Heather Bacher

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Preserving Nature in the Heart of Indiana

• Heather Bacher
• Executive Director
• hbacher_at_cilti.org
• 317-631-LAND (5263)

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What is a Land Trust?

• Private nonprofit organizations working to
  conserve land
• Focus might be natural, recreational, scenic,
  historical or productive values
• Tools include land acquisition and/or the
  acquisition of development rights

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Growth in the Number of Land Trusts, 1950 - 2003
From the 2003 National Land Trust Census
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From the 2003 National Land Trust Census
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Acres Protect, 1990 vs 2003
From the 2003 National Land Trust Census
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Types of Land Trusts

• Differences in scale Differences in focus
• Central Indiana Land Trust (and other regional
  trusts)
• The Nature Conservancy
• Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana

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Our mission
Through land Protection, Stewardship and
Education, the Central Indiana Land Trust Inc.
preserves biological diversity and enhances life
in our communities for present and future
generations.
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Ongoing Goals of CILTI

• Increase the number of acres protected
• Expand community involvement in conservation
• Enhance quality of life for Central Indiana
  Hoosiers

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CILTI Land Protection Activities

• Donations of land
• Fair Market Value Purchases and Bargain Sales
• Conservation Easements

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Being Strategic

• Land trusts have the techniques
• must also have strategies.
• Where to expend resources
• What land to protect
• How to protect it
• With whom to partner

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Current Trends Scenario, from luci2 Urban
Simulation Model By the IUPUI Center for Urban
Policy and the Environment
Visit urbancenter.iupui.edu for more info on luci2
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Strategic Conservation - the next generation of
conservation action?

• Promoting Green Infrastructure
• What to develop and what to preserve
• Based in Science and Community
• Coordinated with planning for gray infrastructure
• Designed holistically, planned comprehensively,
  laid out strategically, planned and implemented
  publicly, grounded in principles and practices of
  diverse professions, funded up-front
• www.greeninfrastructure.net

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Issues

• Timing is everything
• Advantages to Land Trusts promoting GI
• Regional, nonprofit (can fundraise), not
  political, mission-based, can provide framework
  for more proactive approach, shared vision can
  reduce conflict surrounding new development,
  increased quality of life
• Disadvantages
• No authority, controversial, can annoy
  landowners, developers, local officials etc.,
  mission drift?

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One Possible Process toward GI

• Create the vision
• Develop an implementation strategy
• Identify funding, tools and resources

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Johnson County Visioning

• Important Elements
• Partnership with the Johnson County Community
  Foundation
• Engagement of stakeholders in the planning
  process
• local government involvement
• community participation
• Learning from other models

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Johnson County Visioning

• Our Process
• Initial meeting with invited stakeholders hosted
  by the community foundation
• Creation of an advisory group/steering committee
• One-on-one meetings with officials and other
  important stakeholders
• Community interactive forums
• Engage stakeholders in the planning process
• Produce a product/report for all to see

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Johnson County Visioning

• Goals
• Identify the significant land use issues for the
  county,
• Prioritize the issues identified in the process,
• Work with a Johnson County Advisory Committee to
  identify shared values and create a Vision
  Statement

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Johnson County Visioning

• Outcomes
• Comprehensive view of the needs and opportunities
• Guide for officials and conservation
  organizations
• Ability to plan ahead rather than retrofit
  greenspace
• (a plan to guide growth that would provide for
  conservation)
• Just the beginning of a regional effort?
• Outcomes for other stakeholders?

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Johnson County Visioning

• Tips
• Be inclusive
• Know what has come before
• Expect differences of vision
• Engage experts