Heather BacherExecutive Directorhbacher@cilti.org

317-631-LAND (5263)

Preserving Nature in the Heart of Indiana

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

Growth in the Number of Land Trusts, 1950 - 2003From the 2003 National Land Trust Census

From the 2003 National Land Trust Census

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

7,000,000

8,000,000

9,000,000

10,000,000

ConservationEasements

Owned by LandTrusts

Transferred to GovtAgencies & Other

Orgs

Total

Tota

l Acr

es P

rote

cted

1990

2003

Acres Protect, 1990 vs 2003From the 2003 National Land Trust Census

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

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.

Ongoing Goals of CILTI

• Increase the number of acres protected

• Expand community involvement in conservation

• Enhance quality of life for Central Indiana Hoosiers

CILTI Land Protection Activities

• Donations of land

• Fair Market Value Purchases and Bargain Sales

• Conservation Easements

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

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

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

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

• DisadvantagesNo authority, controversial, can annoy landowners, developers, local officials etc., mission drift?

One Possible Process toward GI

• Create the vision

• Develop an implementation strategy

• Identify funding, tools and resources

Johnson County VisioningImportant Elements• Partnership with the Johnson County

Community Foundation

• Engagement of stakeholders in the planning process

local government involvement

community participation

• Learning from other models

Johnson County VisioningOur 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

Johnson County VisioningGoals

• 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

Johnson County VisioningOutcomes• 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?

Johnson County VisioningTips

• Be inclusive

• Know what has come before

• Expect differences of vision

• Engage experts