THE GREEN LEAF Spring 2024
From The President’s Desk
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Spring is springing here in Warren, a season bright with new possibilities and new projects. It’s the perfect moment for WLT to begin implementing the Strategic Plan adopted at the November 2023 Annual Meeting.
Before you stifle a yawn at the words “strategic plan,” let me assure you, this is thrilling news! If ever an organization found itself in need of a road map (which, after all, is what a strategic plan is), it is the Warren Land Trust right now. We have grown in exciting ways over the course of the last decade, and we owe it to our supporters and our community to think deeply - and, yes, strategically - about how to continue the great progress we’ve made toward fulfilling our land conservation mission.
Working with consultant Connie Manes, who has known WLT well for many years, we arrived at five central goals:
Goal 1: Protect Land : In keeping with global, federal, and state “30x30” land conservation goals*, preserve land that protects open space and natural resources, supports a resilient natural environment adaptable to climate change, provides passive and scenic public outdoor recreational opportunities, and contributes to a vital local community. *Protect 30% of the planet’s land and water resources by 2030.
Goal 2: Steward WLT’s Protected Properties : Implement best practices in land stewardship on WLT preserves and easements to support the natural environment. Where feasible, provide passive outdoor recreational opportunities accessible to the public. Support healthy working farms and farmland. Support healthy water resources including Lake Waramaug and its watershed.
Goal 3: Connect the community to nature : Create opportunities for people to enjoy, learn about and care for land and the environment. Connect an informed and engaged community that supports WLT’s work, enjoys its preserves, and values environmental protection and land conservation.
Goal 4: Build organizational capacity : Fulfill our mission and realize our vision with a fully engaged board, collaborative partnerships, a robust volunteer corps and dedicated donor base, now and into the future.
Goal 5: Build financial capacity : Ensure a sound financial footing and practices to ensure the present security and future growth of WLT and its preserves and easements.
These are an excellent set of guideposts. But, more concretely, how will we be working toward these goals in 2024? Here are just a few of this year’s priorities:
Goal 1: Protect Land - Continue progress on high-conservation-value projects already underway.
Goal 2: Steward WLT’s Protected Properties – Develop Cunningham Nature Preserve trail network, use Give Local funds to enhance visitor experience on WLT Preserves (see more information on this initiative below).
Goal 3: Connect the Community to Nature – Reassess our community communications (social media, email blasts) and enhance or update them to increase effectiveness. (If you follow us on Instagram, you know that this process is already underway!)
Goal 4: Build Organizational Capacity – Put our new board members to work! (See their profiles below.) Take a more systematic approach to enlisting volunteers – if you’d like to join us, just reach out: info@warrenlandtrust.org.
Goal 5: Build Financial Capacity – Formulate a fundraising plan that incorporates Strategic Plan goals.
These are just first steps down the path laid out by our new Strategic Plan. But we can’t wait to get started, and to let you know what we accomplish!
Sincerely,
Rebecca Neary
President, The Warren Land Trust