PRESS RELEASES
Rivers & Lands Conservancy Accepts Riparian Conservation Property in Yorba Linda
Contact: Jonathan Speight
Development Associate
760-318-5708
jspeight@riversandlands.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rivers & Lands Conservancy Accepts Riparian Conservation Property in Yorba Linda
November 30, 2022, Riverside, CA: Rivers and Lands Conservancy (RLC) is pleased to announce the addition of the Kerrigan Riparian Conservation Project to its conserved lands. This new permanently protected conservation property is located in the City of Yorba Linda within Orange County, California. The 16.8-acre conservation easement consists of high-quality riparian and coastal sage scrub habitat for the coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) and other native wildlife. The coastal California gnatcatcher is listed as federally threatened and is also designated as a Bird Species of Special Concern by the State of California.
Impacted by the demand for expanding suburban residential and commercial development, coastal sage scrub is a quickly disappearing habitat that is home to a number of distinct bird and wildlife species. It is estimated that only 15% of coastal sage scrub lands remain undeveloped. The California gnatcatcher is endemic to coastal sage scrub and is estimated to have lost between 70-90% of its habitat.
In addition to mitigating the impact of development to this habitat, this conservation easement serves to provide a buffer between residential housing and the Chino Hills State Park located to the north of the property with the public benefit of creating scenic views from local streets and surrounding housing.
RLC manages conserved lands for public benefit by protecting, enhancing, and restoring natural resources. RLC currently stewards 56 conservation properties that total nearly 2,600 acres of permanently protected open space. For 33 years, Rivers and Lands Conservancy has been instrumental in acquiring and preserving over 14,500 acres of open space valued at over $90 Million including properties that have been transferred to conservation partners.
For more information visit: riversandlands.org
Rivers & Lands Conservancy
Rivers & Lands Conservancy was established in 1989 as an all-volunteer organization committed to conserving open space in Riverside and surrounding areas. It has grown into a robust, accredited and esteemed land trust holding over 2,700 acres in a four-county region. Over its history, RLC has partnered in conserving over 14,500 acres throughout southern California.
Rivers & Lands Conservancy Announces Co-Executive Directors
Contact: Rebecca O’Connor
Co-Executive Director
951-788-0670 ext. 1005
roconnor@riversandlands.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Leadership at Rivers & Lands Conservancy
Rivers & Lands Conservancy’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Nicole Padron and Rebecca K. O’Connor will lead the organization as Co-Executive Directors. Rebecca and Nicole stepped up to share leadership on an interim basis bringing stability and assisting in moving the organization forward following the unexpected passing of Executive Director, David Brunner. Nonprofit organizations are increasingly turning to the Co-Executive Director Model and Rivers & Lands Conservancy sees numerous benefits to embracing it. As Co-Leaders, Rebecca and Nicole bring the strength of their collective experiences, a passion for the organization, and a shared vision for its growth and success.
“Together Nicole and Rebecca bring the history of RLC to their new roles along with ideas and experience from other organizations,” Rivers & Lands Conservancy’s Board President Dusty Williams said. “Together they possess the knowledge of someone who understands fundraising, the intricacies of leading a non-profit land trust, and the complexities of the conservation world. Together they are greater than the sum of their parts and will serve this organization well.”
Nicole Padron joined Rivers & Lands Conservancy in 2013 as a land steward and was promoted to Stewardship Director in 2017. During her tenure at the Conservancy, she co-founded and secured grant support for our Acorns to Oaks environmental education program which has grown to serve over 300 high school students annually. As Stewardship Director, she oversaw the growth of the stewardship team while managing the acquisition and ongoing stewardship of our conservation easements and land holdings, which has grown to 58 properties. Nicole holds a B.S. degree in Environmental Biology and a M.S. degree in Biology from Cal Poly Pomona.
“Over the last 8 years I have seen incredible growth at RLC both in the acres conserved and community members reached through our ever-growing outreach and education programs. Thanks to the support of our community, dedicated staff, and steadfast Board, we are poised to bring RLC to the next best place. It is my great joy and honor to lead the Conservancy alongside Rebecca,” Nicole said.
