITIONERS LAW SCHOOL FACULTY nature at Thousand Islands Land Trust’s 18th Annual Community Picnic at Zenda Farms in 2018. JOIN US AT THE BILL MUNRO Seventh Symposium on Advanced Legal Topics in Land Conservation have stories to share of Zenda’s heyday—of summers working there, of the taste of milk produced by the Golden Guernsey cows and MARK YOUR CALENDAR even of the silver barns that still glimmer today in the tiniest bit of sunlight. Through these anecdotes we have dis- June 13–14, 2019 | Providence, RI covered the important role Zenda Farms has played in the Clayton community, from creating jobs to providing a home for many families who worked on the farm. More than 75 years later Mr. Youngs’ legacy includes supporting the develop- ment of our local economy, striving to provide access to fresh food for everyone and offering a place of respite, all while ensuring the conservation and responsible use of our amazing landscape. To honor this legacy, Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT), which owns the farm, has worked to bring the community back Photos courtesy of Southside Community Land Trust, Buzzards Bay Coalition, Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, Southside Community Land Trust, Narrow River Land Trust to Zenda through the many events hosted there—such as the Mutt Strutt, yoga and The Heart of a the annual community picnic—the Zenda Community Garden and the busy LoisJean Stay Informed on the Latest Conservation Law Community and John MacFarlane Trail. Developments and Practical Legal Solutions We have benefited from the Farm Bill at Zenda Farms through enrollment Two intensive days where we will: “ In-depth discussion on weighty f you’re wondering how communities benefit in the Wildlife Habitat Incentives and the Environmental Quality Incentives issues facing the land conservation from Farm Bill conservation programs, let me • Enhance conservation easement drafting as we explore programs, which provided funding for the movement by exceptionally qualified tell you about Zenda Farms. maintenance of our hay fields for grassland trends in conservation easement cases and experienced practitioners is the Your farm visit begins with a drive through the nesting birds. • Dig into the nuances and implications of three critical brick pillars and continues down the long lane, where “Zenda Farms is like this little piece of conservation cases stage of the Symposium.” you’re surrounded by life. Look to your left and you see meadow paradise, this little magical place,” says • Delve into balancing public access with land protection, – Jeff Swinehart, Lancaster Farmland Trust (accredited) filled with long grasses and songbirds. On your right, there are TILT supporter Tara Clarke, “where the Americans with Disabilities Act and removing Zenda’s rolling hills, encircled by the trail where it’s likely you’ll there’s the sun shining through the trees obstacles to universal access Ifind a couple walking a dog and other people getting their daily and the playground for the kids is all found exercise. Already you see how many creatures make themselves objects.” Tara first discovered us through • Review the latest IRS and Tax Court views on at home here. a notice to plant trees at our annual Arbor conservation easements Arriving at Zenda Farms feels like a welcome back, a sense Day celebration. She says, “Here my kids of familiarity, a feeling of peace, a connection with this place. get to experience that sense of community.” Very quickly it becomes clear that Zenda beckons for activity, It’s clear that saving Zenda Farms for for people, for life. the community was the best thing we I imagine that Merle Youngs, Zenda Farms’ founder, had a could have done. Visit www.lta.org/legal for details Many thanks to our Program Committee similar realization back in the late 1930s when he first discovered REBECCA DAHL IS ZENDA FARMS PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR THE Cathy Howell, The Nature Conservancy (accredited) ACCREDITED THOUSAND ISLANDS LAND TRUST IN CLAYTON, NEW YORK. Registration opens April 2019 the estate in Clayton, New York, and envisioned the farm that WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT ZENDA FARMS AT HTTPS://TILANDTRUST.ORG/ Ray Lyons, Conservation Attorney EXPLORE/WHY-WE-NEED-TILT. this property would become. It amazes me how many people Bill Silberstein, Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell LLP Earn up to 10.5 hours of CLE credit* Leslie Ratley-Beach, Land Trust Alliance 12 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org *Credits are pending approval and may vary from state to state. ATTORNEYS | SENIOR PRACTITIONERS | LAW SCHOOL FACULTY

JOIN US AT THE Seventh Symposium on Advanced Legal Topics in Land Conservation

MARK YOUR CALENDAR June 13–14, 2019 | Providence, RI

Photos courtesy of Southside Community Land Trust, Buzzards Bay Coalition, Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, Southside Community Land Trust, Narrow River Land Trust

Stay Informed on the Latest Conservation Law Developments and Practical Legal Solutions

Two intensive days where we will: “ In-depth discussion on weighty issues facing the land conservation • Enhance conservation easement drafting as we explore trends in conservation easement cases movement by exceptionally qualified and experienced practitioners is the • Dig into the nuances and implications of three critical conservation cases stage of the Symposium.” • Delve into balancing public access with land protection, – Jeff Swinehart, Lancaster Farmland Trust (accredited) the Americans with Disabilities Act and removing obstacles to universal access • Review the latest IRS and Tax Court views on conservation easements

Visit www.lta.org/legal for details Many thanks to our Program Committee Registration opens April 2019 Cathy Howell, The Nature Conservancy (accredited) Ray Lyons, Conservation Attorney Bill Silberstein, Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell LLP Earn up to 10.5 hours of CLE credit* Leslie Ratley-Beach, Land Trust Alliance *Credits are pending approval and may vary from state to state. www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 13 The INTERDEPENDENCE of Land and Water Protection THE FARM BILL: Celebrating passage of a key land conservation resource

By Madeline Bodin

hen Dave Sands, executive the owners through the special require- “You could see the excitement go out of director of the accredited ments for the funding, one of which was their faces,” Sands says. “They didn’t say Nebraska Land Trust, sat that a land management plan be written no that day, but once I mentioned those W down with the owners into the easement, required by the Natural management requirements, I knew the of a 3,000-acre ranch near the Wyoming Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) deal didn’t have a chance.” border, the landowners seemed enthusiastic of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Farm Bill programs, such as the Agricultural about conserving their unique property, with Sands knew that the reasonable NRCS Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)— its grasslands, its forest of ponderosa pines staff in Nebraska would accept a plan that which includes Agricultural Land Easements (a species rarely found in Nebraska) and its made suggestions based on solid ranch (ALE)—are a vital resource for land trusts historical sites. stewardship, not demands. But all the in conserving America’s farms and ranches. It seemed like the perfect use for federal ranchers could hear that day was that But as Sands’ story makes clear, they were conservation easement funding made pos- someone else was going to say how their flawed. So when it came time to develop and sible through the Farm Bill. Sands walked ranch was to be managed. lobby for improvements to the largest federal

14 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org Nebraska Land Trust’s Dave Sands says this NRCS easement was completed in 2012, before the ALE Plan requirement was instituted. “If a plan had been required, it would not have been a good fit for the landowner and this easement may never have happened.” The plan requirement was removed in the new Farm Bill.

NEBRASKA LAND TRUST funding source for private land conservation wetlands and forests, and provide food trusts because he believes that a strong land in the country, the Land Trust Alliance assistance. Since 1965, it has been renewed trust community benefits his organization. relied on the practical knowledge and voices roughly every five years. “Focusing on the bigger-picture issues of its land trust members who have worked Lori Faeth joined the Land Trust Alliance helped us get past some of the details that with NRCS on these Farm Bill programs. as government relations director in July 2017, might have been sticking points,” Bicking That collaboration and coordination paid and reauthorization of the Farm Bill was a says. “It was important that we focused on off: On December 20, 2018, the Alliance top priority. Prior to her arrival, Alliance principles, rather than specific policies at and its powerful coalition celebrated the staff had reached out to Alliance land trust an early stage.” 2018 Farm Bill being signed into law. “We members to determine what was working Mike Beam, former executive director of commend Congress for passing a Farm for them and what was not. Soon after she the accredited Ranchland Trust of Kansas Bill that reflects so many of our community’s arrived, Faeth established a coalition made (now Secretary of the Kansas Department highest priorities,” said Alliance President up of land trust members to discuss provi- of Agriculture) has advocated for land trusts Andrew Bowman. “We’re grateful for the vig- sions and legislative strategies. during several past Farm Bills: “We unified orous efforts of countless individuals, includ- Overwhelmingly, the Alliance members around some key changes early on and were ing our member land trusts and Farm Bill identified restoring funding for ACEP as the able to provide those to the congressional staff conferees, who together achieved increased highest priority for the community. Some at least a year before the Farm Bill was passed.” funding as well as provisions to streamline members had already given other concerns a “When you do that many projects with implementation of the program that will result lot of thought. The Partnership of Rangeland that many landowners and you work with in conserving more farms and ranches.” Trusts, for example, responded with a list of NRCS at that level,” says Glenn Marx, exec- “If you look at our portfolio, our finest priorities that included allowing landowner utive director of the Montana Association easements have been done with ALE funding,” donations and expenses to satisfy ALE of Land Trusts, “you do come across some Sands says. “Now that the land management match requirements and eliminating the things that you think will make the program plan requirement has been removed, I’m cumbersome requirement for an ALE Plan. more effective and make it work better for optimistic there will be many more.” Scenic Hudson’s biggest issue was the level both NRCS and landowners.” of funding. But Andy Bicking, director of Setting the Course public policy for the accredited land trust in Taking Action The Farm Bill includes programs to help New York, was willing to work on additional Once the Alliance recommendations were farmers and ranchers protect working lands, issues that were important to other land mapped out, the Alliance and its members turned to lobbying on Capitol Hill. But Conservation Funding in the Farm Bill: Projected 10-Year Funding in Billions during initial meetings with Congress, the proposals were met with doubt. $25 When Blair Fitzsimons, chief executive officer of the accredited Texas Agricultural $21.1

$20 $19.1 $19.3 KEY

$17.7 2014 Farm Bill Funding for 2014–2023 $16.8

2018 Farm Bill Funding for 2019–2028 $15 $14.1 CRP: Conservation Reserve Program

CSP: Conservation Stewardship Program

EQIP: Environmental Quality Incentives Program

$10 ACEP: Agricultural Conservation Easement Program RCPP: Regional Conservation Partnership Program

PL 566: The Public Law 566 or Small Watershed Dam Rehabilitation Program is for the first time ever being granted permanent mandatory funding $5 $4.5 status under the new bill. Other: Includes a variety of small programs, $3.0 $2.5 including feral hog control payments and payments to farmers to allow hunting on their property. $1.0 $0.5 $0.3 $0.2 $0.1 CHART RECREATED FROM THE NATIONAL $0 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE COALITION’S BLOG: HTTP://SUSTAINABLEAGRICULTURE.NET/ CRP CSP EQIP ACEP RCPP PL 566 Other BLOG/2018-FARM-BILL-BY-THE-NUMBERS

