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Community Conservation

Community Conservation Spotlights: Stories That Inspire Change

Land trusts are saving land and changing lives in communities nationwide. They are reaching out and listening to people from all parts of their community to address the challenges they care about.

We have created a series of five Community Conservation Spotlight publications with short stories about the impact of these innovative land trusts. From eight to 12 pages each with lots of pictures and bullets, they are quick and easy to read. And informative and inspiring!

Check them out and let us know if you have a story to share about land trusts working with other sectors. Send your stories to communityconservation@lta.org.

There are a lot of other inspiring stories out there! Check out the success stories below and watch this video.

Jwun Gamble and other Howard School interns are taking back Lookout Mountain in Tennessee from highly invasive species, creating hiking trails for families and individuals seeking fun outside. But it’s much more than land rejuvenation and trail building that’s gaining them national attention. This work is transforming lives. The students are participating in the accredited Lookout Mountain Conservancy’s leadership program that results in 100% high school graduation rates in a part of Chattanooga where they are often lower than 50%. The program uses land conservation to heal, inspire, and connect people from all walks of life to the land and to each other.

How the Land Trust Alliance Supports Community Conservation 

We showcase groundbreaking community conservation projects, so land trusts can inform and inspire each other. We’re also making community conservation a focus in our educational and training programs — from workshops and webinars to articles and publications. We plan to start measuring the impact of community conservation as part of the National Land Trust Census. And we plan to support selected pilot projects with the potential to scale nationally. 

Community Conservation Learning Network

Join the conversation about community conservation! The Community Conservation Learning Network is a public group on The Learning Center (no log-in required). This is a place to find out about what land trusts are doing in community conservation — contribute your ideas and questions for how to engage with more people in your community to make your land trust stronger and your community more vibrant.

Resources and Tools

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Articles

Reshaping Engagement

Source: 
Saving Land magazine, Winter 2021
Author: 
Meghan McDonald

COVID-19 adaptations can introduce more community members to conservation

Webinar

The Americans with Disabilities Act: What It Means for Land Trusts

Increasing accessibility of natural areas and online is an important endeavor, but not always easy to navigate. Join conservation attorneys Rachel Hampton, The Nature Conservancy, and Ray Lyons, as they discuss how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to nature preserves, conservation easement properties, websites and social media.

February 03, 2021
Time: 
2 p.m. ET
Instructor(s): 
Rachel Hampton
Ray Lyons

Articles

Board Members Explore Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Together

Source: 
Saving Land magazine, Fall 2020
Author: 
Christina Soto

The National Council of Nonprofits has created a guide to help nonprofit board members first understand and then work toward diversity, equity and inclusion in their organizations.

Articles

Scholars to Learn Virtually

Source: 
Saving Land magazine, Fall 2020

The accredited Conservation Florida and the Land Trust Alliance announced in August the placement of Lillian Dinkins and Papa Gueye, two fellows of the Scholars for Conservation Leadership Program (SCLP).

Articles

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A bobcat kitten on Greenbelt Land Trust property warily eyes the camera as it crosses a stream with family members nearby. / Jonny Armstrong

Eyes On: Bringing Conservation to Life through Photos and Video

Source: 
Saving Land magazine, Summer 2020
Author: 
Madeline Bodin

Land trusts across America are turning to devices sometimes known as game cameras, trail cameras or wildlife cameras to perform scientific research, build relationships with successor landowners and engage their communities in their work. The resulting videos and still photos can be shared online, creating a valuable tool especially during times of social distancing. Or they can be shared with individuals to provide the foundation for a more personal connection.

Articles

Interpreting the Land: Helping More People Benefit from Conservation

Source: 
Saving Land magazine, Summer 2020
Author: 
Tom Springer

Nationwide, land trust staff report a growing need to reach people from more diverse backgrounds, abilities and cultures. As social demographics change, they’re seeing greater demand for accessible trails and new means of interpretation that bring visitors closer to nature. And increasingly they’re learning how the benefits of improved access can work hand in hand with their core mission of preservation.

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