Rebecca K. O’Connor joined Rivers & Lands Conservancy in 2017 as Development Director, formalizing the organization’s fundraising program, tripling individual support, and creating stronger communications with our community. She began her career working with wildlife and creating/presenting environmental education programming at zoos, ultimately moving into the field of development. She has over 15 years of experience in fundraising and marketing for conservation organizations, an MFA in Creative Writing, has been a falconer for 25 years, and is the author of several books on the natural world.
“As a young woman who grew up in Riverside, I found my life’s passion hiking through the Delhi Sand Dunes and the chaparral hunting with hawks,” Rebecca said. “I am so honored to help lead my hometown Conservancy, contribute to the conservation of land for the benefit of our community and with the hope that other young girls will find their life’s passion there as well.”
Working with the Board of Directors, staff, and supporters, Rebecca and Nicole look forward to increasing the organization’s capacity, land holdings, educational programming, and connection to the community.
For more information visit: riversandlands.org
Rivers & Lands Conservancy
Rivers & Lands Conservancy was established in 1989 as an all-volunteer organization committed to conserving open space in Riverside and surrounding areas. It has grown into a robust, accredited and esteemed land trust holding over 2,700 acres in a four-county region. Over its history, RLC has partnered in conserving over 14,500 acres throughout southern California.
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The Passing of RLC’s New Executive Director David Brunner
Contact: Rebecca O’Connor
Development Director
951-283-3068
roconnor@riversandlands.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Passing of RLC’s New Executive Director David Brunner
August 20, 2021, Riverside, CA: Rivers & Lands Conservancy is sad to share the news of the unexpected
passing of Executive Director, David Brunner, last week.
“As RLC Staff and Board Members extend condolences and support to his partner and his family, we also
grieve with the conservation community at large,” said Board President Dusty Williams. David brought
three decades of experience to his new leadership of RLC, which had just begun in late March of this
year. Through work as Chief Operating Officer and Director of Special Funds at National Fish & Wildlife
Foundation, Interim Executive Director of California Council of Land Trusts, and a decade as the
President and Executive Director of Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM), David’s positive
impact on land conservation was immense.
Rivers & Lands Conservancy mourns David’s passing and in his spirit, remain committed to our mission
of protecting natural, wild, and open spaces in Inland Southern California. Staff carries on, stepping up
their individual and collective efforts as the organization moves through this difficult time. The Board of
Directors is planning next steps for RLC and its leadership, remaining passionate about the RLC mission,
vision, and goals.
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David Brunner, new Exec Director, looks to a bright future and big possibilities for local land trust.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT:
Rebecca K. O’Connor
roconnor@riversandlands.org
951-283-3068
A Change of Leadership at Rivers & Lands Conservancy
David Brunner, new Exec Director, looks to a bright future and big possibilities for local land trust.
Riverside, CA – Rivers & Lands Conservancy has undergone a change in leadership in advance of the pending retirement of Jack Easton, the organization’s past Executive Director. New Executive Director David Brunner officially began his new position March 29.
Brunner brings three decades of experience to Rivers & Lands Conservancy, including past positions as COO and Director of Special Funds at National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Interim Executive Director of California Council of Land Trusts, and a decade as the President and Executive Director of Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM). Under Brunner’s guidance CNLM grew four-fold and increased the scope of its stewarded lands to 100,000-plus acres of habitats for critically imperiled species distributed across several hundred preserves in the Pacific States region, from Tijuana to Vancouver.
“The opportunities for accomplishing significant results in land and water conservation in the Inland Empire are matched only by the need,” Brunner said. “River & Lands Conservancy is ideally positioned to work with the community to pursue these results and assist in increasing understanding of the importance of natural resource conservation for the health and prosperity of us all. I am excited to join a great team with a long history of success.”
Working with the Board of Directors, staff, and supporters, Brunner will guide and implement strategic planning, launching from Rivers & Lands Conservancy’s recent transition and capacity building efforts. He will also work to grow the organization’s membership and visibility in the region and state, while bringing his years of expertise to the conservancy’s burgeoning fund development efforts and recently Board-approved planning in this arena.