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 15 Land trusts that worked on passing the Farm Bill credit Lori Faeth, Land Trust Alliance government relations director, for pulling everyone together, coordinating a diversity of needs and keeping everyone on script.

of education ahead of us to successfully advocate in support of our recommendations,” says Faeth, adding, “We were able to reach out across our membership and pull together specific examples, such as the situation with the landowners in Nebraska.” Mike Beam reflected on the efforts of a retired couple in the northeastern part of the state who devoted their retirement savings DJ GLISSON,DJ II and considerable sweat equity to purchase and grow their 600-acre ranch. Despite their Land Trust (TALT), met with House vision and passion for permanently conserving Agriculture Committee Chair K. Michael their property, a donated conservation ease- Gearing Up for Conaway (R-TX) about conservation funding ment was not a financially viable option. The Next Steps in the Farm Bill, she was met with skepti- Ranchland Trust of Kansas would have liked cism. “At first he said, ‘Look, Blair, nobody to help the couple with a purchased conserva- is asking for this,’” she says. That began a tion easement with ACEP-ALE funding but In November 2018 the Alliance long discussion over a number of visits. was unable to secure a cash match in a timely partnered with NRCS to convene In September 2017, her colleague, TALT’s manner. Kansas is one of a handful of states a summit focused on enhancing chief operating officer, James Oliver, spoke where there is no state funding to help meet communication and coordination with to legislators about the need to make the the ALE cash match requirement. the land trust community. The ALE program work for states like Texas, which has Erik Glenn, executive director of the Summit was held in Austin, Texas, and a very small statewide conservation funding accredited Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural brought together Alliance members source. He also noted that other states, such Land Trust (CCALT), went to Washington, and NRCS staff responsible for as Alabama, have none. Oliver mentioned D.C., at least seven times to advocate for land implementation of the ALE program how this could be resolved by allowing land- trusts on the 2018 Farm Bill. “We’ve been to learn from one another, exchange owner donations and expenses to satisfy the working on the Farm Bill as an organiza- information and better prepare for the match requirement for ALE. The example he tion since 2008,” he says. With each Farm implementation of the new Farm Bill. used was a project from Conaway’s district, Bill, CCALT becomes more involved and showing how Conaway’s own constituents more effective. “It was a great meeting,” says James were being affected by the law. The organization has been able to apply Oliver from Texas Agricultural Land “Some people are cynical,” Edgar Miller, what it has learned at the state level to its Trust. With NRCS staffers and land formerly the director of government relations federal efforts and vice versa. “For example, trusts each sharing their perspectives for the accredited Conservation Trust for in Colorado we used an economic analysis and their issues with ALE, it became a North Carolina, says, “and don’t think one to avoid bad legislation and then used a collaboration. “Now we all know what to voice can make a difference.” But, he says, similar analysis to support the easement do to solve these issues,” he says. But sometimes your voice, as the constituent of programs in the Farm Bill,” Glenn says. it wasn’t just learning about the NRCS a key member of Congress, is just the voice After an “Easements 101” presentation perspective. As land trusts shared best needed to make a big difference to land given to congressional staffers was warmly practices and pitfalls, Oliver learned trusts nationwide. received in Washington, CCALT made about other land trusts that share his land Chairman Conaway and his staff listened, plans to give a similar presentation to state trust’s challenges. He left the summit Fitzsimons says. legislators in Denver. with a closer relationship to both NRCS personnel and his land trust colleagues. Building a Strong Case Advocating Makes a Difference “Early discussions with Congress and partner One entry into policy and advocacy is the organizations made it clear that we had a lot Land Trust Alliance’s Ambassador program.

16 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org Ambassadors pledge to meet with members of Congress and receive advocacy training, and they play an integral role in reaching out to members of Congress on urgent issues. “Getting involved with policy development has benefits for our own organizations,” says Bicking, who received the Ambassador of the Year Award at Rally 2018. “It broadens GLISSON,DJ II our perspectives, making us more relevant to more people. That can transform our own programs and membership. The key thing is to get involved.” There are now close to 300 Ambassadors, says Robert Schwartz, the Alliance’s Ambassador Program manager. In December, on the eve of the House’s Farm Bill vote, Ambassadors were asked to reach out to their congressional delegation and ask them to vote in support of H.R. 2, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, the Farm Bill. The Alliance also sponsors Advocacy Days on Capitol Hill for three days each spring. One of those days is a first-timers training, Schwartz says. This ensures that everyone is confident visiting with their members of Congress. In 2018 nearly 120 land trust leaders, representing over 35 states, held more than 200 meetings with members of Congress or their staffs. GLISSON,DJ II Top: Andy Bicking, winner of the Land Trust Alliance’s 2018 Ambassador of the Year award, says, “Advocacy Celebrating a Victory is our right as members of our communities.” Bottom: Erik Glenn executive director of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (pictured with his son, Theo) went to Washington, D.C., at least seven times to advocate for When Congress passed the Farm Bill, it land trusts on the 2018 Farm Bill. included $450 million a year for ACEP-ALE funding and the vast majority of the Alliance Land Conservation. She explains that because Alliance’s recommendations are in the coalition’s recommendations. of the match requirement, many land trusts in Farm Bill. We are really pleased with the “It’s rare when you get almost everything the Gulf region could not use ACEP-ALE. understanding of our issues that members you want in a bill,” Fitzsimons says, “but we The attention to the Farm Bill programs of Congress and their staff displayed.” pretty much got everything we wanted, start- means more land trusts know how these funds While the Alliance is celebrating this ing with the elimination of the cash match can be used. And with the change in the victory, its work on the Farm Bill continues. requirement. Thanks to the Alliance and the match requirement, more land trusts in the “One part of the 2018 Farm Bill process ends great work that Lori Faeth and [Alliance Gulf region will be able to tap the program when the President signs the bill,” says Faeth. Executive Vice President] Wendy Jackson to protect working farms and ranches. “Then the next process—rulemaking—begins.” did throughout the land trust community, “No bill this complicated can be perfect,” Once the rules are set, the work begins for we spoke with one voice because the Alliance Bicking says, “but it feels like we accom- the next Farm Bill. There is every reason to listened to us. What we got reflected the plished 90% of what we were working believe that five years from now the Alliance needs of the land trust community.” toward.” Land trusts from across the and its members will be successful again. “I’m ecstatic,” says Glenn. country credit Faeth for pulling everyone Says Beam, “When there is a strong “The process of advocacy itself has done a together, coordinating a diversity of needs coalition with common goals, there is almost good bit to educate more folks about the Farm and keeping everyone on script. no limit on what you can accomplish.” Bill programs,” says Elizabeth Rooks-Barber, “We are really happy with the outcome,” coordinator for the Partnership for Gulf Coast Faeth says. “The vast majority of the MADELINE BODIN IS A FREQUENT CONTRIBUTOR TO SAVING LAND.

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 17 Openlands’ Birds in My Neighborhood uses birding to connect Chicago Public School elementary students with the natural world around them, here at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

PATRICK WILLIAMS

A GROWING FORCE LAND TRUSTS ENGAGE PEOPLE IN CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTIONS

BY MARINA SCHAUFFLER

ast fall lent credence to the adage that sizable, not just in the tropics, but across the email blast, a blog “unpacking” the report’s bad news comes in threes. First, the United States.” regional findings and its fall newsletter. The L United Nations issued a special report The U.N. special report predicts dire response was “tremendous,” and crossed projecting severe climate upheaval if current consequences if the world experiences a partisan lines, Hayes notes. “We’re at an levels of greenhouse gas emissions continue. global temperature increase of 2.7° F above interesting moment in the land conserva- Then, on Black Friday, the federal govern- preindustrial levels, which it could reach tion world, and in the national conversation, ment released Volume II of the Fourth by 2040, causing an estimated $54 trillion around climate change.” As with past social National Climate Assessment (NCA), which in damages. No economic sector will go movements, like school integration or women’s forcefully affirms climate change is here unscathed, and the poor, disenfranchised, suffrage, once-controversial goals like climate and now and that humans are the primary young and elderly will likely suffer most. action could morph relatively quickly into cause. Finally, just as word came that 2018 In the United States, the NCA projects an accepted commonplace. But, as the 2017 would likely be the fourth warmest year costs of $141 billion from heat-related Nature of Americans* report noted, a gap still on record, the U.N. released an emissions deaths, $118 billion from sea-level rise remains between citizen interest and action. report confirming that nations are falling and $32 billion in infrastructure damage. That’s where land trusts can help lead, Hayes far short of goals set in the Paris climate All three climate reports issued last fall asserts. “There are things we can do.” agreement. (Early in 2019, studies con- signal the need for ramping up action. Land firmed that U.S. carbon emissions, rather trusts around the country are working with Fusing Climate Science and Policy than falling in 2018, rose by 3.4%.) renewed vigor to meet the challenges of The cluster of climate reports last fall “has While sobering, the reports did not climate change in diverse facets of their made a more receptive audience for us to represent “news” to those who work to programs and operations. work with and has brought in some new conserve and manage lands. They routinely partners,” observes Andy Bicking, who directs see the effects of climate change and work Sharing Climate Science public policy and special projects for the to steward the forests, grasslands and farms Brandon Hayes, who directs communications accredited Scenic Hudson Land Trust. He that sequester carbon. Recent research affirms for Openlands (accredited) in the Chicago notes a “heightened sensitivity and aware- the significant value of these “natural climate region, saw last fall’s climate reports as a ness,” particularly within the agricultural solutions” (NCS) to lands in the United chance to extend the organization’s com- community. “Weather events around here are States. A study published last November in mitment to “be bold about climate in our motivating farmers to find solutions that make Science Advances, assessing the potential of messaging.” The issue’s politicization is their operations more resilient and also help 21 proven “mitigation pathways” (such as awkward for land trusts, he acknowledges, sequester carbon.” reforestation and avoided grassland conver- but climate change is a strategic priority for Scenic Hudson is considering how to sion) found they could potentially store 21% Openlands—and one it covers prominently: encourage area farmers to practice such of this country’s current net CO2 emissions, “What’s the point of being a leading con- methods as minimal tillage, nutrient man- while providing additional benefits, such as servation organization if you can’t speak out agement and cover cropping (techniques wildlife habitat, flood control and air and on an issue this important?” Hayes would known collectively as carbon farming or water filtration. “A growing body of global like to see more land trusts acknowledge regenerative agriculture that are all part research on NCS (see the Spring 2018 issue the limits of basing decisions on market of NCS). The organization is working to of Saving Land) affirms the land sector’s research and polling. “At some point,” he advance carbon farming pilot legislation critical role in helping stabilize CO2 emis- says, “if you want to change the world, you that would provide more voluntary incen- sions,” notes Kelly Watkinson, who manages have to take a stand.” tives for farmers to adopt regenerative the Land Trust Alliance’s Land and Climate Openlands shared findings from the NCA practices, which are currently being tested Program. “That mitigation potential is report with community members through an through a collaborative research project

