Sister Land Trusts? A Proposal

Considered by most as a successful local conservation organization, Bur Oak Land Trust currently owns 11 properties and holds conservation easements on 14 others. Approximately 360 members help support our annual budget of more than $390,000, and we are accredited as a financially reliable institution by the Land Trust Alliance. Our Prairie Preview environmental forum regularly hosts 250-300 folks each year, and our annual fall gala is a serious fundraiser as well another opportunity to socialize with committed conservationists. Family Days on the properties are well-attended, and the new AmeriCorps team brings youthful energy to land management. Every year another rare or endangered critter shows up. The list goes on…

Family Day at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve

Certainly we should continue to expand all of the above, and in the management language of corporations and universities, this gets labeled as “building on strength,” which often proves to be a successful growth strategy. But my proposal to you today is that we might accomplish additional conservation by also encouraging the creation of sister land trusts in nearby counties.

Endangered rusty patched bumblebee found at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve

Presently, we are fairly efficient and can drive to any corner of Johnson County from headquarters, in less than a half hour, in order to run field trips, do maintenance, etc. But more driving time means less field time. And very few people from distant counties are likely to be regular participants in our events. I conclude that we are not in competition with other counties.

If we were to get into the role of promoting sister trusts, Linn County seems to me to be a special opportunity. It already has several colleges with faculty members who are substantially involved with conservation and it has garden clubs, industry, and something we lack here: the Indian Creek Nature Center with decades of experience with nature programs indoors and outdoors.

Iowa land trusts

I think our role as promoters of nearby land trusts should be to pass along what we know to jumpstart their growth, but not to offer ourselves as any sort of an ideal model to follow. For example, we became accredited quite late as an organization, but serious donations need proven financial accountability. On the other hand, Prairie Preview has served us well even though it was created as a focal point for a local controversy, and from there took on a life of its own. Oftentimes, opportunities may be first disguised as problems. Latent interest and enthusiasm for land trust conservation in other counties should be coaxed out by our successes.
Even if only one country tries this and succeeds, and within a decade has a couple of properties in its care along with some annual and seasonal events, it could be a large return on our small investment.

So I request that we consider creating nearby sister land trusts. Please discuss it, debate it, try it out on friends in nearby counties, pay attention to opportunities and let us see whether a consensus develops favoring the proposal. If it gains traction, then it would be worthwhile to consider how to go about it.