“My fellow Board Members and I are delighted to have the good fortune to have secured David Brunner as our next Executive Director,” explained Rivers & Lands Conservancy’s Board President Michele McKinney. “Our organization is transforming, working smartly to take a next big step to a land conservation agency that wants to bridge the gaps in protecting natural, wild and open spaces throughout the region. Working side by side with David Brunner to make this happen will be wonderful and successful.”
In the last year, Rivers & Lands Conservancy was awarded accreditation renewal from the Land Trust Alliance with commendations for its oak woodland restoration efforts and its Acorns to Oaks outdoor education program. Despite the pandemic, Acorns to Oaks engaged 300 high school students, adjusting to a virtual platform of on-line presentations and including a “grow your own oak” kit. The organization also acquired conservation easements in Colton, Temecula, and Riverside totaling approximately 70 acres of open space, providing valuable wildlife habitat and protecting water quality in our local communities.
“The Board of Directors made an excellent choice in hiring David.” said Jack Easton, Executive Director Emeritus. “Rivers & Lands Conservancy is well-positioned with a solid foundation and strong leadership to continue its mission into the future.”
Easton has been with Rivers & Lands Conservancy for 26 years, beginning as a volunteer and ultimately taking the position of Stewardship Director before stepping into the role of Executive Director. Easton will be retiring in late May.
For more information visit: riversandlands.org
Rivers & Lands Conservancy
Rivers & Lands Conservancy was established in 1989 as an all-volunteer organization committed to conserving open space in Riverside and surrounding areas. It has grown into a robust, accredited and esteemed land trust holding over 2,600 acres in a four-county region. Over its history, RLC has partnered in conserving 14,500 acres throughout southern California.
Rivers & Lands Conservancy Celebrates 30 Years and Honors Long-Time Board Member Patricia Lock Dawson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2019
Media Contact: Rebecca K. O’Connor
roconnor@riversandlands.org
951-788-0670 ext. 1005
RIVERS & LANDS CONSERVANCY CELEBRATES 30 YEARS AND HONORS LONG-TIME BOARD MEMBER PATRICIA LOCK-DAWSON
RIVERSIDE, CA – Rivers & Lands Conservancy honors conservation heroes and three decades of conserving and caring for Southern California’s natural, wild, and open spaces.
The Conservancy’s Annual Gala: Celebrating 30 Years will be held on October 10, 2019 at the Riverside Art Museum. The event, which is sold out, will showcase the organization’s successes in conserving land for endangered species, sensitive habitats and for the benefit of the community.
Emceed by local personality Dan Bernstein, the program also includes guest appearances by native wildlife, a live auction supporting the Conservancy, and the annual Beverly Wingate Maloof Environmental Excellence Award, which will be presented to Patricia Lock Dawson.
“Rivers & Lands Conservancy staff and board came together in March to choose an individual who has gone above and beyond in their personal efforts to forward the cause of local conservation,” Michele McKinney, the Conservancy’s Board President said. “With a level of unparalleled commitment advocating for the Santa Ana River, Patricia was a unanimous choice.”
Lock Dawson is a past president for RLC and has served on the organization’s board for 21 years; she has always demonstrated her passion for the Santa Ana River with action. In 2011, she spearheaded the creation of the Santa Ana River Trust.
This Rivers & Lands Conservancy program is dedicated to ensuring that the Santa Ana River and adjoining Trail are an inviting and vibrant natural resource in Riverside and beyond. Through the efforts of the program and with the assistance of volunteers, more than 58,000 pounds of trash has been removed, roughly 100 gallons of paint has been used to cover graffiti, and about 600 native plants have been planted.
Since 2006, Lock Dawson has secured approximately $65 million in funding for projects benefiting the River. This includes $2.1 million awarded by the California Coastal Conservancy for improvements of Santa Ana River and Trail within the City of Riverside in August.
“Patricia’s vision and hard work are an asset to Rivers & Lands Conservancy and to local conservation efforts,” Jack Easton, the conservancy’s Executive Director said. “She exemplifies the 30-year history of individuals on our board whose passion and determination have made it possible to excel at our mission.”
