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For Land TrustsFor Land Trusts

A team advocating for you

Source: 
Saving Land magazine, Winter 2020
Author: 
Robert Schwartz

For almost 40 years, the Land Trust Alliance has worked with its land trust members, their supporters and numerous conservation-minded partners to collectively leverage the political strength of the land trust community. Together we’ve enacted key reforms, including making permanent the federal conservation easement tax incentive in 2015, increasing funding for agricultural easements in the 2018 Farm Bill and permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 2019 (see more good news in the sidebar).

As a result, many of you have come to know the numerous members of the Alliance’s Government Relations department, who have played an active role in these legislative victories. However, you may not be aware that recently the Alliance added several new team members to represent your voice in Washington.

The Alliance’s policy department was reconceived and rebranded in 2017 as the Government Relations team with just one initial staffer. Now composed of five accomplished individuals with diverse policy advocacy and conservation experiences, the department is continuing to work on your behalf to ensure you have the tools and resources needed to be successful and conserve more land.

As you learn more about each member of the team below, we hope you will consider reaching out and introducing yourself and your land trust. When it comes to conserving more land, we are all on the same team!

Your team in Washington

Lori Faeth | Government Relations Director

lfaeth@lta.org l 202-807-8197 l @lfaeth

Since 2017, Lori Faeth has been responsible for overseeing the team in advancing policy strategies and securing public funding to support land conservation. She also works to build and maintain relationships with elected officials, federal agencies and other key partners, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), while leading efforts across Alliance departments. She is a conservation veteran with years of experience in agriculture, energy, natural resources and environmental policy. Lori joined the Alliance after working at the U.S. Department of the Interior, with the Governor of Arizona and at The Nature Conservancy. She is a champion issue advocate who should be your first point of contact for any and all questions related to the Government Relations department, including the Alliance’s 2020 policy priorities.

 

Jake Faber | NRCS Pilot Project Manager

 jfaber@lta.org l 202-800-2233

Jake Faber joined the Alliance in April and is leading the Alliance’s role in a pilot project with NRCS to analyze the use of innovative satellite technologies in the stewardship of conservation easements. The project has the potential to help NRCS and land trust stewards to more effectively prioritize stewardship goals, supplement on-the-ground monitoring efforts and ensure the long-term success of conservation easements. Jake is excited to share his experience in helping conservation organizations incorporate aerial monitoring into stewardship, fundraising and advocacy goals, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any thoughts on the ways in which remote monitoring technologies can better serve the land trust community or if you have experience to share on the use of such technology. 

 

Nikki Nesbary |Manager for NRCS Programs

nnesbary@lta.org

Many of you may already know Nikki Nesbary, who joined the Government Relations team in April but had previously served as executive assistant to the executive vice president, where she supported the Alliance’s Common Ground initiative and managed the Alliance’s Land Trust Leadership Council. In her new role, Nikki is acting as an intermediary for land trust members and the NRCS. She is also managing Alliance/NRCS trainings and workshops, coordinating working groups and is overseeing a refresh of Agricultural Conservation Easement Program-Agricultural Land Easements Program (ACEP-ALE) information on the Alliance website. An accomplished facilitator who values cultivating inclusive and equitable spaces for all, Nikki is eager to hear from you and your land trust about what’s working well and what can be improved upon when it comes to utilizing NRCS programs. Reach out and share your insights today — each story, anecdote and example helps improve programs like ACEP-ALE while also assisting in making the advocacy case for greater funding.

 

Robert Schwartz | Ambassador Program Manager

rschwartz@lta.org l 202-800-2227 l @RobertLTA

In this position since 2018, Robert Schwartz has led implementation of the Alliance’s advocacy program, including managing the Ambassadors initiative, which to date has seen more than 300 land
trust staff, board members, supporters and landowners pledge to advocate for conservation priorities with their elected officials. In addition, Robert plays a key role in organizing the Alliance’s annual Advocacy Days, which this year was transformed into a virtual experience because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As an experienced communicator, Robert enjoys helping land trusts engage with their elected officials, so reach out to him to see what tools and resources are available for building and mobilizing your own advocacy program.

 

Chelsea Welch | Energy and Climate Policy Advisor

cwelch@lta.org l 202-800-2211

Chelsea Welch joined the Alliance in April. With a background in environmental policy, Chelsea is currently leading the Alliance’s efforts to identify and advance our natural climate solutions and energy infrastructure policy priorities. A conservation careerist who has worked on Capitol Hill, in the Department of the Interior and for the Peace Corps, Chelsea is excited to now be at the Alliance to ensure natural climate solutions that help land trusts and landowners are incorporated into state and federal policies. She is your go-to resource if you have questions about the Alliance’s current energy and climate public policies.

With the Stroke of a Pen

On August 4, President Donald Trump signed the Great American Outdoors Act into law. The Land and Water Conservation Fund now has full and dedicated funding. That means that $900 million will be committed each year to protecting important land, water and recreation areas that benefit all Americans.

The signing marked the conclusion of our community’s 50-year effort to secure full funding for LWCF, which uses a small portion of revenues from offshore oil drilling for conservation.

“This is a bipartisan victory for a bipartisan cause,” said Alliance President and CEO Andrew Bowman “a reminder of all that’s possible when we work as one. There is much more we can — and must — do to conserve land. Because together, our efforts ensure all who come after us will enjoy the land.”

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