*NATUREOFAMERICANS.ORG

18 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org continued on page 22 www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 19 land we love BY Sandra Halpin PHOTOGRAPH BY Connor Jandreau

20 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org CONSERVATION DOLLARS on the Ground

he North American Wetlands Conservation “wetlands complex,” essential stopover habitat for Act, or NAWCA, turns 30 this year. “It’s all birds as they migrate between breeding and wintering about partnerships,” says Wendy Jackson, grounds. “That’s all the more important because of the executive vice president of the Land Trust scarce water resources within the region,” says Connor Alliance, who serves on the North American Wetlands Jandreau, conservation project manager for NMLC. TConservation Council. The matching grants program, “We have an opportunity working with ranchers administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, helps and others in this region who recognize the importance migratory birds and other wetland wildlife in the United of this habitat and their role as stewards, and who States, Mexico and Canada. are willing to support through matching funds and The accredited New Mexico Land Conservancy volunteer hours to help get conservation dollars on the (NMLC) received a NAWCA grant in 2018 to restore and ground,” says Jandreau. protect more than 3,500 acres of land in the heart of the The NAWCA grant included seven partners (with southern shortgrass prairie in northeastern New Mexico. NMLC and Fish and Wildlife): Union Land and The prairie represents one of the last remaining Grazing Company (Fort Union Ranch), Hermit’s intact, landscape-scale grasslands left in North Peak Watershed Alliance, Ducks Unlimited America—critical habitat for grassland birds, many of (accredited), Rio Grande Return and the Playa whose species have declined more than 70% since the Lakes Joint Venture/ConocoPhillips.

1950s. With the seasonal playa lakes scattered across SANDRA HALPIN IS COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING MANAGER FOR THE NEW this landscape, the grasslands also serve as a kind of MEXICO LAND CONSERVANCY IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO.

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 21 A GROWING FORCE

continued from page 19

called Hudson Carbon. Bicking hopes the asking, ‘How can we make this transition in impacts of fracking (including emissions) science generated there will inform policy a responsible way?’” and realized that the leases lowered property decisions. “It’s really important we do Scenic Hudson is promoting a new pub- values and could jeopardize prospects for a climate advocacy,” he says. “What other lication, Clean Energy, Green Communities: home sale or construction loan. advocates have as much direct contact with A Guide to Siting Renewable Energy in the Landowner interest in shedding those the land and landowners? We have a role to Hudson Valley (see box). It’s also working leases “occurred at just the right time,” play and could very well be a decisive force.” at the state level to guide solar power to Engel recalls, when the land trust sought to New York state, with its Reforming the appropriate sites, pushing for rule changes expand the pool of landowners willing to Energy Vision initiative, is accelerating that would fast-track renewable energy consider conservation easements. Tinicum renewable energy development, putting projects with minimal conservation impact. Conservancy secured the cooperation of the Scenic Hudson at the center of some gas company and covered associated costs contentious community decisions involving Moving Away from Fossil Fuels through grants to help landowners extinguish industrial-scale solar power. Those instal- In Pennsylvania, the accredited Tinicum the leases. That process, in turn, fostered lations, sometimes proposed on farmland, Conservancy in Upper Bucks County is helpful discussions about long-term property “generate a lot of public interest,” Bicking working on a different facet of energy siting, plans. “Removing the lease provided an essen- observes. Some advocates, he adds, are accus- extinguishing natural gas leases signed by tial first step toward conservation,” Engel says. tomed to speaking out against that scale of more than 300 landowners in the mid-2000s. Some land trusts have begun fossil development. Yet when clean power genera- Tinicum Executive Director Jim Engel fuel divestment, not on the ground, but tion is involved, he says, “You’re trying to say says, “A lot of people had regrets afterward,” in their financial holdings. Kestrel Land yes; you don’t want to be against solar but are as they learned about the many negative Trust (accredited), in the Pioneer Valley

A Snapshot from the NCA (nca2018. globalchange.gov)

• The area of wildfires burned in the West doubled between 1984 and 2015, and the annual acreage burned by wildfires is projected to grow up to six-fold in places by 2100. • Warming ocean temperatures have led

TINICUM CONSERVANCY to greater Atlantic hurricane activity since 1970, and sea-level rise projections for 2100 are now up to 8 feet. • Rainfall levels are climbing in the northern and eastern U.S., while dropping in the south and west. Droughts are becoming more frequent, interspersed with heavy rainfall events that muddy waters, pose flooding risks and jeopardize infrastructure.

Check out the Alliance’s blog, “The Dirt,” for a roundup of the reports with links: www.lta.org/nature-power. Find Clean

CHRISTINA CONELL/USDA FARM TO SCHOOL Energy, Green Communities at www. Top: This property on a Pennsylvania Exceptional Value Stream had been leased for gas drilling, but then the scenichudson.org/sites/default/files/ landowner had the gas lease extinguished and with Tinicum Conservancy placed an easement that prevents future gas production. Bottom: Athens Land Trust Young Urban Farmer Dontae Meadows gives a tour of the West Broad renewables-siting-guide_web.pdf. Garden to visiting USDA Farm to School staff.

22 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org DAVID CRUMMEY DAVID

During conversations with city decisionmakers in Phoenix, chairs are left open in the middle for residents to sit and ask questions or make comments. This was a technique that the Center for Whole Communities encouraged when designing the format of Heat Action Planning workshops. (See www.scientificamerican.com/article/ how-phoenix-is-working-to-beat-urban-heat.)

of Massachusetts, has removed from all its two major highways that circumscribe the With guidance from the Center for Whole long-term endowment accounts any equity historically African-American neighborhood. Communities, the collaborators developed holdings in companies owning fossil fuel For Varsa, the first step in tackling a neighborhood-scale “Nature’s Cooling reserves. Kestrel cosponsored a public talk by climate challenges is to “show the negative Solutions” project that solicits residents’ Bill McKibben, founder of the climate action on-the-ground impacts” of past decisions. ideas for greater “heat resilience”—through group 350.org, and members grew inspired by Last fall the Athens Land Trust received measures like green space and shaded bus- his call for divestment. “The board saw it as a a $120,000 environmental justice grant stops. The process has worked best, she says, moral statement that aligned with our values,” from the U.S. EPA to engage young people in concert with existing community groups says Executive Director Kristin DeBoer. in monitoring neighborhood air and water “who already have the trust with neighbors.” Limited fund choices slowed the quality, establishing a baseline against In her four years there Messerschmidt decision-making process, DeBoer notes, which future changes can be measured. has seen “the needle move pretty quickly” in and “can be a stumbling block” for finance The land trust also is working with the terms of climate awareness, and a hearten- committees. She would like to see the county to help neighborhood residents plan for ing increase in residents’ sense of agency. land trust community facilitate creation of climate change and implement their decisions. Initially, she recalls sensing a malaise as a fossil-fuel-free financial vehicle, similar It already supports energy retrofits for local residents recounted, “This is the way it is. to the risk management opportunity that homes and planting of native trees to provide This is the way it has always been.” Then Terrafirma provides. “Land trust steward- an expanded tree canopy. Varsa is confident they learned that not all neighborhoods are ship endowments give us the financial these efforts can foster greater resiliency, equal in their degree of heating, and they capacity to influence a shift away from a concept this neighborhood understands. grew interested: “Oh, you mean there’s fossil fuels; collectively, we could have a “It’s a group of people who have managed to something we can do about urban heat?” bigger impact and generate more creative hang on, take care of each other and stay alive The city-scale dialogue about climate finance options.” through generations of institutional racism.” vulnerabilities has prompted uncomfortable In Phoenix, poor neighborhoods are often reflection on class and privilege. The project Helping Vulnerable Communities Act the most vulnerable to extreme heat, and relies heavily on sharing of personal experi- The NCA report predicts longer droughts, the NCA report predicts the city could have ences, which helps participants acknowledge more flooding and more extended and more than 150 days over 100 degrees by these larger dynamics and sidestep partisan- extreme heat for the Southeast. Those the year 2100. Large expanses of pave- ship. Many of the professionals involved have conditions will likely aggravate challenges ment, sheltered by few trees in lower-income been profoundly moved, Messerschmidt already faced by those in the West Broad areas, elevate temperatures (and keep nights notes, simply hearing what a struggle it is neighborhood of Athens, Georgia, one of unnaturally warm)—raising risks of heat for people reliant on public transit to get the areas where the accredited Athens Land stroke and heat-related death. Phoenix is groceries or take their child to the doctor. Trust works. Residents already contend averaging about 77 of these deaths each They now realize that getting the city to be with the effects of past decisions, observes year, and the number is rising. “heat-ready” requires building social net- Conservation Director Krisztian Varsa: When its Cities Program launched in works as well as planting trees. In her words, Cotton farming caused extreme erosion in 2014, The Nature Conservancy (accredited) “Everyone needs to be part of this.”

local streams now prone to flooding, and hired Maggie Messerschmidt to organize MARINA SCHAUFFLER IS A WRITER AND EDITOR WHOSE WORK IS ONLINE local air and water quality are degraded by collaborative, nature-based work in Phoenix. AT NATURALCHOICES.COM.

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 23 THE KINGSBURY BROWNE DIALOGUES: PAOLO DE SANTIS/123RF © Thought Leaders Discuss the Future of Land Conservation in America

by James N. Levitt and Rand Wentworth

eople who know the history The assembled participants, affiliated with some 40 land trusts of the Land Trust Alliance and related organizations from Maine to California, resolved to are familiar with the name form a national association they called the Land Trust Exchange, Kingsbury Browne. Nearly which soon became the Land Trust Alliance. The Alliance and four decades ago, Browne its now 1,000+ member organizations and affiliates subsequently Ptook a sabbatical from his Boston became a nationally significant catalyst for land conservation, law practice to focus on the future collectively protecting more than 56 million acres of land to date. of voluntary land conservation. In When Browne passed away in 2005, the Alliance and the Lincoln 1981, as a fellow at Harvard Law Institute established the Kingsbury Browne Conservation Leadership School and the Lincoln Institute Award and Fellowship in his memory. Each year since 2006 the award of Land Policy, he convened the has been presented by the Alliance, along with a one-year fellowship National Consultation on Land funded by the Lincoln Institute that allows the recipient to develop and Conservation at the Lincoln share strategic insights with the community. Institute’s Cambridge headquarters. Steve Small, the attorney who wrote the IRS regulations for con- servation easements in the early 1980s, and who won the Kingsbury award in 2015, suggested recently that we bring together the Fellows who had been named over the past dozen years (all long- time veterans of land conservation) and then we decided to add a separate cohort of emerging movers and shakers in conservation.