Rivers & Lands Conservancy has been instrumental in the permanent preservation of more than 14,500 acres of natural open space in inland Southern California since its inception. The organization holds and manages more than 2,600 acres including: 200 acres of Delhi Sands dune habitat that can only be found in the Inland Empire; the 358-acre Cienega Canyon Preserve in the city of Calimesa; and the peak of Mt. Rubidoux.
More information: www.riversandlands.org
Santa Ana River Trail Looks for Big Gain with Potential Grants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2019
MEDIA CONTACT: Rebecca K. O’Connor, roconnor@riversandlands.org
951-788-0670 ext. 1005
Long-time supporter of river, Patricia Lock Dawson, advocates for
grant approval from the Coastal Conservancy
RIVERSIDE, CA: “I want to put the river back in Riverside,” explains Riverside native, Patricia Lock Dawson as she reviews the agenda for the California Coastal Conservancy’s Aug. 22 Meeting. When that day comes to a close, she’s hopeful that it will be to a resounding nod of approvals from the seven-member Board of Directors for Project No. 19-011-01 – the City of Riverside Santa Ana River Parkway Improvement Projects.
The approval of the $2-plus million in grants for nine projects along 4.7 miles of the Santa Ana River Parkway will be the culmination of more than 15 years of work for Lock Dawson, also a longtime board member for the Rivers & Lands Conservancy – creating a vision, recruiting the folks she knew she would need to make it happen, drafting plans, strategizing on what success looked like, advocating locally, regionally and at the state level, and rolling up her sleeves to get the work done.
Currently strategizing with Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey and Adolfo Cruz, Director of Riverside’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services, Lock Dawson, who is no stranger to working with folks in charge, began the effort to overcome the biggest obstacle to success for the Santa Ana River in 2003. “Getting people to pay attention to the river and view it as an asset,” she said, describing the hurdle. That year, former Mayor Ron Loveridge convened a task force of community leaders, who over a series of meetings, crafted a vision that included some of the ideas in the current proposal that goes before the Coastal Conservancy this week; Lock Dawson facilitated, conducted and ultimately wrote the first vision document. The task force effort led to the creation of a regional partnership, which took that initial trickle to a full flow as a new entity – the Santa Ana River Conservancy – was created and housed under the umbrella of the Coastal Conservancy.
The Santa Ana River Parkway Improvements Projects, if approved, will provide diverse recreational and educational opportunities, access to open spaces, and restoration of natural habitats for people and wildlife. From the grant submission, the City of Riverside believes that drawing the community to the Santa Ana River enables people to form personal connections to the river and to each other when recreating as a community at the river’s side.
Examples of improvements, which will run from Fairmount Park to Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park in the city of Riverside, include:
- Restoring and protecting 196 acres of significant Santa Ana River riparian and alluvial fan,
riparian scrub, woodland and forest habitats. - Planning for public access facilities including equestrian facilities, restrooms, parking areas,
picnic areas, interpretive displays and other recreational amenities. - Enhancing natural habitats and connecting corridors, watersheds, scenic areas
and other open-space resources.
Flowing for 100 miles through San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties, the Santa Ana River is Southern California’s longest waterway. Understanding that many areas of the river needed help and attention, Lock Dawson also spearheaded the creation of the Santa Ana River Trust (SART) program, a closely related program to the Santa Ana River Conservancy. SART was created in 2011 under the fiscal sponsorship of the Rivers & Lands Conservancy, which continues to manage the program through today.
“We’re fortunate to have such determination, passion, and leadership for the Santa Ana River as we do in Patricia,” said Jack Easton, the Conservancy’s executive director. The goals of the SART program are to inspire protection of the Santa Ana River by developing projects that increase usage of the Santa Ana River Trail, restore connecting green spaces, and engage citizens in active environmental stewardship. Since its inception, SART has conducted river and trail community surveys, organized regular volunteer cleanups, removed 36 tons of trash from the River and surrounding neighborhoods, installed interpretive signage, planted California natives, and created a free trail map.
