Purpose

Land is the Foundation's first responsibility and greatest long-term trust.

Every decision concerning land shall seek to improve ecological health, strengthen community resilience, and expand opportunities for future generations.

Stewardship Philosophy

We do not preserve landscapes by freezing them in time.

We steward them by strengthening the living systems that allow them to adapt, recover, and flourish.

Healthy landscapes are dynamic. Stewardship must be as well.

Our Conservation Priorities

The Foundation will prioritize landscapes that contribute to:

• Watershed protection
• Wildlife habitat
• Native biodiversity
• Working lands
• Ecological restoration
• Public education
• Community resilience
• Cultural and historical significance

Land Acceptance Framework

Before accepting any property, ask:

• Does it strengthen the mission?
• Can it be stewarded responsibly?
• Are adequate financial resources available?
• Is long-term protection achievable?
• Does it provide ecological or educational value?

If the answer is uncertain—wait.

Ecological Assessment

Every property should receive:

• Baseline ecological survey
• Vegetation inventory
• Wildlife observations
• Hydrology assessment
• Soil evaluation
• GIS mapping
• Historical research
• Photographic documentation

Watersheds

Water connects every landscape. Management should protect:

• Springs
• Streams
• Wetlands
• Floodplains
• Riparian corridors
• Groundwater recharge

Healthy water supports every other stewardship objective.

Forest Stewardship

Objectives:

• Promote native species
• Reduce invasive species
• Increase structural diversity
• Improve wildlife habitat
• Reduce catastrophic fire risk
• Encourage natural regeneration

Every intervention should improve long-term ecological resilience.

Prairie & Grassland Stewardship

Priorities:

• Native grasses
• Pollinator habitat
• Soil health
• Controlled grazing where appropriate
• Invasive species management
• Fire ecology where scientifically supported

Wildlife

Wildlife stewardship focuses on habitat rather than individual species alone. Healthy habitat supports healthy populations.

Protect:

• Migration corridors
• Nesting areas
• Winter range
• Wetlands
• Food sources
• Connectivity between habitats

Soil

Healthy soil is living infrastructure.

Monitor:

• Organic matter
• Compaction
• Moisture retention
• Biological activity
• Erosion
• Carbon storage

Restoration

Every restoration project begins with:

• Observe.
• Listen.
• Measure.
• Then act.

Avoid unnecessary intervention. Support natural processes whenever possible.

Stewardship Planning

Each property should maintain:

• Vision
• Management objectives
• Five-year plan
• Annual work plan
• Monitoring schedule
• Volunteer opportunities
• Emergency contacts

Education

Every landscape should become a classroom.

Possible uses:

• Guided walks
• School programs
• Research
• Citizen science
• Stewardship training
• Photography workshops
• Ecological monitoring

Knowledge strengthens stewardship.

Public Access

Access should balance:

• Ecological protection
• Visitor safety
• Education
• Quiet recreation
• Long-term conservation

Not every landscape requires unrestricted access.

Volunteers

Volunteers support:

• Trail work
• Habitat restoration
• Native planting
• Wildlife monitoring
• Visitor education
• Community events
• Data collection

Every volunteer is a steward.

Scientific Monitoring

Track over time:

• Habitat quality
• Water quality
• Species diversity
• Restoration success
• Soil health
• Forest structure
• Visitor impacts

Measure. Learn. Adapt. Repeat.

Climate Resilience

Every stewardship plan should consider:

• Drought
• Wildfire
• Flooding
• Changing species ranges
• Heat
• Extreme weather

Resilience is part of stewardship.

Documentation

Maintain:

• GIS maps
• Annual photographs
• Monitoring reports
• Volunteer records
• Restoration history
• Property journals

Today's records become tomorrow's institutional memory.

Future Property Profile Template

Every conserved landscape should eventually include:

• Name
• Location
• Acreage
• Habitat types
• Watershed
• Species
• Stewardship objectives
• Restoration projects