24 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org We organized the pair of meetings in 2018 environment and current natural resources Laurie Wayburn, president of the accredited so attendees could discuss land conservation policy adviser to Montana Governor Steve Pacific Forest Trust, helped to devise. She in America. As the facilitators, we collected Bullock, joined the emerging leaders group, urges the land conservation community to what we heard and now present some of the providing insight into how existing public and follow California’s lead in giving forests and highlights from the gatherings. private insurance programs are falling behind other landscapes credit in novel and effective in mitigating climate-related risks to farmers, carbon trading mechanisms. “Every time we Climate Change ranchers and others who make their living off think about climate,” she said, “we should Participants at both meetings agreed that the land. He predicted that these risks “will think about land.” In the same spirit, Mark climate change is the greatest threat to be further exacerbated by land-use change Ackelson (2007 winner) favors the creation both natural and human communities, pressures prompted by climate and innovation of a national carbon credit program that and that this reality presents both chal- in transportation and technology.” Holmes allows for the aggregation of modestly sized lenges and opportunities for land trusts. suggested that “through a mix of policy and parcels and is thereby available to both large Alliance President Andrew Bowman, who industry actions, we can shift capital flows and small landowners. attended both meetings, argued that land into climate-resilient assets and resilience- In sum, land conservation offers tangible trusts must help lead the way in providing enhancing investments rather than trying to opportunities to mitigate the impacts of “natural climate solutions” that, according keep pace with current underwriting expo- climate change. And land trusts, which have to the accredited Nature Conservancy, may sure.” For example, “in agriculture, closer ties a long history of shaping bipartisan collabora- provide as much as 37% of the global carbon between insurance and climate-smart conser- tion, are in a special position to host a national reductions needed by 2030. Land trusts vation practices—that win-win-win in terms dialogue on solutions to climate change. PAOLO DE SANTIS/123RF © already help to protect and manage wetlands of profitability, resilience and greenhouse gas and forests that store carbon and farms that mitigation—create new avenues for growing Diversity sustainably manage soil resources. conservation on working landscapes.” Whether having had a long career in conser- Patrick Holmes, former chief of staff to These ideas are in line with the innovative vation or just starting out, all participants the undersecretary for natural resources and programs that 2008 Kingsbury award recipient agree that it is essential to expand the

A group of past Kingsbury Browne Conservation Leadership Award winners gathered at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy to discuss the future of land conserva- tion. “Through words, ACCREDITATION & of foundation and government actions and non-tradi- tional partnerships, we stakeholders said accreditation must demonstrate that % factored into their organization’s we care as much about the human community as TRUST DECISION-MAKING. the natural community. 79 We must try to incorporate other societal goals— economic development, affordable housing, renewable energy, rec- reational access, social justice, etc.—into our % % % work whenever possible,” said Darby Bradley, the first winner in 2006 (front, 83 85 80 third from left). of landowners said of public agencies of landowners said LINCOLN INSTITUTE OF LAND POLICY accreditation increased and foundations they considered their confidence that said accreditation accreditation when their land would be increases their deciding to PROTECTED IN CONFIDENCE IN WORK WITH A PERPETUITY. LAND TRUSTS. LAND TRUST.

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 25 LINCOLN INSTITUTE OF LAND POLICY OF INSTITUTE LINCOLN

The second Kingsbury Browne colloquium included emerging stars in land conservation. Shanelle Smith, like Darby Bradley, also discussed inclusion: “The most urgent challenge that faces the land conservation movement is seeing itself as the solution to the many different socioeconomic issues that cities, both urban and rural face. We must grow our movement outside of ourselves if we are going to ‘win.’” (She is in the center of the middle row, with glasses.) diversity of the land conservation commu- for the land conservation movement will resources, environmental studies and nity. Peter Stein (2012 winner) eloquently require organizations to take bolder stances forestry could make a lasting difference noted that without the support of a more on a range of issues that aren’t traditionally in the diversity of conservation leadership racially, ethnically, socioeconomically and recognized as ‘green.’ The work needs to in years to come. Her colleague, Rodrigo age diverse set of members in the next few be truly intersectional—unafraid to look Otárola y Bentín of the Hispanic Access decades, “The political/community support, at the undeniable connections between Foundation, suggested that in addition to and the durability of conservation mecha- inequality, race, class, gender and access professional training, we need to approach nisms utilized to conserve land and water to natural resources.” the conversation regarding land and water resources in the United States…will be All agreed that the conservation com- “from an emotional and spiritual angle dramatically curtailed.” Will Rogers (2017 munity needs to go beyond recruiting to adequately harness the connection winner), president emeritus of the accred- token board members and meaningfully between [diverse] groups and nature.” ited Trust for Public Land, described TPL’s include people with diverse backgrounds To sustain a durable conservation move- vision that “every child in America should in the design, management and ongoing ment, we will clearly have to effectively grow up within a 10-minute walk of a park, leadership of land conservation programs and inclusively work together with a wide trail or natural area”—a call to action for and organizations. The land conservation spectrum of citizens. land trusts to expand parks and trails, espe- community will achieve real inclusion cially in cities and communities of color. when our programs genuinely reflect the Public Support and Education Members of the younger cohort needs and hopes of a wide range of people Closely related to diversity issues is the expressed urgency and passion about in communities around the country. challenge of public support and education. diversity and inclusion. Karena Mahung, a Mahung suggested that a significant Laura Johnson, past board chair of the Land consultant with leading forestry consulting investment in student scholarships and Trust Alliance, underscored the challenge provider Indufor North America, argued the funding of endowed chairs for people of widespread “biological illiteracy and that “the transformative change needed of color at leading schools of natural a lack of engagement.” Land trusts, she

26 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org Karena Mahung (left) and Carolyn duPont (right).

“pay-for-success bonds,” topics discussed by emerging leader Carolyn duPont, a director at impact investing advisory firm Quantified Ventures; and a new tool that can quickly identify tree species in shipment by their cel- lular structure to ensure that endangered species cannot slip through the system, a concept being explored by Martina Müller, a Brazilian-German lawyer who is currently a Louis Bacon Environmental Leadership Fellow at Harvard. It remains to be seen what impact these innovations will have on global land conser- vation efforts. However, it’s clear that new technologies and financing mechanisms will suggested, need to “expand their mission to housing, education, tourism, agriculture be essential for playing the long game of include education and rededicate ourselves and clean water. Land trusts are already planetary resilience. As biologist E.O. Wilson to working with school districts.” Jean engaging new partners: teachers, health put it, “We have entered the Century of the Hocker, former president of the Alliance clinics, community gardens, outdoor indus- Environment, in which the immediate future and the 2014 award recipient, envisions a try retailers and trail associations. But we is usefully conceived as a bottleneck: science day when “every student, every school, every have much more work to do. As Wayburn and technology, combined with foresight and grade level is not just exposed to environ- explained, to overcome the perception that moral courage, must see us through it and mental education, but has it infused in their land trusts do not care about communi- out.” (“The Bottleneck,” Scientific American, whole curriculum.” ties, “We need for our communities to Feb. 2002) Bowman expanded on this theme, force- recognize nature as a part of our essential fully advocating for comprehensive efforts to infrastructure.” Michael Dowling, former Wisdom and Urgency maintain public support for conservation. He Alliance board chair and a champion for In 1981, Kingsbury Browne convened a noted we must sustain efforts to emphasize community engagement, summarized that national meeting of land conservationists who the relevance of land protection, “countering “changing hearts and minds is not a luxury, were barely acquainted with one another. The the long-term threat of public apathy and it’s a necessity.” Dowling cited Abraham outcome was consensus to build a national disinterest in land conservation, as well as the Lincoln’s insight on the subject: “Public organization that has proved to be strong, growing lack of connection between many sentiment is everything. With public senti- resilient and inventive. Nearly 40 years later, Americans and the land.” (See Bowman’s ment, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing we have again gathered senior leaders and “From the President” column on page 5 can succeed.” rising stars to the Lincoln Institute to consider about the Alliance’s relevance campaign.) the future of voluntary land conservation in Jordan Schreiber, national advocacy manager Innovation in Finance America. If we, as a community, mobilize our at the Trust for Public Land, echoed those and Technology collective wisdom and sense of urgency on sentiments: “With urban and suburban areas In both meetings, wide-ranging discussions climate change, diversity, relevance and inno- growing at an exponential rate…people emerged regarding technological and financial vation, we, too, will make a historic impact on living in the United States run the risk of innovation. These included the use of “big land conservation. losing their long-held conservation ideals… data” to drive geographic information system JAMES N. LEVITT AND RAND WENTWORTH ORGANIZED AND FACILITATED THE KINGSBURY BROWNE DIALOGUES. WENTWORTH land conservation could fail to be a priority analyses of land conservation priorities, a IS PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE AND IS THE LOUIS BACON SENIOR FELLOW IN ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AT THE for future generations.” topic addressed thoughtfully by Rogers; HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL. LEVITT LEADS THE LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AT THE LINCOLN INSTITUTE OF LAND POLICY AND SERVES Participants from both meetings agreed innovative land conservation finance mecha- AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRAM ON CONSERVATION INNOVATION AT that to maintain and increase relevance nisms now under development, outlined by THE HARVARD FOREST. TO SEE THE LIST OF PAST KINGSBURY BROWNE AWARD WINNERS, land trusts will need to respond to broad Stein; the remarkable growth and avail- GO TO WWW.LTA.ORG/KINGSBURY-BROWNE-CONSERVATION- community needs: jobs, health, affordable ability of capital raised by “green bonds” and LEADERSHIP-AWARD.