As Lock Dawson prepares her Aug. 22 remarks for the Coastal Conservancy Board Meeting, this entrepreneur, environmental advocate, community leader, former park ranger and mother of three, shared what drives her to making things happen for the Santa Ana River. “I want to create community by bringing people together outdoors in the natural beauty of Riverside.” She explained that she and her four siblings, all born and raised in Riverside, moved out of the area to pursue their lives and careers. Lock Dawson was the only one who chose to return to the hometown she loves and engage with her community. “I want to make this a place where my own children will want to stay and not feel they have to move away…and put the river back in Riverside,”
she emphasized.
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Rivers & Lands Conservancy:
For 30 years, Rivers & Lands Conservancy has been instrumental in conserving over 13,400 acres of open space in perpetuity in Inland Southern California. Much of that work has been with partner organizations who now hold and protect 11,000 acres we helped to conserve. Today, Rivers & Lands Conservancy holds and manages over 2,600 acres of open space for values that include the protection of sensitive species and habitats, preservation of agriculture, and recreation. More information at: www.riversandlands.org
Inlandia Institute and Rivers & Lands Conservancy Want You to Write Wild
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2017
Inlandia Institute and Rivers & Lands Conservancy Want You to Write Wild
Aspiring and practiced nature writers are invited to sign up for a writing class taught by a falconer
Riverside, CA – In a partnership with Rivers & Lands Conservancy (RLC), Inlandia Institute is offering a nature writing class at the Riverside Public Library taught by local falconer and author Rebecca K. O’Connor.
Native Riverside author Rebecca K. O’Connor grew up hunting with hawks and falcons in the once vast open areas of the Inland Empire. While the author finds her greatest inspiration in open spaces that allow a raptor to spread its wings, she has watched much of this space dwindle.
“There is something about being completely immersed in a natural landscape that sparks creativity, encourages introspection and is even proven to lower your heart rate and blood pressure,” says O’Connor, who is also the Development Director for RLC. “I want to do my part to connect my community to the open space around them.”
O’Connor’s class which is titled “Write Wild” will run over six weeks Saturday mornings starting September 2, 2017. Classes are held at the Riverside Public Library with the exception of September 23 which will involve a field trip. O’Connor will be guiding participants in nature writing exercises and assigning homework that requires some exploration in the outdoors.
“Admittedly, I haven’t been getting outside enough myself lately and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with nature along with my class,” said O’Connor. “One of our classes will be a guided hike at Rivers & Lands Conservancy’s gorgeous Cienega Canyon Preserve and I bet that’s where the real magic will happen.”
Those interested can sign up for the class on the Inlandia Institutes website. The class costs $100 for non-members or $85 for members of either organization.
“You don’t need to walk with a hawk to get the benefits of the wild, but you do have to get outside,” said O’Connor. “If you can’t take my class I hope you will check out Rivers and Lands Conservancy for other outdoor activities in the future.”
For class information: Inlandiainstitute.org, (951) 369-1564 or riversandlands.org, 951-788-0670 ext. 1005
Class Description and Sign Up Here
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Rebecca K. O’Connor roconnor@riversandlandsconservancy.org 951-283-3068
Cati Porter cati.porter@inlandiainstitute.org 951-790-2458
Rivers & Lands Conservancy (formerly known as Riverside Land Conservancy) is pleased to announce its new Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2017
MEDIA CONTACT:
Rebecca K. O’Connor roconnor@riversidelandconservancy.org
951-283-3068
NEWS RELEASE
Riverside, CA – Rivers & Lands Conservancy (RLC) announces the promotion of long-time employee Jack Easton to the position of Executive Director who will head and expand its ongoing open space conservation programs. Easton brings to the position over 30 years of experience with biological resources, conservation planning, land use and related issues in the Inland Empire. He has a strong working knowledge of local ecology, land trust operations, and regional conservation programs. Easton has been involved with Rivers & Lands Conservancy as a volunteer, board member, or staff for over 25 years. “Land trusts such as RLC offer an opportunity for members of the community to be involved in open space conservation directly in their own community and these are different opportunities than through agencies that manage large tracts of land,” said Easton. “This is a grass roots effort.” Working with board members, staff, and supporters, Easton’s first major undertaking will be completing the ongoing rebranding of the organization from Riverside Land Conservancy to Rivers & Lands Conservancy. While the organization still calls Riverside its home, the new name and logo reflect RLC’s full spectrum of conservation work across the Inland Southern California region. |
Under Easton’s direction, RLC also seeks to broaden its outreach and education efforts. RLC hopes to expand its flagship Acorns to Oaks environmental education program which is offered free of charge to 30 Banning High School students. The youth learn about and actively participate in the restoration of native oak woodland at the Cienega Canyon Preserve, an RLC owned property located in the San Timoteo Canyon of Western Riverside County. Last year students collected and planted over 500 acorns in an effort to preserve the threatened habitat.
