Our land conservation journey

On a warm summer evening I arrived at the B Bar Ranch in the Tom Miner Basin in Montana, joining friends I hadn’t seen in a while. The western conservation community is really a family of dedicated people working to protect a way of life out here.

We had gathered for a retreat of 18 land trust executive directors to talk about what’s important to each of us as “peers and fellow travelers in our land conservation journey,” as Bob Bugert, of Chelan-Douglas Land Trust in Washington State, put it.

A journey. And that’s what it felt like. Our conversations ranged from how land trusts can adapt to changing demographics and how we can work together more efficiently to how to take care of ourselves better so that we can be better leaders for the long haul.

Afterwards, we heard some nice feedback from Bob and others.

“The Alliance western team provided solid, practical and engaging advice and support during this session, and have been a remarkably resourceful group in providing support to me and my organization,” said Bob. “This was one of the most important training sessions that I have received in my career.”

Walter Moore, of Peninsula Open Space Trust in California, appreciates that “the other executive directors at the retreat can be called on for support and advice.”

Mark Silberstein, of Elkhorn Slough in California, summed up the experience: “I think all of us came away with a renewed sense of purpose and with some powerful tools to help navigate the shoals of directing local land trusts.”