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 27 board MATTERS

BY Mary Burke

MAKING THE MOST OF the Learning Center great new board member just The Alliance is here to help. As a benefit available to joined your land trust. She members* (note on page 30), you can access the extensive, is enthusiastic and has solid 24-7 learning resources available on the Learning Center (learningcenter.lta.org) to train your staff or board on the community connections, but ins and outs of land conservation. Best of all, there are a no real knowledge about land conservation variety of types of resources so you can get exactly what other than “it’s a great thing to do.” you need. Here are just a few of the tools and resources A available to you as a member of the Land Trust Alliance: Sound familiar? Perhaps you also have a new stewardship coordinator who started Engaging self-study courses on critical issues in land right out of college with lots of theoretical conservation. Each course takes 10-15 minutes and includes audio narration and short activities to test knowledge regarding invasive species but your knowledge. The first courses to be rolled out no idea what a baseline report is or how to focus on topics most critical to land trusts, including use it for monitoring. What’s a busy board drafting baselines, financial oversight, title work and chair or executive director to do? fiscal health. To make things even simpler, the Learning Center allows you to assign these courses to other people in your

28 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org land trust. Click on the three dots next to Tips on Making the Learning Center 1. Identify what your training needs and the Enroll button to enroll a member of Work for Your Land Trust priorities are. First do a skills assess- your team. As busy conservationists, you and your team ment to determine individual train- Land Trust Standards and Practices. Get don’t have the time to review every available ing needs. If someone is falling short detailed guidance on how best practices resource. So how do you make the most of on one aspect of his or her job, look translate to real life. Each practice includes your limited training time? at whether you have provided enough a short PDF document that explains how to implement the practice. Sample documents. No need to reinvent the wheel each time your land trust needs Overheard in the Forums a policy. There are sample documents for just about every aspect of land trust work. on the Learning Center They come from land trusts of all sizes and from across the country, and they are Here’s a sampling of some recent discussions in the Learning Center forums. retired or replaced after five years so you can be confident you have the most up-to- We have been having some difficulty boosting our Facebook posts lately since they date resource. came under fire from Congress. We've had three promotions rejected because they Rallynet. Couldn’t bring your whole contain words such as private/public partnerships, town, county, etc. Has anyone team to Rally this year or misplaced a great found a way to get around this? handout you received? Not to worry; hand- outs, presentations and other materials from See several great answers in the Communicators’ Network forum at workshops at the most recent five confer- tlc.lta.org/communicators. ences are available on the Learning Center at https://tlc.lta.org/rallynet. A budget that envisions your land trust as a long-term, vibrant and financially Ask an Expert and other online communities sound organization is more than numbers. (forums). Ask an Expert is a moderated online community where experts are Read more in the Ask an Expert forum at tlc.lta.org/askanexpert. available to answer questions. It’s also a place where land trusts can share ideas, We recently completed a multi-year effort to establish consistent naming conventions support each other and celebrate successes. after 25 years of conservation easement and fee acquisition and stewardship. Additionally, the Learning Center has smaller, more focused online groups dedi- Read more in the Stewardship forum at tlc.lta.org/stewardshipforum. cated to specific topics, such as community conservation, stewardship, communications In addition to the forums, you can connect to the Land Trust Alliance’s public website and more. We make it convenient for you to blog, “The Dirt,” from the Ask an Expert forum. Once you log in to the Learning Center, stay up to date by having posts sent automat- click “Forums” on the left blue navigation bar to bring up the list of forums. Look for “Ask ically to your inbox. To find the list of online an Expert” and click on the flag under the “subscribe to emails” column, turning the flag communities, go to https://tlc.lta.org/forums. solid. You will then receive emails from the Ask an Expert forum and announcements To subscribe, simply click on the bookmark when new material is added to the blog (with a link to take you there). • flag next to any topic that interests you (screenshot at right). Case Law Summaries and Conservation Defense Tools. Critical case law summa- ries are updated approximately every four months. In addition, we have a collection of resources to help you prevent legal chal- lenges and respond effectively when they come up. Included in this collection are practical pointers, a legal defense reserve calculator and information on Terrafirma. See https://tlc.lta.org/lawlibrary.

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 29 board MATTERS

After clicking on "Browse the Digital Library" you will see this page that shows the various sections ready to be explored.

information and resources for him or corner of every screen to get help via what they learned with their peers. her to succeed. If not, set up a training our chat support. Doing so serves two purposes, giving plan with specific due dates and then 3. Link the training to your mission and individual team members a chance to periodically check in with that person. create a culture that celebrates learning. shine in front of their peers while also For overall organizational health, Adult learners want to know that their sharing valuable knowledge. The key take the time to do an organiza- time is well spent and tied to their is to motivate your team to want to tional assessment. Assessing Your jobs. Make it clear to your team that take training. Organization is a good place to start. taking the time to complete a train- 4. Provide the Alliance with feedback. We It asks specific questions about your ing will enable them to do their jobs spend a lot of time thinking about organization’s practices that can better, faster and with fewer head- what materials and training events to help you identify places for improve- aches. Emphasize that training will offer. But we don’t know what we don’t ment. The Alliance will launch an help your whole land trust more easily know. If a course isn’t helpful or you online version of the assessment later achieve its mission. need training in a different area, let us this year. In the meantime you can In general, create a culture that know. We welcome your feedback at download and print the assessment in values continuous learning. Promote [email protected]. Word format. the value of training at your staff 2. Ensure your team is comfortable with meetings and share the benefits of There are many resources on the using the Learning Center. The Alliance training in your communications. Learning Center, so take some time and upgraded the Learning Center to Once team members have completed poke around. You’ll be richly rewarded! a new platform in 2018 with new a training, celebrate their accomplish- MARY BURKE IS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION SERVICES FOR THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE. features and structure. Spending some ments. Perhaps note their training time up front getting to know the new in your newsletter or plan a year-end system and what it has to offer will pay festive lunch for those who completed * Land Trust Alliance members, affiliates and off in the long run when you need to a certain amount of training during individual supporters (at the $500 level and up) find that sample document in a hurry. the year. Another way to celebrate can access the Learning Center by either creating Not sure where to start? Just click on learning is to provide your team a login (new members) or by retrieving an the green circle in the lower right-hand members with an opportunity to share existing login.

30 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org accreditation CORNER

BY Kirsten Ferguson

NEW SYSTEM Saves Paper and Time, Eases Burden

n the past, land trusts applying for accreditation couldn’t escape the reams of paper required to document their adherence to Land Trust Standards I and Practices. “I remember when we originally applied “I assigned the financial piece to our for accreditation, I felt like I was constantly treasurer. With the old system, he would flipping through binders,” says Jane Calvin, have sent me the files, and I would have executive director of Lowell Parks & downloaded them, saved them to a thumb Conservation Trust, Inc., which is applying drive, printed them in triplicate, three- for renewal this year. hole punched them and inserted them into That reliance on paper changes with the new binders. The new system saves so much time online application system launched in January and paper,” she says. “Plus, it’s reassuring for first-time and renewal accreditation, says to see your progress in the new system, Jennifer Brady-Connor, associate director for through the progress bars and percentage- technology and communications for the Land complete estimates. I always knew where we Trust Accreditation Commission. stood in relation to the finish line.” “I constantly heard frustrations with Although Jordan Leff, director of the old system,” she says. “We could operations for Harding Land Trust in never fully address those problems—until New Jersey, wasn’t involved with the now. Land trusts applying on the new group’s initial accreditation, he had heard system will be excited. There will be no plenty about how cumbersome the process more binders that are heavy and expen- could be at times. sive to ship.” “Going from that to using the online Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust, system was pretty great,” he says of the Inc.—a small urban land trust north of group’s pilot testing during their renewal Boston—is one of several land trusts that process. “I liked that the new system helped test the new system during its pre- linked to videos and support files directly. application renewal. We’re a small group, a single town land “I thought it was much more efficient,” trust. But our adjustment to the new says Calvin. “I like that the new system system has been seamless.” provides document storage, so you can On Block Island off Rhode Island, there’s go back and refer to a document without no high-speed internet. “We frequently have having to upload it again. Also, I liked issues with uploading speed due to our rural the resources tab, which gives you lots of location,” says Clair Stover, executive direc- The way it was. video instruction on how to get from step tor of Block Island Conservancy. Stover says to step.” that although she had to visit the mainland divided up into four categories [finance, For Trish Percival of Granby Land Trust to upload some of the group’s renewal pre- governance, stewardship and transactions] in Connecticut, having a central platform application, she appreciated the time- and that made sense. Accreditation is such a where board members could collaborate on paper-saving nature of the new process. great exercise in doing a really thorough accreditation renewal was a major benefit “It went very smoothly,” she says. “I liked check to make sure you’re being the best she found while testing the system. that the website was very intuitive and you can be.”

HAVE YOU SEEN “AN IMPACT EVALUATION OF THE LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION PROGRAM’S FIRST TEN YEARS” AT WWW.LANDTRUSTACCREDITATION.ORG/ABOUT/IMPACT-EVALUATION?

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 31 fundraising WISDOM

BY Carla Sims, Krista Magaw and Megan Bachman

Tecumseh Land Trust

MATHIEU BITTON MATHIEU + Dave Chappelle:

Dave Chappelle stands behind Frédéric Yonnet on the harmonica and Peter Ortega on the saxophone. preserving land and culture hen it comes to fundraising, The Juke Joint provides the accredited land trust with the Tecumseh Land Trust several opportunities to build public awareness of its (TLT) counts “Dave mission, recruit donors and thank volunteers. “For the past three years, this has been one of our largest fund- Chappelle’s Juke Joint fea- W raisers,” says Executive Director Krista Magaw. turing Frédéric Yonnet and the Band with Whitehall Farm owners Sharen and Dave Neuhardt are No Name” as one of its most “giving gifts.” two of TLT’s biggest advocates. When Chappelle asked the Neuhardts to use their 1920’s bank barn, they said yes, Local resident and award-winning comedian Dave as long as the land trust can benefit. Chappelle graciously Chappelle is best known for his stand-up act. However, donates the rental fee for the barn to TLT. “We also his appreciation of good music is hardly a secret. Since sell and maintain the proceeds from beverage sales,” says 2015, Chappelle has brought some of the best talent in the Magaw. “Most importantly, we work closely with Dave country to the small village of Yellow Springs, Ohio (pop. and his team to recruit volunteers and to highlight the 3,800), in a revival of the African-American juke joints work that protected this farm against urban sprawl.” that once dotted the rural South in the Jim Crow Era. It In 1999, heirs of the Whitehall Farm decided to auction all happens in a barn on a working farm that TLT helped 940 acres of the pristine farmland, leaving it prey to preserve, a historic property known as Whitehall Farm. developers. Concern from the community sparked outrage

