President's Column - Ralph Jersild
We Are Not Alone
Financial Support - Ted Harris
When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.
John Muir
CILTI board members recently revisited the goals and objectives generated in our strategic plan one year ago. A question arose as to whether the meaning of the term “biological diversity,” as used in our mission statement, is understood by the general public. A recent study in California would suggest that the concept of biological diversity (or biodiversity), even though widely presented in the news media, is not understood by many, thus conditioning their appreciation for species diversity.
Biodiversity simply refers to all the separate life forms found in this world. Its significance lies in the diverse genetic pool it represents to sustain life in our varied and changing environments. It reflects the interrelationship and interdependence of all life and the consequences to the health of our planet from the disappearance of plant and animal species whose existence is endangered or threatened either globally or locally.
How does this conform to CILTI’s role in natural land protection in central Indiana? Certainly in Indiana, species diversity is threatened from the pressures of development, spread of exotic species, or from poor land management. Some are already lost. The black bear, for instance, will never return. Many song birds, those that require a deep woods habitat for example, cannot find sanctuary large enough to nest and raise their young. Even our more common species must either adapt to or run the risks of human coexistence (e.g., raccoons and opossums), or struggle to find fewer and smaller places to inhabit (e.g., beaver and deer).
While CILTI biologists remain alert to finding areas that contain scarce native plants and animals, the common woodlots, meadows and riparian areas also are important to maintaining a local diversity of those species we presently enjoy, be they the rabbits in the fields, the summer butterflies and migrant song birds, or the hidden box turtles and salamanders that we may never personally encounter. Preserving large tracts of natural land is ideal from the naturalist’s perspective. But smaller segments of 20, 10, and even fewer acres, those more likely remaining within our urban communities, can have a significant role to play in sustaining our treasured wildlife. Let’s work together in saving those special places where we can witness the resurgence of wild flowers in the spring, the summer songs of resident and migrant birds, the glory of nature’s fall harvest, and the tracks of the fox in the winter snow.
As the one species that dominates the world, we must make
space for the rest of creation to play its assigned role on this planet.
Bruce Babbitt
Valued open space is disappearing at a rapid pace across the country affecting wild places and the quality of life for current and future generations. To counter this disturbing trend, concerned individuals have organized, mostly as volunteers, as local or regional land trusts in communities across the country and beyond.
No, we are not alone in our volunteer efforts to preserve remaining segments of green space. Recently, the national Land Trust Alliance (LTA), of which CILTI is a member, completed a census of 1,213 local and regional land trusts operating through out the country. The census shows that their approximately 1 million members and financial supporters currently are conserving more than 4.7 million acres. This represents a 135% increase over acreage protected 10 years ago.
As part of this conservation movement, approximately 1200 persons including volunteers and staff from at least 325 land trusts in 46 states and five foreign countries met in Madison, Wisconsin October 17-20 for the 1998 National Land Trust Rally sponsored by the LTA. Rally ’98 attendance, noted LTA President Jean Hocker, was nearly quadruple that of the Rally ’88 10 years ago. “More and more people are recognizing land trusts’ unique strength and are placing great hope in our abilities,” said Hocker in her opening Rally address. “Public agencies, landowners, philanthropists, planners, national conservation organizations all are looking to land trusts as a new key to voluntary land conservation -- a conservation solution that responds to our times and the needs of America.”
CILTI was represented at the Rally by Ted Harris and Bud Jersild, both attending various sessions and workshops on issues dealing with land transactions, stewardship, organizational management and fundraising, and legal considerations for land trusts. A new area of urban land conservation was explored in which current issues affecting land trusts that work within cities to return land to a useful natural state were discussed. Such issues included land restoration (such as brownfields, vacant lots), multiple use management, and public/private partnerships.
One of the plenary session highlights was a presentation by New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman who spoke via satellite about the importance of open space and a ballot proposal that would set aside funding to protect an estimated 1 million acres of land in the country’s most densely populated state. In an evening extended session, Nina Leopold Bradley shared memories of her father, Aldo Leopold -- a Wisconsin naturalist internationally recognized for his 1940s writings on conservation ethics.
[Addendum: In the November 3rd election, the New Jersey ballot passed with 65% of the vote authorizing spending $1.8 billion of state sales tax revenues for protection of 1 million acres of open space in that state.]
This is the third in a four-part series describing ways that CILTI members can help the organization achieve its goals.
Despite the awesome age and diversity of the natural world, its future existence may depend on a human invention: money. This presents a challenge to those of us who hold CILTI's mission dear.
On this continent, Native Americans probably came as close to living sustainably with Nature as people are inclined to do. When European immigrants arrived, they brought along cultural values that gave less standing to the natural world. To them, land was meant to be possessed and developed. Nature was something to be tamed and then used in profitable ways. Here in central Indiana, as elsewhere, pioneers cleared forests, drained wetlands, plowed prairies and frequently persecuted both indigenous people and native wildlife.
In recent years, some lands have become reforested due to agricultural productivity and to reduced dependence on firewood. However, the wildlife habitat that remains today is still much too fragmented to ensure the long-term survival of many native species. Furthermore, urban, suburban, and industrial sprawl pose grave new threats to Nature.
Land is a valuable commodity. The promise of profits can attract big money for property that will be used as a subdivision or as an industrial park. Regrettably, there is very little financial return, at least in the short term, associated with creating a nature preserve on the same land. This presents a challenge for conservation organizations like CILTI. While the natural world needs our best efforts at protecting, restoring, and connecting its pieces, we need large sums of money to do so effectively. Relying exclusively on donations of land, wonderful as these donations are, will not be sufficient. A component of our protection program should be to actively identify and purchase suitable natural areas. To help with this, CILTI has set up two funds in addition to our long-standing General Operating Fund.
One of these is "Stewardship". It will be used to ensure the continuing maintenance of our properties. The other is "Acquisition", which will, either by itself or in combination with grants allow us to purchase property. By designating gifts to Acquisition and or to Stewardship, CILTI members can specify how their donations will be used.
Bequests are also an important element of financial support for nonprofit organizations. CILTI members may include CILTI in their wills and gain the satisfaction of knowing that their bequests will be used to protect natural areas in central Indiana for many generations to come.
All donations are greatly appreciated! With your support, CILTI will maximize its effectiveness at protecting Indiana's natural heritage.