Whidbey Camano Land Trust Programs
All our efforts are focused on permanently protecting land, caring for it through good stewardship plans and programs, and engaging the community to protect these remarkable islands for future generations. Three programs are:
Land protection
Following the guidelines of a community and science based strategic conservation plan, our land protection specialists work with landowners to protect the most important conservation-important lands on these distinctive islands. These specialists procure grant funds through competitive processes and have been able to save many precious land properties that provide benefit to the entire community.
Stewardship
Developing site management plans for all protected properties ensures that the ongoing work helps protect the conservation values that were the reason for the initial land conservation effort. Much of the stewardship is achieved through work parties that engage the community in caring for the land.
Outreach and Development
Telling the story and inviting community members to become part of the effort helps strengthen people's commitment to the land. Inspiring personal connections to the land is at the heart of permanent land protection for future generations.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
In 2012, the community rallied to close-the-funding gap on a vital project at the south end of Whidbey Island. For a decade, Indian Point, with its rare maple forest community upland and coastline loved by birds and juvenile salmon was a top priority for protection. Indian Point is an ecologically rich natural area with feeder bluff, mature forest and productive beach that provides critical habitat for migrating salmon and native wildlife. So, against a non-negotiable deadline, the community raised the final amount needed and protected this amazing 64-acre property.
Besides the ongoing stewardship associated with the Trillium Community Forest and other protected properties, the Land Trust has another 15+ projects in process. The Land Trust's ongoing need is for funds to accomplish both land protection and stewardship work. This is done through both professional staff and contracted services as well as a corps of dedicated volunteers who are coordinated by staff.