32 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org and resulted in a grassroots effort to save the Neal Hurston, influential author of African- next day,” says Carla Sims, Chappelle’s farm. Tecumseh Land Trust and other groups American literature and anthropologist. publicist and event producer. organized quickly and within two months R&B, funk, soul, rock ’n’ roll, and hip-hop Chappelle has hosted Juke Joints and they had raised $1.2 million to be used for the all trace their roots to the juke joint. pop-ups—last minute events—around the conservation easement on the property. But All are welcome at Chappelle’s modern- world in cities that include Johannesburg, that wasn’t enough to secure all the parcels. day Juke Joint as it celebrates this lineage London, Toronto, Montreal, New York, Los “Then the Neuhardts walked in,” says Magaw. and the legacy of African-American music. Angeles, Austin, Chicago and New Orleans. “We collaborated with them and some area Once inside, the state-of-art production Celebrity guests who have made their way farmers in order to finalize a deal that forever signals how serious Chappelle takes his to the barn in Yellow Springs include John preserves the space as open farmland.” music. Meanwhile the smell and the heat Legend, Jill Scott, Robert Glasper, Bradley Whitehall Farm and its mansion are remind you you’re in a barn. Cooper, Naomi Campbell, Q-Tip and Jarobi now nationally known as the home to one Hip-hop legend DJ Derrick “D-Nice” White (Tribe Called Quest), Talib Kweli, of the first meetings of the new Republican Jones kicks off the night, spinning from Pharoahe Monch, Doug E. Fresh, Kardinal Party (1856); to the breeder of the most one end of the barn while The Band with Offishall, DJ Trauma, DJ Cipha Sounds, famous Shorthorn bull in the world, the No Name positions itself at the other. Hi-Tek, Martin Luther McCoy, and comedi- Whitehall Sultan (1908-13); and now as Chappelle toggles between stages and ans Amy Schumer, Hannibal Buress, Donnell the home of the original Dave Chappelle’s serves as instigator and ultimate hype- Rawlings and others. Juke Joint (2015). man. Harmonica virtuoso and bandleader “Juke Joint marries two of Dave’s passions— Frédéric Yonnet takes the audience on a music and comedy,” says Sims. “Sharing this A Look Inside the Juke Joint trip through Chappelle’s personal playlist level of artistry with Yellow Springs, and vice on Whitehall Farm that includes tunes ranging from Coltrane versa, creates the stuff from which legends Historically, juke joints were African- to Nirvana. Yonnet, who toured with are made.” American establishments that sprang up in legends Stevie Wonder and Prince, leads “It was a gift,” says Sarah Buffy, who the rural South during the Jim Crow era. the band in a “Band vs. DJ” sound-clash traveled from Cincinnati for the event. Poverty made life tough for rural workers. that blurs all musical lines. “[Chappelle] opened with gratitude for his Since they were barred from white estab- Celebrity guests cycle on and off stage hometown. It was so beautiful and heartfelt.” lishments, African-American sharecroppers at their whim. There’s no pressure. Akin to In addition to supporting the Tecumseh and plantation workers turned barns and the juke joints of the old South, everything Land Trust, the Juke Joint brings incremen- other ramshackle buildings into safe places is improvised, and the room feels safe. Cell tal revenue to area businesses, including to socialize, eat, drink, dance, gamble and phones are prohibited. hotels, restaurants, local food trucks, shops relax from the pressures of society. “The no-cell-phone policy is a critical part and contractors. “Musically speaking, the Jook (sic) is the of the culture of the Juke Joint. It allows the most important place in America. For in audience to be more present and attentive, Lessons Learned its smelly, shoddy confines has been born and it allows performers to relax and feel “At the first couple of events, we set up an the secular music known as blues, and on comfortable knowing their improvisation information table and distributed flyers about blues has been founded jazz,” wrote Zora and freestyles won’t be posted online the the land trust; however, much of the materials ended up in the trash,” says Magaw. They’ve learned a few lessons since then. Now, TLT generates awareness through signage and word of mouth. Co-branded street banners, land trust T-shirts and inclusion in market- ing and press materials made the difference during the last event. “Plus, Dave is a great storyteller and having him shout out the land trust and our valuable work from the stage is priceless,” says Magaw.

CARLA SIMS IS DAVE CHAPPELLE’S PUBLICIST AND EVENT PRODUCER. KRISTA MAGAW IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TECUMSEH LAND TRUST (TECUMSEHLANDTRUST.ORG), AND MEGAN BACHMAN IS THE EDITOR OF THE YELLOW SPRINGS NEWS (WWW.YSNEWS.COM). WATCH DAVE FRÉDÉRIC YONNET FRÉDÉRIC CHAPPELLE’S JUKE JOINT PROMO VIDEO AT HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/ The 1920s barn on Whitehall Farm. WATCH?V=NJ81COoOTM8.

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 33 resources & TOOLS

Seventh Legal Symposium COMING IN JUNE

ooking to stay informed on conservation law? Interested in crafting practical legal solutions? JoinL us for the Land Trust Alliance’s Seventh Symposium on Advanced Legal Topics in Land Conservation June 13-14 at the Biltmore Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island. The Symposium is the ideal oppor- tunity for attorneys, appraisers, accountants, experienced land trust professionals and law school faculty to come together to discuss important issues land trusts currently face. Distinguished faculty will deliver up-to- date information impossible to find at any other single program on timely topics in conservation law. You will leave with practical tips you can put to use immediately upon your return to the office.

See the Symposium ad on page 13 of GLISSON,DJ II this issue and check out the agenda at Providence is known for many things, including Waterfire, an award-winning sculpture by Barnaby Evans installed on lta.org/legal. • the three rivers of downtown Providence.

New Report on Landscape Conservation

LAND TRUSTS ARE INCREASINGLY landscape conservation practitioners PATHWAYS FORWARD WORKING COLLABORATIVELY from the United States, Canada and Progress and Priorities in Landscape Conservation with each other and multiple other Mexico, providing an opportunity to stakeholders to achieve conservation share lessons learned, discuss ongoing on a larger scale. But how can land challenges and explore pathways forward trusts work effectively in this larger to advance the practice of collaborative arena? The Network for Landscape landscape conservation. Conservation (NLC), founded in “Pathways Forward” provides an in- 2011, recently released “Pathways depth look at five important landscape Forward: Progress and Priorities in conservation topics, with a focus on recent Landscape Conservation.” innovations, on-the-ground examples and The report makes a meaningful action-oriented strategies. Land trusts will contribution to the evolving practice find it an important and inspirational way of collaborative conservation at to learn more about collaborating across the landscape scale by sharing the sectors and geographies—the scale at insights that emerged from the which nature functions. National Forum on Landscape NLC is a broad-based network that 2018 Conservation held in 2017. The includes more than 100 organizational Forum brought together 200 leading partners and 2,000 practitioners fulfilling

34 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org CONNECT WITH US! www.facebook.com/landtrustalliance www.twitter.com/ltalliance www.instagram.com/ltalliance

a unique purpose as an umbrella network and hub of activity to advance the practice of landscape conservation. Erin Heskett, Land Trust Alliance vice president of national and regional ser- vices, is on the coordinating committee of NLC. “The Network Bookmarks is leading the way in helping us all understand and innovate in Blog the rapidly growing field of conservation at the broader landscape The Land Trust Alliance has spent several years gathering excellent scale. NLC has many land trust partners and we are collectively content for the blog on its main website. “The Dirt” covers such changing the face of conservation as we tackle the ecosystem-scale topics as policy, climate change, community conservation and challenges of the 21st century,” says Heskett. much more. From the practical to the profound, the blog presents Find the report at http://landscapeconservation.org/our-work/2017- voices from the land conservation community in a short format national-forum. Keep up with news and innovations by signing up for that’s easily searchable. Here’s a sampling: NLC’s bimonthly Landscape Conservation Bulletin. • www.lta.org/blog/helping-veterans-access-nature www.lta.org/blog/healing-together www.lta.org/blog/re-climate-201811 New Drone Rules www.lta.org/blog/five-rules-successful-advocacy

IF YOUR LAND TRUST USES AUTOMATED AERIAL VEHICLES Video (aka drones) for annual monitoring of your preserves, you may We get links to some outstanding videos, too, such as this one want to read about a recent development. The old Federal Aviation that answers the question, “What if your final exam was hiking Administration law blocked the FAA from regulating drones the Appalachian Trail?” The Appalachian Trail Conservancy put along with model aircraft. The 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act together a refreshingly honest video about high school students has repealed that Section 336 and replaced it with a new Section in New Jersey who are required to hike the trail as part of their 349, which covers what the FAA expects of recreational flyers. school’s curriculum. Watch the video at http://appalachiantrail. The new law requires all operators, including hobbyists, to pass an org/myatstory/stay-together. aeronautical knowledge and safety test but doesn’t require people to go in person to get an airman’s certificate. See https://spectrum. Film ieee.org/automaton/robotics/drones/new-faa-rules-for-drones-go- Tammy Wright, the executive director of the accredited Bur Oak Land into-effect . Trust in Iowa City, Iowa, describes a film project with a student group at Iowa BIG, “composed of high school students who experience learning through outside-of-classroom real life experiences.” Wright says, “The students interviewed us and one of our conservation easement landowners. They created a documentary, ‘Somewhere Only We Know,’ approximately 45 minutes long. It’s very very good—so good that is has received an award from a Canadian film festival and was a semifinalist in the 2018 Los Angeles Cinefest.” It showcases a family and its decision to enter into a conservation easement with Bur Oak Land Trust. See the trailer at www.youtube. com/watch?v=F_84OYIhVEU.

To submit something to Bookmarks, email the editor at [email protected]. ROBERT ECKENRODE Photographer DJ Glisson, on assignment for the Land Trust Alliance, used his drone to capture aerial footage for the accredited Newtown Forest Association.

