Gates Mills Land Conservancy
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September 5, 2023 | Newsletter Issue #5 |
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"Golden Field" by Jamie Morse |
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The First All-Volunteer
Land Trust Organization in Ohio
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The Gates Mills Land Conservancy became the first all-volunteer Land Trust in Ohio to be accredited by the National Land Trust Alliance, in 2013. The LTA represents the nation’s more than 1,300 nonprofit land trusts that have conserved 56 million acres, are supported by more than 100,000 volunteers and 5 million members nationwide. Each member of the Land Trust Alliance must adopt Land Trust Standards and Practices as guiding principles for its operations, pledging a commitment “to uphold the public confidence and the credibility of the land trust community as a whole”.
In 2014, Gates Mills Land Conservancy was awarded the prestigious National Land
Trust Excellence Award…
“For the dedication and passion of the Gates Mills Land Conservancy and honoring the efforts of this all-volunteer organization in broadening support for land conservation, showing initiative in collaborating with others, and creating innovative communications, education and outreach solutions.”
As Tom Liederbach recalls, “The majority of the credit goes to Thomas A. Quintrell, who was the lead voice for all legal matters for the Conservancy, the key negotiator on many land acquisitions and easement matters, and the prime “mover” on the campaign to become accredited by the Land Trust Alliance.”
Since its formation in 1988, the Gates Mills Land Conservancy has preserved 724 acres within the Village. The Conservancy owns 300 acres of land and holds conservations easements, and deed restrictions on an additional 424 acres thanks to the collaboration and generosity of landowners in the Village.
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To know where the future of conservation and preservation lies, it is important to know the history of its beginnings. This newsletter focuses on the beginnings of land conservation and forestry in Ohio.
This issue is also a precursor to GMLC’s first upcoming Seminar, on September 16th where we will explore this history and our collective responsibility moving forward. We will host three authorities on the history of the Chagrin River Valley, the tree canopy of Northeast Ohio and the watershed of the Chagrin River. We hope that you will join us in this first exciting offering to the Gates Mills community.
Every five years, in response to the Land Trust Alliance requirements, the Conservancy’s board updates our Strategic Plan. The 2023 plan presented to Council on July 13, 2023, reaffirmed the Conservancy’s primary mission of preserving the natural and scenic resources of the Village through conservation easements, deed restriction, and targeted acquisition of properties. Some of our new initiatives include a long-range conservation plan for the Sherman Road Preserve, and the continued expansion of our outreach to the community through public education, such as the September Seminar.
We hope you will attend our upcoming Seminar on September 16th entitled: "Preserving Gates Mills" - Uniting for Land, Water and Tree Preservation.
And please join our membership as we move forward into a new era of conservation, preservation and education.
Respectfully,
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Nat Smith
and the GMLC Board
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Tom Quintrell, Past Vice-President and Honorary Board Member 1920-2015
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Thomas Quintrell,
GMLC Founding Father
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Tom Quintrell was actively involved in the inception of the Gates Mills Land Conservancy. His lifelong service to Gates Mills and specifically to the conservation and care of land throughout Northeast Ohio is unmatched. Tom was a visionary leader who made many significant contributions to the protection of our natural resources and who upheld the highest ideals of civic engagement and professional excellence in service to his community.
In 1988, Tom was part of an Environmental Committee organized to form the “Gates Mills Land Trust”. It was his vision, that all land would not have to be purchased, but could be protected through conservation easements.
Tom and Mayor Dan Collister believed...
"This new group should be independent of the Gates Mills Council and the administration.” Tom believed that land preservation and conservation could be created through the establishment of a “Land Trust” supported by the community.
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"River Autumn" by Jamie Morse |
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The forests of Ohio have witnessed dramatic changes since European settlement started over 200 years ago. When settlers first came to the Ohio country, the state was predominantly forested. Some have estimated the forest cover was as much as 95 percent of Ohio lands.
With the dawn of the 19th century, settlements and westward expansion spawned almost 100 years of forest removal, and Gates Mills was part of this deforestation. Lands that nurtured excellent tree growth also supported bountiful crop production. This started massive forest clearing that continued through the end of the century. By the first decade of the 1900s, forest cover had dropped to only 10 percent of the state.