“We are invested in expanding into new educational and outreach programming that we have not traditionally had the resources to fund,” said Easton. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for RLC to increase our impact. The challenge will be securing ongoing support.”
For more information visit rivesidelandconservancy.org
Rivers & Lands Conservancy:
The Rivers & Lands Conservancy was established in 1989 as an all-volunteer organization committed to conserving open space in Riverside and surrounding areas. It has grown into a large non-profit with a $5 million endowment, 6 employees, and17-member board. Over its history, RLC has conserved 12,000 acres throughout southern California and currently stewards 2,400 acres over a four-county region. While the organization is based in Riverside, its reach extends throughout inland southern California.
Riverside Lands Conservancy Awarded Accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance Commission
Riverside Land Conservancy is Awarded Accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance Commission
We are excited to announce that on August 5th we achieved first time accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. Accreditation is a national mark of distinction showing that a land trust meets high standards for land conservation.
We are so proud to say that RLC is one of only 317 land trusts from across the U.S. that have been awarded accreditation since the fall of 2008. Each accredited land trust submits extensive documentation and undergoes a rigorous review. “Accreditation provides the public with an assurance that, at the time of accreditation, land trusts meet high standards for quality, and that the results of their conservation work are permanent,” said Commission Executive Director Tammara Van Ryn.
RLC staff and Board of Directors first began preparing for accreditation in 2009. “Like all members of the land trust community, Riverside Land Conservancy shoulders a profound responsibility – to protect our natural landscapes into the future and to provide meaningful opportunities for our communites to connect with these special places. Accreditation provides us the firm foundation with which to provide this vibrant living legacy for the future,” says Gail Egenes, RLC’s Executive Director.
The Commission awards accreditation to land trusts that meet national standards for excellence, uphold the public trust and ensure that conservation efforts are permanent. Accreditation is not a one-time action; it fosters continuous improvement as land trust maintain their accredited status by applying for renewal every five years.
The accreditation seal recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national standards for excellence, uphold the public trust and ensure that conservation efforts are permanent.
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awards the seal to community institutions that demonstrate the ability to protect important natural places and working lands forever. The Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance established in 2006, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts from around the country. For more information please visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org
The Conservation Spectrum, a Growing Southern California Population and RLC’s Role
The Conservation Spectrum, a Growing Southern California Population and RLC’s Role
Last month we introduced the California Council of Land Trusts (CCLT) Conservation Horizons initiative as a guide to help ensure land trusts, such as RLC, continue to be sustainable, long-lived, and healthy as California’s population and community needs grow.
The Horizons Committee has done some great research about the facts and trends of California’s population that might surprise you. By 2050, California’s population will grow by 35%! That means the population will increase by 13 million people…that’s essentially the current population in metropolitan L.A. In fact, it is predicted that over 50% of the state’s population will reside in urban Southern California! For RLC to stay sustainable we must broaden our work so we can meaningfully reach and connect the growing communities we serve with the land we protect.
The Conservation Horizons Report suggests one way land trusts can better serve our diverse communities is by conserving and protecting open space across The Conservation Spectrum. The concept of The Conservation Spectrum supports the notion that for conservation to successfully serve all Californians, we need a variety of protected lands, from parks, gardens and green space in highly urbanized areas to working agricultural lands and to wilderness in our most remote areas. The Conservation Horizons report suggests the following recommendation that can help land trusts to collectively conserve lands across The Conservation Spectrum: Deepen-Don’t Change-Your Mission!