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 35 people & PLACES

FARM BILL HELPS forests, too ELLIOTT WAYBURN-BEST

Pacific Forest Trust President Laurie Wayburn leads a tour of the recently protected Mountcrest Working Forest near Ashland, Oregon.

hen the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law on December 20, it was diverse and resilient native forest type, with widely known that the bill would set policies on a wide range of well-spaced, older, larger trees whose well- agriculture-related issues. Not as widely known, according to Laurie developed bark is fire resistant and whose Wayburn, president of the accredited Pacific Forest Trust, is that deeper root systems help the forest remain “though it’s called the Farm Bill, it helps forests, too.” healthy despite droughts or disease. The W project also involves direct fuels reductions Wayburn explains, “It allocates about $1.8 to create financial incentives that reward to lessen risks of high-intensity fires that billion over the next four years for the tools private owners for conserving their lands would threaten the adjacent communities of our nation’s private forest owners need to and managing to sustain the full range of Mount Shasta City and Weed. It’s part of a keep our forests healthy. That’s why Pacific forest services. A primary focus has been network of over 40,000 acres of well-managed Forest Trust supported this bill, along with to reward forest landowners who conserve forests that PFT has conserved in the area. a coalition of organizations that represent and manage their forests for climate ben- These projects are all increasing the forests’ millions of forest owners, conservationists, efits, succeeding in integrating forests into net carbon stores—as well as their climate hunters, anglers, forest products manufac- California’s climate policy. While PFT’s resilience and watershed function—while also turers and natural resource professionals.” work creating forest carbon offsets is better yielding ongoing timber supply and sustaining Wayburn has worked in conservation known (some 7 million acres across 30 local economies. since she was a teenager, starting with her states are engaged in the carbon market), Wayburn explains that the Farm Bill San Francisco public school’s environmen- having the state invest in forests for climate reauthorization helps forests and landown- tal education program. She grew up hiking benefits is making a major mark as well. ers in the following ways: Mount Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods The recently completed Black Butte project, • Codifying the U.S. Forest Service and the Point Reyes National Seashore. Her conserving over 5,000 acres on the flanks Landscape Scale Restoration Program, parents were conservationists; her father, Edgar of Mount Shasta in northern California, providing $20 million in funding. It Wayburn, was a five-time Sierra Club president. is a good example. The California Climate expands existing authorities to focus the “I can walk out of my office and in a few Investments program, which is funded LSRP on cross-boundary restoration minutes see the Wayburn Grove of 100-foot through the auction of CO2 pollution allow- to address such concerns as watershed tall coastal redwood sequoias that was dedi- ances in the state cap and trade program, restoration, wildfire risk reduction and cated to my parents,” says Wayburn. provided over $5.1 million to conserve this wildlife habitat conservation. In 1993, Wayburn and her partner, working forest. The project guides forest • Allocating $300 million in mandatory Connie Best, founded Pacific Forest Trust management to restore a more naturally funding for the Regional Conservation

36 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org Partnership Program to encourage part- Healthy Forests Reserve Program capacity through the use of low value, nership in forest management. It also and maintaining its eligibility within small-diameter material. allows new RCPP arrangements that the RCPP. • Establishing a performance- explore alternative funding distribution • Authorizing $25 million in annual dis- driven research and development mechanisms with an eligible partner to cretionary funding from 2019–2023 for program, originally introduced in implement activities on the land. the Community Wood Energy Program the Timber Innovation Act, to help • R eauthorizing and providing $12 million and modifying it to support grants for advance research funded by Wood in discretionary annual funding for the new infrastructure, new mills and added Innovation Grants. •

Growing Community

LOCATED ACROSS FROM THE HIGH waist-high growing beds and educational and SCHOOL AND THE REGIONAL YMCA in an recreational garden areas, too. urbanizing part of Saratoga Springs, New ASA was asked to be the easement’s York, the Pitney Meadows Community third-party enforcer. “ASA is honored to Farm is a place where people from all walks uphold the Pitney Family’s conservation of life can learn, enjoy, connect to each other vision for the property. We especially see and build a sense of community. Pitney Meadows serving as a place to train With the support of hundreds of donors, new farmers who may eventually end up Pitney Meadows Community Farm purchased farming across the river in Washington or the property and simultaneously conserved Rensselaer counties,” said ASA Executive the 166-acre farm with the City of Saratoga Director Teri Ptacek. Springs. Neighboring accredited land trust, Pitney Meadows will eventually create Agricultural Stewardship Association (ASA) a farming school and use the community helped make the project possible. gardens to educate and train future farmers. The farm is home to community gardens for And the area is more than a place where

individual gardeners and volunteers and part- crops grow. Hosting year-round commu- FARM COMMUNITY MEADOWS PITNEY OF COURTESY ners who grow food for the local food bank. It nity events, Pitney Meadows has become a Pitney Meadows Community Farm is creating partner- has raised gardens for those who benefit from familiar space for the community. • ships that build a sense of belonging and shared joy.

Ear to the Ground *Accredited There are lots of interesting things going on at the Lancaster At Natural Lands,* Oliver Bass has stepped in as its new Farmland Trust.* In 2018 it celebrated 30 years, preserved president. Bass, formerly vice president of communications and its 500th farm and brought its total acres preserved to engagement, succeeds Molly Morrison, who retired at the end 30,000. On January 1, Deputy Director Jeff Swinehart was of 2018. promoted to Chief Operating Officer. Filling the opening cre- At Capitol Land Trust* in Washington State, David Winter is ated by Swinehart’s promotion is current Land Preservation assuming the reins as executive director, returning to his home- Coordinator Jeb Musser, who becomes the Director of Land town of Olympia. Most recently, he was Puget Sound Outdoor Protection—a title change and a department name change as Programs & Outreach Manager for Seattle-based REI. the organization strives to bring its conservation efforts to Among the anniversaries celebrated in 2018: Monadnock the forefront alongside preservation. Finally, Swinehart has Conservancy* and Five Rivers Conservation Trust*—both in New been elected to serve on the Terrafirma Risk Retention Group Hampshire—had their 30th and the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Members’ Committee, serving as the representative for land Authority* in California had its 25th. In 2019 the Society for the trusts in the Mid-Atlantic region. Protection of New Hampshire Forests* turns 118!

www.landtrustalliance.org SAVINGland Spring 2019 37 inspired

ROXANNE HUDSON, SPRINGRAIN FARM & ORCHARD A Natural System

t SpringRain Farm & Orchard in chickens and ducks provide. Poultry are at the heart Chimacum, Washington, the chickens of their operation, and they are essential to the farm’s have it made. integrated pest management system, as they eat insect SpringRain, a certified organic family pests and disease vectors. They are raised among the farm, is owned and operated by John Bellow and his wife, perennial fruits where their manure provides rich ARoxanne Hudson. They are committed to sustainably fertilizer for trees and plants. Broiler chickens live producing organic food for their local community. They’re in apple and pear orchards, spreading manure and also committed to conservation, having donated a conser- scratching up weed seeds. They eat fallen fruit, which vation easement to the accredited Jefferson Land Trust. enhances disease management. At night they are In AcresUSA, writer Lauren Turner explains, “Systems protected in custom-built houses that move between thinking is key to the farm’s operation. John and Roxanne rows of trees.” (AcresUSA Vol. 48 No. 1)* regard their operation as a complex of integrated natural “SpringRain Farm is one of the properties we’ve systems that interact and affect one another, and they worked with in the Chimacum Creek Watershed,” plan for the animals and plants to work together. The says Jefferson Land Trust Executive Director Richard diversified farming system involves protein, vegetables, Tucker. “They steward 1,000 feet of Chimacum Creek fruit and pollinators, and they strive for the farm to be and have worked to reforest and restore the stream, an ecological system that mimics a natural ecosystem. leading to increased salmon habitat. Together we “That means, for instance, that besides raising protect working farmland and riparian habitat.” chickens for meat and their amazing eggs with rich *https://drive.google.com/file/d/1js8ZyNLAqrPU1mD6 orange yolks, they also think about other services the A217bFaTwfea3xHd/view.

38 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org Accredited Land Trusts

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING LAND CONSERVATION GROUPS

NATIONAL · Peninsula Open Space Trust · Kent Land Trust · Access Fund · Placer Land Trust · Land Conservancy of Ridgefield · Ducks Unlimited and its affiliate, · Rivers & Lands Conservancy · Lyme Land Conservation Trust Wetlands America Trust · Sacramento Valley Conservancy · Naromi Land Trust · The Conservation Fund and its affiliate, · San Diego Habitat Conservancy · New Canaan Land Trust * Sustainable Conservation · San Joaquin River Parkway · Newtown Forest Association · The Nature Conservancy and Conservation Trust · Norfolk Land Trust · The Trust for Public Land · Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority · Redding Land Trust · The Wilderness Land Trust · Save Mount Diablo · Roxbury Land Trust · Save the Redwoods League ¹ · Salem Land Trust · Sempervirens Fund · Salisbury Association ALABAMA · Sequoia Riverlands Trust · Sharon Land Trust · Freshwater Land Trust · Shasta Land Trust · Steep Rock Association · Land Trust of North Alabama · Sierra Foothill Conservancy · Warren Land Trust · Weeks Bay Foundation · Solano Land Trust ¹ · Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust · Sonoma Land Trust · Winchester Land Trust · Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust ALASKA · Tejon Ranch Conservancy FLORIDA · Great Land Trust · Transition Habitat Conservancy · Interior Alaska Land Trust · Tri-Valley Conservancy · Alachua Conservation Trust · Kachemak Heritage Land Trust ¹ · Truckee Donner Land Trust · Conservation Florida · Southeast Alaska Land Trust · Wildlife Heritage Foundation · Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast · North Florida Land Trust · Tall Timbers Research Station ARIZONA COLORADO & Land Conservancy · Arizona Land and Water Trust ¹ · Aspen Valley Land Trust · Tampa Bay Conservancy · Central Arizona Land Trust · Black Canyon Regional Land Trust · Desert Foothills Land Trust · Central Colorado Conservancy GEORGIA · Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural · Athens Land Trust ARKANSAS Land Trust · Colorado Headwaters Land Trust · Central Savannah River Land Trust · Northwest Arkansas Land Trust · Colorado Open Lands · Chattooga Conservancy · Colorado West Land Trust · Georgia-Alabama Land Trust CALIFORNIA · Crested Butte Land Trust · Georgia Piedmont Land Trust · Mountain Conservation Trust of Georgia · Bear Yuba Land Trust · Douglas Land Conservancy · St. Simons Land Trust · Big Sur Land Trust · Eagle Valley Land Trust · California Farmland Trust · Estes Valley Land Trust · California Rangeland Trust · La Plata Open Space Conservancy HAWAI’I · Montezuma Land Conservancy · Cayucos Land Conservancy · Hawaiian Islands Land Trust · Center for Natural Lands Management · Mountain Area Land Trust · Eastern Sierra Land Trust · Palmer Land Trust · Elkhorn Slough Foundation · Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust IDAHO · Fallbrook Land Conservancy · San Isabel Land Protection Trust · Kaniksu Land Trust · Feather River Land Trust · Southern Plains Land Trust · Land Trust of the Treasure Valley · John Muir Land Trust · Lemhi Regional Land Trust · Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County CONNECTICUT · Palouse Land Trust · Land Trust for Santa Barbara County · Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust · Land Trust of Napa County · Avalonia Land Conservancy · Teton Regional Land Trust · Land Trust of Santa Clara Valley · Candlewood Valley Regional Land Trust · Wood River Land Trust · Colchester Land Trust · Land Trust of Santa Cruz County ¹ · Connecticut Farmland Trust · Marin Agricultural Land Trust ILLINOIS · Mendocino Land Trust · Cornwall Conservation Trust · Mojave Desert Land Trust · Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust · Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation · Mother Lode Land Trust · Granby Land Trust · Lake Forest Open Lands Association and · Greenwich Land Trust its affiliate, Lake Forest Land Foundation · Northcoast Regional Land Trust ¹ · Northern California Regional Land Trust · Housatonic Valley Association · Natural Land Institute · Ojai Valley Land Conservancy · Joshua's Tract Conservation · Openlands · Pacific Forest Trust and Historic Trust · Prairie Land Conservancy *

