News
Soils Health Stewards!
For the second year in a row, NCRLT is participating in professional training on Soils Health to build capacity for our land trust community. Staff and volunteers completed a 3-day training on Soil Health Stewardship in mid April, led by American Farmland Trust. Creating an Action Plan for 2024 - 25 that includes Rangelands in NCRLT’s stewardship outreach was accomplished during the training. Staff participated in invaluable group peer review to incorporate exhaustive resources and examples of effective strategies supporting climate smart producing, water-wise management, and landowner information and resource-sharing in the action plan, we will post the completed plan for 2024 - 25 soon.
Abbey of New Clairvaux’s 595 acres protected in perpetuity in
conservation easement funded by California’s Strategic Growth Council
2,724.55 Acre Hamilton Ranch conserved in perpetuity, funded by NRCS and California’s Strategic Growth Council
NCRLT is excited to be a recipient of a $250K capacity grant from California’s Strategic Growth Council
Funding Conservation Priorities for 2024 - 2026!
Colby Mountain Recreation Project!
The comment period for the Colby Mountain Rec Project is now open! The Almanor Ranger District is currently seeking public comments, feedback, and support for the Project. You have until September 23, 2023 for your voice to be heard. Click the link below to learn more!
2023 “Take A Hike” Series
While May 20-21 is busy in Chico due to graduation festivities, twenty lucky hikers escaped up highway 32 to discover wildflower diversity, in community, along the Deer Creek Trail. A California Native Plant Society (CNPS) partnership makes this annual hike focused on wildflower identification a special treat, with leaders David Popp and Marjorie McNairn, both active in the Mt. Lassen CNPS Chapter. Two groups minimized disturbances, and allowed botanical enthusiasts to spend time keying individuals to species. Register for our next hike on Sunday, June 25th with California Department of Fish and Wildlife, focusing on Salmon and the fish ladder.
Soils Health Stewards!
NCRLT completed a 3-day training on Soil Health Stewardship in late April, led by American Farmland Trust. Creating an Action Plan for implementation with current and prospective landowners as part of NCRLT’s stewardship outreach was a primary objective of the training, with staff receiving an overview of exhaustive resources and examples of effective strategies for improving soils health as climate smart producing, water-wise management, and landowner outreach.
Power in Nature Coalition visits Sacramento
NCRLT gathered with the Power in Nature Coalition on April 19th in Sacramento to call for action from legislators. Community groups, conservation organizations, land trusts, and Native American Tribes in every part of California are working hard to protect California’s lands and waters so future generations can enjoy nature.
California’s 30×30 effort was launched with Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-82-20, which called for a plan to protect 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. The goal aligns with a climate-science driven global 30×30 campaign to protect nature all around the world to avoid an extinction crisis. California’s efforts are unique in that it centers this goal in equity, biodiversity, and climate.
NCRLT’s Executive Director Cynthia Perrine attended a Rally representing all of California’s ecoregions, then engaged legislative staffers in dialogue about the importance of state funding for conservation projects that protect land in perpetuity. Cynthia’s group included representatives from WildCoast, Audubon, Azul, CalTrout, California Native Plant Society, and Sacred Lands, Native Hands. Seen here is our group with Asm. Dawn Addis, who represents District 30.
Recent Articles
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Introducing Our New Executive Director
Our new Executive Director brings experience in fundraising, community stewardship, marketing, and business operations to the Land Trust, along with a background in botany, wildlife, applied ecology, and business administration and an authentic connection to Butte, Glenn, and Tehama Counties
Bikes Hit the Big Screen
Join us Wednesday, September 21, 2022 for a screening of Lost on Purpose at The Big Room at Sierra Nevada Brewery! This short film will be followed by a conversation with the filmmaker, featured cyclist, and the Director of Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship about the vision for the 600-mile Lost Sierra Route, the heartbreaks they encountered while making the film, and steps toward rebuilding for the future.
A Win for Blue Oaks
Our team at the Land Trust feels incredibly privileged to announce the permanent protection of 457 acres of blue oak woodland in the Mud Creek watershed, situated in the Sierra foothills northeast of Chico.
2022 Take a Hike Series Kicks Off
It’s official! We’re rolling out a slate of small-group tours designed to ensure participants have a safe and enjoyable educational experience in the magnificent setting of the Deer Creek Preserve. Join us for hikes focusing on native plants, birds, and fisheries, led by experienced guides. Spaces are limited; register today!
$1M Raised for Local Trails
We’re kicking off the New Year right with a big step toward building 40 miles of new trails in the Colby Mountain Recreation Area, and increasing access to nature for people of all ages and abilities! Thanks to Butte County Board of Supervisors for recognizing and investing in this legacy project that will support economic recovery and community healing in the wake of the pandemic and multiple natural disasters.
One Step Closer to Protecting a Cultural Gem
On Monday, December 6, 2021, our team unveiled a major conservation win. Join us in celebrating this milestone, and looking forward to more good news ahead!
