EVERLANDS STEWARDSHIP
"When the land does well for its owner, and the owner does well by his land --
when both end up better by reason of their partnership-- then we have conservation."
Aldo Leopold
In his classic 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold called for a “Land Ethic” – an extension of our sense of community beyond humanity to include the whole living landscape. Inclusion, compassion, and stewardship were implicit in his idea.
GOALS OF THE INITIATIVES' STEWARDSHIP ARE TWO FOLD:
Collaborate with private land owners to ensure their properties maximize conservation and community values while maintaining highest level of owner use and enjoyment.
Assist landowners to engage in a wide range of conservation and community efforts on and around their properties.
Collaborate with private land owners to ensure their properties maximize conservation and community values while maintaining highest level of owner use and enjoyment.
Assist landowners to engage in a wide range of conservation and community efforts on and around their properties.
A WORKING DEFINITION OF "STEWARDSHIP"
Stewardship is a commitment to conservation and responsible use.
It conveys the responsibility to manage land wisely in order to
leave a rich legacy for future generations and to conduct one's
activities with proper regard to the community at large.
Examples of the Initiative’s stewardship efforts include:
Conducting a “stewardship audit” of facilities, utilizing outside expertise as appropriate, to recommend constructive improvements and best practices to ensure properties provide maximum benefits to owners, the community, and the environment.
Establishing conservation easements on private lands.
Establishing “carbon zero” programs to offset property owner’s carbon impact.
Enhancing private land owners’ commitment to being “good neighbors” by actively collaborating with a wide range of partners to identify and support programs that enrich the community and its surrounding wildlands.