3 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org INDIANA · Buzzards Bay Coalition and its affiliate, · Society for the Protection of · Central Indiana Land Trust Acushnet River Reserve New Hampshire Forests ¹ · NICHES Land Trust · Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust · Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire · Shirley Heinze Land Trust · Groton Conservation Trust · Squam Lakes Conservation Society · Sycamore Land Trust * · Kestrel Land Trust · Upper Saco Valley Land Trust · Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust · Upper Valley Land Trust · Massachusetts Audubon Society IOWA · Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust NEW JERSEY · Bur Oak Land Trust ¹ · Sheriff's Meadow Foundation · Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation · Sudbury Valley Trustees · D&R Greenway Land Trust · The Trustees of Reservations and its affiliates, · Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space * Hilltown Land Trust and Massachusetts Land · Great Swamp Watershed Association KANSAS Conservation Trust · Harding Land Trust · Kansas Land Trust · Wareham Land Trust · Hunterdon Land Trust · Ranchland Trust of Kansas · Monmouth Conservation Foundation · New Jersey Conservation Foundation MICHIGAN · Raritan Headwaters Association KENTUCKY · Chikaming Open Lands · Ridge and Valley Conservancy · Bluegrass Land Conservancy · Chippewa Watershed Conservancy · South Jersey Land and Water Trust · Kentucky Natural Lands Trust · Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy · The Land Conservancy of New Jersey · Louisville & Jefferson County · Keweenaw Land Trust * Environmental Trust · Land Conservancy of West Michigan NEW MEXICO · River Fields · Leelanau Conservancy · Woods and Waters Land Trust · Legacy Land Conservancy · New Mexico Land Conservancy · Little Forks Conservancy · Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust · Santa Fe Conservation Trust LOUISIANA · Michigan Nature Association · North Oakland Headwaters · Taos Land Trust · Land Trust for Louisiana Land Conservancy · Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy NEW YORK MAINE · Six Rivers Land Conservancy · Adirondack Land Trust · Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy * · Androscoggin Land Trust · Agricultural Stewardship Association ¹ · Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy · Bangor Land Trust · Cazenovia Preservation Foundation · Blue Hill Heritage Trust · Champlain Area Trails · Boothbay Region Land Trust MINNESOTA · Columbia Land Conservancy · Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust · Minnesota Land Trust · Dutchess Land Conservancy · Cape Elizabeth Land Trust · Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve · Chebeague & Cumberland Land Trust · Finger Lakes Land Trust · Coastal Mountains Land Trust MISSISSIPPI · Genesee Land Trust · Damariscotta River Association · Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain · Genesee Valley Conservancy · Downeast Coastal Conservancy · Greene Land Trust · Forest Society of Maine MISSOURI · Hudson Highlands Land Trust · Frenchman Bay Conservancy · Indian River Lakes Conservancy · Georges River Land Trust · Ozark Regional Land Trust * · Lake George Land Conservancy · Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust · Mianus River Gorge · Harpswell Heritage Land Trust MONTANA · Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy ¹ · Kennebec Estuary Land Trust · Mohonk Preserve ¹ · Bitter Root Land Trust ¹ · Kennebec Land Trust · North Salem Open Land Foundation · Five Valleys Land Trust · Loon Echo Land Trust · North Shore Land Alliance · Flathead Land Trust ¹ · Mahoosuc Land Trust · Oblong Land Conservancy · Gallatin Valley Land Trust · Maine Coast Heritage Trust · Open Space Institute and its affiliate, · Montana Land Reliance · Medomak Valley Land Trust Open Space Institute Land Trust · Prickly Pear Land Trust · Midcoast Conservancy · Orange County Land Trust · Vital Ground Foundation · Oceanside Conservation Trust · Otsego Land Trust of Casco Bay · Putnam County Land Trust – Save · Orono Land Trust NEBRASKA Open Spaces · Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust · Nebraska Land Trust ¹ · Rensselaer Land Trust · Three Rivers Land Trust · Rensselaer Plateau Alliance · Vinalhaven Land Trust · Rondout-Esopus Land Conservancy NEVADA · Saratoga P.L.A.N. MARYLAND · Nevada Land Trust · Scenic Hudson and its affiliate, Scenic Hudson Land Trust · American Chestnut Land Trust · Thousand Islands Land Trust · Eastern Shore Land Conservancy NEW HAMPSHIRE · Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust · Lower Shore Land Trust · Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust · Wallkill Valley Land Trust · Potomac Conservancy · Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust · Westchester Land Trust · Bear-Paw Regional Greenways · Western New York Land Conservancy MASSACHUSETTS · Five Rivers Conservation Trust · Winnakee Land Trust · Lakes Region Conservation Trust · Ashburnham Conservation Trust · Woodstock Land Conservancy · Monadnock Conservancy · Ashby Land Trust · Piscataquog Land Conservancy

4 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org NORTH CAROLINA PUERTO RICO · Northern Virginia Conservation Trust · Blue Ridge Conservancy · Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico · Piedmont Environmental Council · Catawba Lands Conservancy · Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust · Conservation Trust for North Carolina RHODE ISLAND · Conserving Carolina WASHINGTON · Davidson Lands Conservancy · Aquidneck Land Trust * · Bainbridge Island Land Trust · Eno River Association · Block Island Conservancy · Blue Mountain Land Trust · Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina · Sakonnet Preservation Association · Capitol Land Trust · Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust ¹ · South Kingstown Land Trust · Chelan-Douglas Land Trust · Mainspring Conservation Trust · Tiverton Land Trust · Columbia Land Trust · New River Conservancy · Westerly Land Trust · Forterra · North Carolina Coastal Land Trust · Great Peninsula Conservancy · Piedmont Land Conservancy SOUTH CAROLINA · Inland Northwest Land Conservancy · RiverLink * · Aiken Land Conservancy · Jefferson Land Trust · Southern Appalachian · Beaufort County Open Land Trust · Lummi Island Heritage Trust ¹ Highlands Conservancy · Congaree Land Trust · Methow Conservancy · Tar River Land Conservancy ¹ · East Cooper Land Trust · Nisqually Land Trust ¹ · The Walthour-Moss Foundation * · Edisto Island Open Land Trust · North Olympic Land Trust · Three Rivers Land Trust · Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy · PCC Farmland Trust · Triangle Land Conservancy · Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust · San Juan Preservation Trust · Lowcountry Land Trust · Skagit Land Trust OHIO · Pee Dee Land Trust · Whatcom Land Trust · Black Swamp Conservancy · Spartanburg Area Conservancy · Whidbey Camano Land Trust · Cardinal Land Conservancy * · Upper Savannah Land Trust · Upstate Forever · Gates Mills Land Conservancy WEST VIRGINIA · Licking Land Trust · Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust · Tecumseh Land Trust TENNESSEE · West Virginia Land Trust · Land Trust for Tennessee OREGON · Lookout Mountain Conservancy ¹ WISCONSIN · Deschutes Land Trust · Tennessee Parks & Greenways Foundation · Caledonia Conservancy · Greenbelt Land Trust · Wolf River Conservancy · Door County Land Trust · McKenzie River Trust · Driftless Area Land Conservancy · North Coast Land Conservancy TEXAS · Geneva Lake Conservancy · Southern Oregon Land Conservancy · Bayou Land Conservancy · Groundswell Conservancy · The Wetlands Conservancy · Colorado River Land Trust · Ice Age Trail Alliance · Wallowa Land Trust · Fronterra Land Alliance · Kettle Moraine Land Trust · Western Rivers Conservancy · Galveston Bay Foundation ¹ · Kinnickinnic River Land Trust · Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas · Landmark Conservancy PENNSYLVANIA · Hill Country Conservancy · Madison Audubon Society · Allegheny Land Trust · Hill Country Land Trust · Mississippi Valley Conservancy · Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art · Houston Audubon Society · Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust · Central Pennsylvania Conservancy · Katy Prairie Conservancy · Northwoods Land Trust ¹ · Chestnut Hill Conservancy · Native Prairies Association of Texas · Ozaukee Washington Land Trust ¹ · ClearWater Conservancy · Pines and Prairies Land Trust · Tall Pines Conservancy · Countryside Conservancy · Texas Agricultural Land Trust ¹ · The Prairie Enthusiasts and its · Delaware Highlands Conservancy · Texas Land Conservancy affiliate, TPE Trust · Edward L. Rose Conservancy · French and Pickering Creeks UTAH WYOMING Conservation Trust · Summit Land Conservancy · Jackson Hole Land Trust · French Creek Valley Conservancy · Utah Open Lands · Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust · Heritage Conservancy · Hollow Oak Land Trust · Lancaster County Conservancy VERMONT As of February 2019 · Lancaster Farmland Trust · Greensboro Land Trust · Land Conservancy of Adams County ¹ · Lake Champlain Land Trust * Indicates Newly Accredited · Land Trust of Bucks County · Northeast Wilderness Trust ¹ Indicates Newly Renewed · Natural Lands and its affiliate, · Stowe Land Trust Indicates Previously Renewed Montgomery County Lands Trust · Vermont Land Trust · North Branch Land Trust Indicates Second Renewal · The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County VIRGINIA · Tinicum Conservancy · Blue Ridge Land Conservancy · Western Pennsylvania Conservancy · Historic Virginia Land Conservancy · Westmoreland Conservancy ¹ · Land Trust of Virginia · Wildlands Conservancy * · New River Land Trust ¹ · Willistown Conservation Trust · Northern Neck Land Conservancy landtrustaccreditation.org

5 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org 1250 H St. NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 www.landtrustalliance.org

LEARN MORE AT RALLY Rally is the premier event to learn new skills and engage with over 1,700 of your conservation peers. Save the date—this is the perfect event for you. RAL LY 2019 National Land Conservation Conference October 17–19 | Raleigh, NC

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6 Spring 2019 SAVINGland www.landtrustalliance.org