Strengthened Relationships Key to Conservation Success

We must continue collaborating to save these special places. Photo by David Baselt.
We must continue collaborating to save these special places. Photo by David Baselt.

Stronger alliances and more collaboration are key for better protection of northern California’s farms, fish and forests for future generations.  That message resonated with the passionate conservation professionals attending the California Council of Land Trusts’ (CCLT) recent California Northern Region Land Trust Council conference.

Consultant Terry Supahan’s chilling chants began his inspirational talk about his personal connection to the land and why preserving and restoring the land is essential to our sense of self as well as to the landscape.

The S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation is funding an effort to foster collaboration among seven land conservation organizations working around Humboldt Bay.  The initial focus is to find efficiencies, in order to make land conservation in the region more effective.

As an example of another level of collaboration, I pointed to the Living Landscape Initiative (LLI), a collaborative effort of five land conservation organizations1 and three foundations2, designed to take advantage of each organization’s individual expertise to achieve a common vision:

“an environment that supports quality of life through clean air and water, landscape preservation, farms and working landscapes, habitat protection, biodiversity, natural aesthetics, recreational access and regional economic vibrancy.”

After three years of working together and exceeding our initial goals, the LLI organizations are exploring even deeper methods of collaboration.  For Save the Redwoods League, this is particularly timely. As one of the first land conservation organizations – founded in 1918 – and one that is now approaching its 100th anniversary, the League is excited and honored to have allies like those on the California Northern Region Land Trust Council and those in the LLI partnership.

 

1 LLI Conservation Organizations:  Save the Redwoods League, The Nature Conservancy, Peninsula Open Space Trust, Sempervirens Fund and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

2 LLI Foundations:  The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation and Resources Legacy Fund

About the author

Harry joined Save the Redwoods League’s staff in 2011 as the General Counsel. He brings over 30 years of experience in the fields of law and real estate transactions.

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