Mountain View County council has been given an update on Legacy Land Trust Society recent activities and plans.
A delegation from the society, made up of chair Kim Good and conservation coordinator Owen Roger, appeared before council at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
A non-profit, charitable organization, the society offers individuals, communities and local government a resource to conserve ecological sensitive land, wildlife habitat corridors, agricultural land, and significant historical and archeological sites.
Volunteer agreements between the society and landowners are placed on all or a portion of the land under sustainable conservation stewardship agreements.
The society has recently had conversations with about 50 landowners, who expressed concerns about such things as flooding, land left unattended, quading along rivers, animals densely populated on quarters, and septic tank locations.
The society’s new conservation community program aims to engage both rural and urban residents with conservation efforts through outreach, conservation and community involvement.
The society’s Legacy-Rotary trail project involved installation of habitat boxes for migrating bluebirds.
The society has been conducting school engagements, including on pollinator habitat.
The Paint the Barn Red project is underway to preserve imagery and stories of barns in the county, educate and engage the community, barn owners, and artists, promote the arts, and explore promotional opportunities such as a travelling art show and a barn touring map.
Land trust conservation tools include conservation easements, land donations, land purchases, management agreements, lease agreements, and land swaps.
Conservation easements are contractual arrangements between a landowner and a qualified organization, registered on land title, and attached to the land regardless of owner. Landowners voluntarily grant certain rights to the qualified organization and a list of restrictions.
The society’s 2018-21 strategic plan includes environmental protection and preservation through programs, education and collaboration.
The society has not yet made a funding request to the county for 2020-21.
