Trust Our Land: Conservation action this Earth Week

By Bergen Tjossem

There’s something about spring that makes folks in Eagle County eager to lend a hand. The seasons are changing, the snow is receding, and the elk and other wildlife are on the move. Plus, Earth Day is next week, April 22nd. People want to clean up, steward, and enjoy the landscapes and natural resources that make this place so special. 

And we’re not the only ones. A recent survey by Keep It Colorado found that 8 in 10 Coloradans would vote to protect more land, water, and wildlife habitat. Logically, 83% of Colorado voters feel that more needs to be done to protect land, water, and wildlife habitat in the state. 

That energy and community spirit is something that the Eagle Valley Land Trust and other land trusts like us across the country are trying to leverage for land conservation, habitat enhancement, and land stewardship. We’re going to need it, too. As you know, EVLT recently announced our ambitious goal: to double conservation in 10 years. 

It’s a simple goal that requires a multifaceted approach. To double conservation, we need to double three things: engagement, resources, and strategies.

Doubling engagement means connecting more community members with protected land and the conservation process. We’ll increase the number of outreach programs, facilitate more diverse program offerings, expand conservation visibility, and continue to break down barriers to accessing public open spaces. Increasing landowner engagement is also critical, since  conservation work is done in partnership with willing landowners who care about the future of their land.

Doubling resources means bringing more dollars to conservation. With more funding, we can increase the number of resources available to landowners interested in conservation, fund more conservation easement transactions, support land acquisitions,  and support our land trust’s operations.

Doubling strategies means creating and implementing new conservation tools like critical habitat linkages, collaborative water solutions, innovative financing strategies, and resilient agriculture. While conservation easements are a phenomenal tool, they don’t fit every situation. There are more strategies we can deploy to protect our lands, rivers, ecosystems, and open spaces.

Need a hand?

EVLT’s work over the last 43 years is founded in the belief that landowners are the best stewards of their land. Conservation easements, legal agreements between an accredited land trust and a landowner that permanently limit development, are dependent on partnership. Typically, the landowner continues managing and stewarding their property as normal.

But stewarding land is a big job. To double conservation, EVLT is working to bridge the gap between landowners needing help with stewardship projects and all the people in our community who are eager to lend a hand on habitat enhancement projects.

Are you a landowner with a big project? Do you have miles of dilapidated barbed wire that need to be removed, trash that needs to be picked up, or land restoration work that could enhance habitat and water resources? EVLT is here for you. Reach out to community@evlt.org.

Are you an Eagle County resident, visitor, business, or group that’s looking for a way to make a difference for wildlife and our local natural environment? Sign up for our Conservation Action List here or reach out to community@evlt.org to find a project. 

Earth Week

Besides signing up for the conservation action list, how are you going to make an impact this Earth Week? To kick off the changing of the seasons and celebrate both Earth Week and  Eagle Valley Land Trust’s 43rd trip around the sun, we’re hosting the 4th annual Earth Week with EVLT sponsored by Holy Cross Energy and made possible by Vail Resorts EpicPromise. It’s a week of conservation, connection, and camaraderie for all ages. 

Earth Week with EVLT includes a variety of free programs in partnership with Todd Winslow Pierce’s Eagle Valley Wild, the Eagle Valley Outdoor Movement, local birding extraordinaire Jerry Fedrizzi, and ethnobotanist Lynn Albers.

Interested in securing your spot for one of these exciting programs? Check out the full schedule and our exciting virtual fundraising auction at www.evlt.org/earthweek.

Bergen Tjossem is the Eagle Valley Land Trust’s deputy director and can be reached at bergen@evlt.org. To learn more about EVLT’s local conservation work, visit www.evlt.org.