Defenders' Experts
Two Land Trusts Complete Strategic Planning Process in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Defenders of Wildlife, in partnership with the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program, recently hosted the first of a series of strategic planning and partnership workshops for two land trusts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed – The Lower Shore Land Trust in eastern Maryland and the Capital Region Land Conservancy in central Virginia.
During the first workshop, each land trust developed a strategic land protection plan for their region. The process, inspired by the successes of the Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust, incorporated the unique biodiversity and cultural values of each region. Plans were driven by land trust board and staff with assistance from a wide range of stakeholders including state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, scientists and landowners among many others. GIS professionals from Defenders and West Virginia University worked busily behind the scenes to map and prioritize the criteria outlined by each group to produce a series of maps highlighting the most important lands to protect.
The workshops also included training on a variety of conservation topics to help guide plan development and develop an action strategy. Topics included managing land under climate change, accessing the federal farm bill and using green infrastructure to set priorities among others.
In the next phase of the workshop series, land trusts will receive professional assistance in developing a long term financing and implementation strategy as well as small grants to catalyze implementation. Stay tuned for further updates!
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.
