News
Land Trust Alliance
LTSL
was recently recognized by the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) as a high
potential land trust worthy of assistance through its Advancement
Program. In November 2011, LTA awarded LTSL a $5,000 cost-share grant
to assist in its preparations to apply for accreditation. This follows
on the efforts initiated over the past year by our dedicated staffer,
Sara McDonald, in reviewing existing policies and procedures with the
board and identifying where additional work is needed for
accreditation. LTSL will be working closely with LTA to bring itself
into compliance and conformance with the national code of Land Trust
Standards and Practices on which accreditation is based.
Strategic Plan
In November 2011, LTSL also adopted its first general Strategic Plan which articulates its conservation, organizational, communications, and development goals and objectives for the next 3 years. In furtherance of implementing our strategic plan and seeking accreditation, LTSL has entered into a Cooperative Agreement with LTA that will provide additional resources to help us implement the strategic plan, strengthen our organization’s long-term sustainability and program management skills, and assist us in our application process for accreditation. This accreditation helps to assure you and other stakeholders that we are following the prescribed standards and practices needed to successfully manage our organization for long-term sustainability and to assure proper stewardship and monitoring of conservation properties entrusted to us. As we implement this agreement, there will be further opportunities identified for members to become involved in many ways.
New Conservation Servitude Just Completed on the Tchefuncte River
We have just completed a new conservation servitude on a Tchefuncte River waterfront property that satisfies the match required for the Tchefuncte River green infrastructure projects sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. This is a very strategic and high quality acquisition in the Tchefuncte watershed. Many thanks to Board President Dr. Jay Addison, Board Advisor Nelwyn Mcginnis, and Kathy Stites, Project Director of the Green Infrastructure Projects, for burning the midnight oil to complete this servitude. Stay tuned for more updates on all the great work Kathy and her staff have been doing as she continues to implement the grants. She has initiated discussions with other landowners in both the Tchefuncte andTangipahoa watersheds on additional acquisitions, and has been working with public and private landowners to design green infrastructure projects in key locations. She will also be developing new opportunities for volunteer activities associated with these projects.
Baton Rouge Area Farm Conservation Workshop
LTSL partnered with the LSU Ag Center on Jan 11th to conduct a Baton Rouge Area Farm Conservation Workshop at LSU. The workshop was a great beginning in that area and the participants agreed to continue to strategize and brainstorm on ways to conserve working farms in the Greater Baton Rouge Metropolitan Area and surrounding parishes. The workshop included presentations on farm conservation programs by representatives from the Louisiana National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Doug Daigle presented information from the FutureBR Plan. He also reminded the group of the lands that could be affected if a new traffic loop is constructed around Baton Rouge. Paul Davidson described how the Black Bear Conservation Coalition he is working to piece together corridors across Louisiana for the survival of the Black Bears. Arthur Landry, LTSL Board Member, provided an update regarding an East Baton Rouge property in which he has been working to secure matching funds so that LTSL can submit a Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program application with NRCS for its acquisition. Lauren Field, another LTSL Board member, provided information on the Highway 61 Corridor Conservation Plan and the upcoming Feliciana Green Festival. Also participating from LTSL were board members Honora Buras and Donny Latiolais and staff intern Casey Tate. This workshop was an excellent reminder that there is still time to preserve working farms in these rapidly suburbanized areas around (and even within) Baton Rouge and that there are still many working farms providing locally grown food and preserving quality of life in this area.