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The Beginnings of Land Conservation in Northeast Ohio |
In the 1980’s, land conservancies were in vogue in Northeast Ohio and many different communities throughout Ohio began conserving parcels of land. There was also a particular effort to focus on land conservation in the Chagrin River Valley. Tom Quintrell became very interested in land conservation and was a major catalyst in the development of land conservancies in Ohio. Tom, who worked for Arter & Haddon law firm, was a senior attorney, highly respected in corporate and real estate law. Tom along with two other attorneys at the firm formed the Grand River Partners, Inc., in 1994.
We sat down with Gates Mills' own Jerry Bohinc to talk about how land conservation got started in our area.
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There are only four native pines in Ohio:
Shortleaf Pine (P. echinata)
Pitch Pine (P. rigida)
Eastern White Pine (P. strobus)
Virginia/Scrub pine (Pinus virginiana)
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Benefits of a Pine Forest |
Preserving and restoring a pine forest is essential for combating deforestation, which remains a significant environmental challenge. Replanting and protecting these forests can help restore damaged ecosystems and prevent further loss of biodiversity. Pine trees have their own unique role to play in this ecosystem.
The fact that pine trees retain their foliage year-round provides numerous benefits including year-round photosynthesis; a dense, interconnected root systems which stabilizes soil from rainfall and wind; they release aromatic compounds called phytoncides, which promote human well-being; they have natural antimicrobial properties that help cleanse the air of harmful microorganisms; and they absorb and store large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This is crucial in the fight against climate change, as it helps mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.
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The beautiful pine forest of Wick Woods |
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A Piece of History -
Wick Woods
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The tall straight trunks of pines tower over all other growth. They make up the Canopy layer of the forest, protecting the Midstory deciduous layer, Shrub layer and the Ground cover below. It is sometimes hard to see the pine trees in the forest, but the marvelous smell of the pines is unmistakable.
Wick Woods is a beautiful example of a preserved pine forest. Situated along Chagrin River Road are 20 acres donated to the Land Conservancy in 2005 by the Allayne and Douglas Wick Family. It includes three separate stands of White Pines that were planted over 100 hundred years, by three generations of the Wick Family.
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Girl Scout Troop #70582 with
GMLC's Mr. Eagle and Mr. Fox
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Thank You,
Gates Mills Girl Scout Troop #70582!
GMLC is very grateful to the Gates Mills Girl Scout Troop #70582 for their participation on our 4th of July float for the Parade this year! The Girl Scouts handed out free White Pine sapling trees to the crowd, on behalf of our efforts to support the Tree Canopy.
We are thrilled about the Girl Scouts interest and enthusiasm in Land Conservation. These wonderful young ladies have donated $200.00 to the GMLC. Amazingly, this gift came from the proceeds of their 4th of July lemonade stand! It is wonderful to know that the future of land conservation and preservation will be protected by this young generation growing up right here in Gates Mills.
This year was the first time that "two awards" had been given by the judges to the same recipient. The GMLC float won the "Best of Nature" and the "Most Beautiful" float awards. We are grateful for the recognition, and to all our Board members and volunteers who support the Gates Mills Land Conservancy!
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Upcoming Event - Please Join Us! |
"Preserving Gates Mills"
Uniting for Land, Water and Tree Preservation
hosted by
Gates Mills Land Conservancy &
Gates Mills Environmental Education Center
with
Dr. Roy Larick, PhD.
Bartlett Tree Experts
Chagrin River Watershed Partners
- Learn about the Environmental Educational Center
- Tour the facility and the 40-acre site
- See remnants of the former Coast Guard Station
- Walk the half mile prairie garden trail.
- Event is free with your reservation.
Saturday, September 16, 2023
GMEEC, 390 County Line Road, 9:00am - 2:00pm
Children are Welcome!
Sign up for the Children's Environmental Program,
with Excel TECC instructor-led environmental activities.
Look for additional information in the Pink Sheet, Gates Mills Connect
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Subscribe at:
Gates Mills Land Conservancy
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