One of Colorado's most iconic natural sights is the deep yellow glow of our autumn aspen leaves.  Aspen trees share a root system with their nearby brethren, and although they might seem like separate organisms, they are truly one living thing. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

There is an old adage that with a new year comes new opportunities. And while 2021 has only just begun, our community is expected to have another stellar year thanks in part to federal funding opportunities such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants Program.

Across the past four years, the Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative grant program has awarded $245,000 through 22 grants in 18 states to facilitate amazing projects that have accelerated and amplified bird conservation and land stewardship on land trust properties.

We can all agree – 2020 has been a roller coaster none of us could imagine. Though we’ll be able to talk for years to come about what it was like to live through a global pandemic, we must not forget the positive contributions this year has brought. Check out 20 good things that have happened in land conservation in 2020.

While we are disappointed that the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act did not pass this Congress, our efforts to enact this important legislation will continue in the new year.

The Land Trust Alliance Learning Center discussion forums have been very active in the past two months. Here are a few highlights of discussions, as well as posts that could use your ideas and experiences.

This hasn't exactly been the best year ever.

Greetings. As the Land Trust Alliance's new manager for Natural Resources Conservation Service programs, I've been getting up to speed on our Farm Bill work and coordinating with NRCS on work to strengthen Agricultural Land Easement Program participation.

With the introduction of an updated version of the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, we are one step closer to halting the abuse of conservation easement donations.

On the heels of Congress passing the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the conservation community has achieved another legislative victory with enactment of the America's Conservation Enhancement Act.