Summary of the Land Trust Strategic Plan for 2009-2012

Adopted by the Board of Trustees
June 12, 2009

Our Vision
We see a future where the wild and working forests, the beaches and coastline, the globally unique biotic habitats and the County’s rich farming and ranching heritage – those things that define the extraordinary place we call Santa Cruz County -- are preserved forever, are lovingly cared for by supportive communities and are cherished by all as an extraordinary gift that this generation has made to future generations. 
           

To help turn this vision into a reality, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County will pursue five critical strategies over the next three years.

1. Take the leadership in developing and promoting a Conservation Blueprint for Santa Cruz County.  The Land Trust will develop and promote state-of-the-art science-based and community-supported countywide conservation vision to serve as a blueprint for a generation of conservation.
   
   
2. Take the leadership in establishing a Countywide Open Space District.  The Land Trust will work with its partners to establish a publicly-funded Open Space District aimed at providing a steady stream of local conservation funding for a wide variety of conservation actions by non-profits and public agencies.  Specifically, the Land Trust will:
   
   
• work with elected officials and others to place measures on the ballot;
• undertake an extensive outreach campaign to help shape a funding measure that can achieve two-thirds support;
• work with others to build a "winning coalition" of support;
• play the lead role in securing funding for and managing the campaign.
  
  
3. Implement best practices stewardship on all lands under its care. The Land Trust will greatly expand its capacity and skill in caring for the natural lands, working landscapes, and the conservation easement interests that it holds. Specifically the Land Trust will:
   
   
   • earn a reputation of providing quality stewardship and monitoring of all lands under its care;
   • be known for its solid, science-based approach, utilizing best management practices across all of its holdings;
   • demonstrate to the community sustainable models of stewardship across a range of working landscapes;
   • obtain Land Trust Alliance (LTA) Accreditation.
     
     
4. Protect critical lands through easements or purchase.  The Land Trust will work closely with willing landowners to purchase easements and land, more than doubling the amount of land it protects over the next three years.  Specifically the Land Trust will:
   
   
   • protect the farmlands and wetlands of the Pajaro Valley;  
   • create innovative partnerships to protect the natural resources and working forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains;  
   • protect the unique Santa Cruz Sandhills habitat;   
   • establish landscape corridors and linkages in the oak woodlands and grasslands, especially in the hills east of Watsonville.
     
     
5. Build staff and board capacity to deliver large-scale conservation. The Land Trust will increase its capacity to do large-scale conservation. Specifically the Land Trust will:
   
   
   • build an experienced and skilled staff;
   • become the go-to source for land conservation information in the County;
   • raise $3 million over the next three years to support the implementation of the strategic plan. 

Email this page to a friend