Taking this recommendation to heart and realizing the need in our community, RLC has applied for a grant to develop an Agricultural Mitigation Program for western Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The conservation of important farmland is key in ensuring agricultural lands are kept in our region so people have access to healthy, locally grown food. Furthermore, many bird species, such as the burrowing owl, rely on agricultural lands for food and shelter. Before we can start conserving these vital lands in our area, we need to know where soils, water, and land use policies and practices exist that might promote continued agricultural uses into the future. The development of a working agricultural mitigation program will help to develop funding sources that can be used in conserving farmlands in our area. This is what RLC hopes to create.
Our friends at the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust is doing their part in The Conservation Spectrum by working to conserve green space in the highly urbanized Los Angeles area by converting abandoned lots into parks and community gardens for park poor communities. The Mojave Desert Land Trust, among other goals, seeks to acquire privately owned inholdings in Joshua Tree National Park to protect adjacent national park lands from threats brought by future development of these inholdings. We applaud the unique focus areas of these land trusts and look forward to seeing how our concerted efforts build a framework for open space protection in the greater southern California area. No piece of The Conservation Spectrum is more important than another, but together these pieces build a California landscape that provides heathy, interconnected communities for both people and wildlife. As the wise John Muir stated, “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.”
Over the next few months we will be sharing more information from the Conservation Horizons Report and information gathered by CCLT. Join us as we embark on our journey to apply the recommendations provided in the Report.
July 2015
California Council of Lands Trust- Conservation Horizons Report
California Council of Land Trusts – Conservation Horizons Report
The California Council of Land Trusts (for which RLC is a member of good standing) created the Conservation Horizons initiative over 18 months ago to ensure that land trusts remain an integral part in protecting the state’s important natural systems and connecting all Californians and their communities to them.
Did you know that California’s land trusts have conserved over 1.5 million acres of land? This is a great accomplishment and a great legacy to leave to future Californians, but our work as land trusts is not over. Land trusts have to be able to continue to care for and protect these lands, which may become difficult as people are losing connection with the outdoors. Furthermore, many of our conserved lands are not readily accessible to most Californians (95% of Californians live in urban areas or urban clusters), nor do they provide the range of outdoor experiences may Californians seek.
The California Council of Land Trusts (CCLT) recently prepared their final Conservation Horizons Report which provides recommendations land trusts like RLC can take to refocus our efforts toward protecting our conservation lands and connecting these lands to the California communities we serve. Over the next few months we will be sharing information from the Conservation Horizons Report and information gathered by the Conservation Horizons Committee. The information provided by CCLT is timely as RLC is actively engaged in strategic planning for our organization. Please check back for future updates.
June 2015
The Santa Ana River Trust is Now a Dedicated RLC Program!
The Santa Ana River Trust is Now a Dedicated RLC Program!
We are excited to announce that as of January 2015, the Santa Ana River Trust has officially become integrated as a program of the Riverside Land Conservancy. The Santa Ana River Trust was established in 2011 under the fiscal sponsorship of the Riverside Land Conservancy to help bring people back outdoors to enjoy the amazing-ness that is the Santa Ana River. With combined forces, we look forward to developing projects that beautify the Santa Ana River and surrounding green spaces, increase usage of the Santa Ana River Trail, and engage the community to inspire protection of the River for future generations.
Want to help us inspire love, excitement, and pride for the Santa Ana River? Contact Rachael at rachael@riversidelandconservancy.org or check out our Facebook page for info on how to get involved on the latest projects!
Riverside Land Conservancy is Applying for Accreditation Through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission
Riverside Land Conservancy is applying for accreditation through the
Land Trust Accreditation Commission
Why Accreditation Matters:
Accreditation provides public recognition of land trusts that are engaged in the long-term protection of the land in the public interest. It increases public awareness of, and confidence in, land trusts and land conservation. The Commission conducts an extensive review of the application and grants accreditation to land trusts that meet the practices.
You Can Provide Comments:
As part of this process, we ask you to consider sending comments on RLC, its work, and its practices to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. Comments must relate to how RLC complies with identified national quality standards that address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards see http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/tips-and-tools/indicator-practices
To learn more about the Accreditation program and to submit a comment visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org or email your comments to infor@landtrustaccreditation.org Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 112 Spring Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Comments on RLC’s application will be most useful by November 23, 2014
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