Notes from the Field

Each month, our staff and Board members reflect on the changing of the seasons, advances in our work, and why our mission matters. March's post is from our Stewardship Coordinator, Malia Forbert.

Spring has sprung, and monitoring season has begun.

What many people don’t realize is that closing a conservation easement transaction is only the beginning of our relationship with the landscape. Lands that are protected forever also need stewardship forever, and the most essential form of stewardship is annual monitoring. Every year, our land trust goes out to each of our easements and makes note of the changes, both human-made and natural. Each of these site visits are different, because we tailor each conservation easement to embody the landowner's goals, and the characteristics of the landscape. 

Our Monitoring season typically stretches from mid-March to October, due to weather, special-status species monitoring, and different agency requirements. Under the open skies, we take note of the flora and the fauna, the streams and the acequias, old structures, and newly created game trails. Monitoring conserved properties is essential to ensuring the permanent protection of the land. It helps us to maintain working relationships with landowners, and allows us to see changes over time, as well as make sure the land is being used appropriately. 

Being able to experience these properties firsthand is a clear reminder of the importance of long-term conservation. It's also one of the best parts about our job. It gives us a chance to see some pretty remarkable places, that ordinarily you never get a chance to. 

“Let them once get in touch with nature, and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight through life." -Charlotte Mason