land trusts:land trusts
TRANSCRIPT
Land Trusts:Land Trusts: Parks as Partners
Trillium Land ConservancySouthwest Michigan Land ConservancySout est c ga a d Co se a cy
Acres Land Trust
Land is a non-renewable resourceLand is a non renewable resource
More than eight square miles of fertile g qfarmlands and stunning open spaces are lost to development every day.
An area larger than the state of Delaware is paved every yearis paved every year.
We have 20 years or less to protect y pAmerica’s most treasured landscapes before they are lost forever.
How many of you can name a land trust in your area?
What is a land trust?What is a land trust?
A non-profit organization p gthat, as all or part of its mission, actively works to conserve land byto conserve land by undertaking or assisting in land or easement acquisitions, or by engaging in the stewardship of such pland or easements.
How land trusts conserveHow land trusts conserve…Conservation easementsBargain salesOutright donation of land
Protect habitat, farmland, scenic areas and more –scenic areas and more depends on mission
Some land trusts arePro-activeReactiveReactive
How it all began for TrilliumHow it all began for Trillium…
1997 Vacant land for sale aro nd the1997: Vacant land for sale around the Elkhart Environmental CenterG t itt & t t dGrants were written & partners created
Raised over $300,000P h d 100 t 2 kPurchased over 100 acres at 2 parks
Several people, including the IDNR and a local developer said “Elkhart County has alocal developer, said Elkhart County has a need for a land trust.”
The “Big” MeetingThe Big Meeting…
In 1999, letters were sent to over 50 people:In 1999, letters were sent to over 50 people: parks, planners, birders, concerned citizens, volunteers…Over 30 came to the ‘event’ to discuss the formation/need for a land trust in Elkhart County.Guest speaker from Acres Land Trust gave a lid h h b fi f l d islide show on the benefits of a land trust in a
community.
Becoming a Non-profitBecoming a Non profit
With a group of dozen committed individuals,With a group of dozen committed individuals, we forged together to achieve non-profit status.Background of board was varied: three lawyers, environmental educators, biology teacher, aquatic biologist, county and city parks staff, etc.
O h l d d i h bOther land trusts gave advice; how to become a non-profit, etc.
Trillium Land Conservancy IncTrillium Land Conservancy, Inc.
We became incorporated non-profit in 2001.We became incorporated non profit in 2001.
The Nature Conservancy donated a 100 acreThe Nature Conservancy donated a 100 acre parcel to Trillium that we currently manage.
We have educated the public on what a land trust is through newspaper articles and phone t ust s t oug e spape a t c es a d p o ecalls.
Number of Land Trust in U SNumber of Land Trust in U.S.
Today, over 1600 land t t htrusts have preserved over 37 million acres of land.
Parks as PartnersParks as Partners
Is there a land trust in your county?y yResearch the Land Trust Alliance (www.lta.org) and Trust for Public Lands (www.tpl.org) websites.
Fi d t if th i l d l d t t iFind out if there is already a land trust in your area you can partner with.
Offer your park for meeting/office space.y p g pOffer naturalists for programming.Become a part of their board or volunteer.
Start your own land trustBuild a good board early on – folks who can provide: Wealth, Wisdom, & Work!ea t , sdo , & o
Parks as PartnersParks as Partners
How can a land trust partner with a park?How can a land trust partner with a park?Once established, they can have a revolving fund to purchase land at a quick pace.Can donate parcels to park departments as long as missionCan donate parcels to park departments as long as mission of the piece is similar.
Established landEstablished land trusts such as Southwestern Michigan gConservancy and Acres Land Trust can share many stories and advice…
Land Trust’s: Parks as PartnersLand Trust’s: Parks as PartnersG t L k P k T i i I tit tG t L k P k T i i I tit tGreat Lakes Park Training InstituteGreat Lakes Park Training Institute
MissionMission
To protect the natural, historic, and To protect the natural, historic, and
scenic landscapes to ensure this region’s scenic landscapes to ensure this region’s
health and quality of life for the people health and quality of life for the people
of southwest Michiganof southwest Michigan
Who We AreWho We Are
501(c)3 non501(c)3 non--profit organization profit organization
Established in 1991Established in 1991
77--person professional staff person professional staff
Governed by volunteer Board of DirectorsGoverned by volunteer Board of Directors
Supported by members and donors, Supported by members and donors, foundations, state and federal governmentsfoundations, state and federal governments
FY 2006FY 2006--2007 Budget $510,000.002007 Budget $510,000.00
Conservation ObjectivesConservation ObjectivesCo se at o Object esCo se at o Object es
River corridors, wetlands River corridors, wetlands and watershedsand watersheds
Endangered and Endangered and threatened habitats and threatened habitats and speciesspecies
N t l f bliN t l f bliNatural areas for public Natural areas for public use and environmental use and environmental educationeducation
Lake Michigan dunes andLake Michigan dunes andLake Michigan dunes and Lake Michigan dunes and shorelineshoreline
Farmland and Agricultural Farmland and Agricultural preservationpreservation
Acres Protected by SWMLCAcres Protected by SWMLCc es otected by S Cc es otected by S C
7000
5000
6000
2000
3000
4000 PreservesEasementsTotal
0
1000
2000
1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005
Our Completed WorkOur Completed WorkOu Co p eted oOu Co p eted o
31 Preserves, 37 Conservation Easements31 Preserves, 37 Conservation Easements
Protecting endangered species Protecting endangered species -- Mitchell’s satyr butterflyMitchell’s satyr butterflyCollaborative land conservation with USF&WS and MDNRCollaborative land conservation with USF&WS and MDNR
Protecting endangered species Protecting endangered species -- Mitchell’s satyr butterflyMitchell’s satyr butterflyCollaborative land conservation with USF&WS and MDNRCollaborative land conservation with USF&WS and MDNR
E di f ildlif h bit tE di f ildlif h bit tExpanding core areas of wildlife habitat Expanding core areas of wildlife habitat Conservation easement Conservation easement -- MDNR Barry State Game AreaMDNR Barry State Game Area
E di f ildlif h bit tE di f ildlif h bit tExpanding core areas of wildlife habitat Expanding core areas of wildlife habitat Purchase and donation Purchase and donation -- MDNR Barry State Game AreaMDNR Barry State Game Area
Restoring damaged ecosystemsRestoring damaged ecosystems and combating invasive speciesand combating invasive speciesg g yg g y g pg pStewardship Network and SWAT TeamStewardship Network and SWAT Team
Restoring damaged ecosystemsRestoring damaged ecosystems and combating invasive speciesand combating invasive speciesg g yg g y g pg pStewardship Network and SWAT TeamStewardship Network and SWAT Team
Creating publicly accessible natural areasCreating publicly accessible natural areasCreating publicly accessible natural areasCreating publicly accessible natural areasSWMLC’s Chipman PreserveSWMLC’s Chipman Preserve
Creating publicly accessible natural areasCreating publicly accessible natural areasCreating publicly accessible natural areasCreating publicly accessible natural areasSWMLC’s Topinabee PreserveSWMLC’s Topinabee Preserve
Collaborative acquisition of public parklandCollaborative acquisition of public parklandCollaborative acquisition of public parklandCollaborative acquisition of public parklandStefan Trust Property AcquisitionStefan Trust Property Acquisition
Helping peopleHelping people
protect the localprotect the local
wild and scenicwild and scenic
places they places they
t b tt b tcare most aboutcare most about
6851 S. Sprinkle Rd., Portage, MI. 49002 6851 S. Sprinkle Rd., Portage, MI. 49002
269.324.1600 www.swmlc.org269.324.1600 www.swmlc.org