Community Trail Planning
Join us for an evening of exciting news, inspiring short films, and opportunities to shape the future of the Lost Sierra Trail and the local trail connections in Jonesville. Together, these projects represent an incredible opportunity to improve access to nature for people of all ages and abilities, leaving a legacy for generations to come. Whether you're a birder or a backpacker, an equestrian or a gravel grinder, this is an opportunity to learn more about the trail system and to help us understand what you'd like to see.
Why Does Land Trust Accreditation Matter?
There are over 1,000 land trusts in the United States, but less than half are certified to meet the rigorous fiscal and operational guidelines pioneered by the Land Trust Alliance. In this short video, learn more about how accreditation impacts NCRLT’s work, and why this accountability is more important now than ever.
Reflecting on 30 Years
Our staff joined forces to snapshot the Land Trust's impact over the past thirty years, and we're thrilled to spotlight some of the key achievements that you, our friends and supporters, have made possible. Together, we can save even more of the working and wild landscapes that make this region of the North State such a beautiful place to call home.
Stewards of the Land: Brigham Family Legacy
Join our staff for a conversation with the heirs to a protected ranch, who share their parents' (and grandparents') vision, and have a passion to responsibly steward this natural heritage.
Strategic Conservation Action Plan Report Release
The Sierra Cascade Land Trust Council has just released the final report for a year-long planning process, resulting in a Strategic Conservation Action Plan. The Northern California Regional Land Trust, along with other members of the Council, is thrilled to share this important summary document. The report highlights the immense impacts that land trusts already have, identifies challenges to regional conservation, and maps out the incredible opportunities in our future to collaboratively shape a more resilient Sierra-Cascade region.
Conservation Myths
In conversations with community members, our staff encounter many misconceptions about conservation easements, using public funding for private land protection, and the role of land trusts. We'd like to set the record straight.
Read on as our team breaks down some of the most common myths about conservation easements, one of the most useful and adaptable tools in our repertoire.
Stewards of the Land: Darro Grieco
Join our staff for a fascinating interview with one of our partner landowners that beautifully illustrates why the rich agricultural heritage of the North State is so important to preserve for future generations.
Stewards of the Land: Heather Brownlee
Join our staff for a lively conversation with one of our partner landowners who purchased property with a Conservation Easement on it. We talk about the pace of urban development, why wild places matter, and finding peace and freedom in nature.
Bring on the Trails!
We're delighted to unveil a collaborative project that will create 40 miles of multi-use trails in Jonesville, and serve as a gateway into the Lost Sierra Route, completing the first trans-Sierra trail connection. Enjoy this short film about building trails, rebuilding communities, and increasing access to wild places for everyone. Stoked? You can sign up to receive project updates, volunteer, or join our fundraising campaign, all from the button below.
Stewards of the Land: A Conversation with Priscilla Hanford
Join our staff for a moving conversation with one of our partner landowners. She reflects on her land ethics, the vision she and her husband came to share for their working forest landscape, and how a Conservation Easement enabled them to protect a special place for wildlife and their children.
Join us in the studio.
Catch us on the radio talking about the importance of conservation, land management growing pains, our awesome team, and exciting plans for the future. Originally aired on January 26, 2021 on North State Give and Take (KZFR), you can listen to our interview online at any time.
Stewards of the Land: A Conversation with Jeff Mott
Join the staff of the Northern California Regional Land Trust for a fascinating interview with one of our partner landowners. We talk land management challenges, why a Conservation Easement was a good tool for his family to achieve their land protection goals, and what inspires him to continue restoring the natural resources on the beautiful swath of the Little Chico Creek Canyon that he calls home.
Celebrating 5,668 additional acres protected.
Since 1990, the Northern California Regional Land Trust has been helping landowners and communities to save what they love: the wide open skies, rugged natural landscapes, and deeply rooted agricultural heritage that make the North State a wonderful place to live. Despite the challenges of operating during a global pandemic, Land Trust staff successfully closed escrow on an expansive conservation easement that has been in the works for over 15 years.
Let’s find wonder in nature again.
This holiday season, our wish for you and your loved ones is that you would rediscover a sense of wonder at the natural world around us. That you would find a reason for optimism as life resurges beneath our feet and in the canopy above. From the delicate blades of grass pushing through the straw that blankets the hills to the swelling buds on bare branches, winter is a time of promise. There is a brighter future ahead.
Why land protection matters.
These are strange times to work in conservation. It is easy to lose sight of the long game, to feel like this work isn't relevant enough, with so many pressing needs and uncertainties competing for our attention. We want to take a moment to share what motivates our Board and staff to continue working toward land protection across our region, even on the hardest days.
We are grateful for you.
Together, we have conserved over 30,000 acres across the North State since 1990, and will protect an additional 7,000 acres by next summer. More than 20 farms and ranches have been permanently sheltered from development, and can be handed down to future generations as viable livelihoods. Over 600 acres of wild land are in the process of being opened up to greater public access and recreation.