What exactly is stewardship and what will the Stewardship Specialist do? Continued protection of conserved land is central to the mission of any land trust.  One of the most beautiful and fascinating things about land is that it is constantly in motion, changing with the seasons and the years, ever evolving. New noxious weeds sprout up, fencing deteriorates, floods change the course of rivers and streams, animals inhabit new areas, and social trails can develop. It is a constant process and EVLT helps landowners address these complex problems so that they preserve the conservation values of the property. The Land Stewardship Specialist provides a toolkit of information and guidance when landowners need that extra help in the face of ever-changing conditions.

 

We are not here to interfere with landowners' management of their land. We are here to help landowners through the process of stewarding their land forever. By building strong relationships with our landowners, understanding their land management goals, and tapping into their knowledge of place, we become a trusted resource to answer landowner conservation questions. Once a year, EVLT visits each property with the landowner to identify successes and document any changes to the property. If any impacts to the conservation values are noted during the visit, the land trust will address these impacts with the landowner to determine if any action is needed. If action is needed, the land trust can help in a multitude of ways including locating grant funding for the landowner so the impacts to the conservation values are addressed.

 

Examples of this may include: sharing expertise on noxious weed identification; providing information about cost-sharing, wildlife-friendly fencing programs; accessing federal grants for range management; or working to design a low-impact trail through a property.

 

A great example of this stewardship collaboration is the West Avon Preserve, owned by the Town of Avon. Currently in its final stage of trail construction, the Preserve required considerable effort and teamwork from the Town of Avon, EVLT, and the Vail Valley Mountain Bike Association during the planning process.  EVLT reviewed proposed trail alignments to ensure that the newly proposed trails were consistent with the conflicting conservation values of public recreation and habitat for wildlife.  As a result, we are so excited to have open access to sustainable, multi-use trails while limiting impact on wildlife corridors and habitat for sensitive species on the property. 

 

EVLT continues to provide landowners and our entire community with tools and information to steward land in a sustainable manner. By effectively stewarding their properties, landowners create healthier ecosystems and habitats, a thriving local agricultural economy, multi-use recreational areas, and weed-free open spaces.   Here at your local land trust, we help ensure that your children will be able to enjoy the same amazing place in which we live now. 

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