Defenders' Experts
Two Land Trusts Chosen for Capacity Building Project in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Defenders of Wildlife, in partnership with the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program, has selected two land trusts to participate in a unique planning and capacity-building opportunity in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The Lower Shore Land Trust in eastern Maryland and the Capital Region Land Conservancy in central Virginia will receive comprehensive training in biodiversity conservation with input from local, state and national experts on important topics such as strategic planning, climate change, habitat restoration, marketing and more.
They will then work with professional facilitators and GIS technicians to develop a vision and map a strategic land-protection plan for their service area. The plans will be founded in science but also incorporate the region’s unique cultural values. Land trusts will also receive professional assistance in developing a long term financing and implementation strategy as well as small grants to catalyze implementation.
By designing a proactive and strategic approach to land conservation, these two land trusts working are working to ensure that the living landscapes of today will continue to provide for wildlife and humans alike for generations. We look forward to working with them!
Why the Chesapeake Bay?
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States, covering more than 64,000 square miles across six states. The Bay and its watershed support some of the most biologically diverse forests in the country in addition to nationally renowned coastal, wetland and marine habitats recognized as some of the most productive in North America.
Unfortunately, despite decades of concerted efforts by partners throughout the watershed, the quality of the Bay continues to decline as ballooning population growth and poor land use practices outstrip conservation investment.
Land trusts can and do play a key role in accelerating strategic protection and restoration of the Bay. To date, more than 1.6 million acres have been protected by the more than 170 land trusts working in the region. Most have few to no full time staff and even fewer resources - yet their accomplishments are many.
Through this capacity-building opportunity, Defenders hopes to support the great work of Chesapeake area land trusts and increase the pace of conservation in the Bay watershed through their efforts.
This opportunity received support from a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant, the Biophilia Foundation, and our many other partners.
