Know Your Local Land Trust!

Nonprofit land trusts have been a huge success in protecting open spaces threatened by the sprawling, haphazard development that is eating away landscapes we once took for granted.

Indeed, local and regional land trusts have protected 4.7 million acres of open space in thousands of communities, where their local presence allows them to know the land and the landowners personally. The nations’ 1200 land trusts have garnered the support and admiration of millions of Americans for their unique and lasting work in an era when the nation is losing some 7,000 acres of open space each day.

Most of us are well aware of the work that national organizations have done in our area. But, are you aware that there is a living and breathing land trust working in our local region?

What better time is there than now to get to know your local land trust?

Northern California Regional Land Trust (NCRLT), headquartered in Chico, is dedicated to promoting the conservation and preservation of our open spaces, agricultural lands and natural resources. These goals are accomplished by the cooperation between private landowners, public agencies, and other non-profit groups working together for the enhancement of the quality of life for all people.

Northern California Regional Land Trust was founded in 1990 under the former name of Parks and Preserves Foundation and functioned as a local, grass-roots land trust that promoted cooperative preservation and enhancement of scenic, open space and significant habitat resources. Since then, our approach has not changed, but we have changed our name, and broadened our geographic focus to include parts of the Sacramento valley and a bit more of the Sierra /Cascade foothill and mountain areas.

Northern California Regional Land Trust has placed approximately 350 acres of land into conservation easements in the foothills of the northern Sierra. We are especially proud of securing a conservation easement on 100 acres in Paradise, protecting ancient Ponderosa Pines in the area. This project, a joint effort by us and our affiliate the Paradise Ridge Land Trust, shows what can be accomplished when we establish partnerships.

The Trust has led education and outreach programs on land use issues for financial planners, city planners, county and city government officials, landowners, developers and environmental organizations. In addition, NCRLT has raised over $10,000 for the City of Chico’s Bidwell Park in the "March for Parks" event, promoted and supported tree planting throughout the City of Chico, participated in community projects including the revegetation and maintenance of a section of Highway 99, and is working in partnership with Chico State University on a riparian restoration project along Butte Creek.

You can make a big difference in protecting open spaces by getting involved with NCRLT. If you would like more information about Northern California Regional Land Trust, or would like to volunteer or inquire about membership, please do not hesitate to call us at (530) 894-7738.

From the Winter 2001 issue of the Environmental News.