For more than 20 years, the Northern Neck Land Conservancy has set goals that may seem lofty to some but that it has achieved in stride.
A previous strategic plan set goals such as 1) the adoption of geospatial technology to analyze conservation priorities; 2) becoming a trusted partner of the US Navy and US Army on their conservation projects; and 3) building strong relationships with current and new conservation easement donors.
All three of these goals were accomplished over the last 5 years.
Now, the Northern Neck Land Conservancy’s Board of Directors and staff are looking ahead to the next 5 years, and they have not stopped dreaming big.
Executive Director Lisa Biever explained that while people who know of the organization’s work hold it in high regard, there are still many who have not heard of it — and many more who do not know that a conservation easement is a legal instrument that landowners can use to voluntarily preserve their property. “Our greatest needs are to articulate why permanent open space land protection is important and how it can be done,” she said, “and to continuously improve our education and outreach efforts.”
Biever went on to share the new plan’s three main goals and supporting strategies. First, Northern Neck Land Conservancy simply wants to protect more land. Among other strategies, it will be using its GIS mapping tools to identify areas with the greatest opportunities for protecting farmland, woodlands, and wetlands. The organization also plans to work more closely with partners like local government and allied conservation groups to complete larger or more complex land conservation projects.
A second goal is to grow the region’s conservation community, said Stewardship Director Drew Gladwell. “This means growing the number of people in the Northern Neck and Essex County who understand, value and are willing to take action to preserve the region’s land, waters, economies and culture,” he added.
The third strategic goal is to increase the organization’s capacity to achieve the first two goals. This means ensuring adequate staffing, which it hopes to do through engaging and supporting volunteers, continuing to seek diverse funding sources, and telling easement donors’ stories in new ways. To that end, a fresh new website interface is planned for later this year.
The presentation culminated in one big goal for the year 2030 — double the number of conservation easements stewarded by Northern Neck Land Conservancy. The group held 50 easements at the beginning of the year, so that will be 100 easements!
“Fifty years from now, we want people to say, ‘Those folks on the Northern Neck and in Essex County really did a good job ensuring that it’s all still here,” said Biever. “This place could look like any number of large coastal urban sprawl areas, and it doesn’t.’”
One of the most fun ways to support land conservation is to participate in Northern Neck Land Conservancy’s annual Boots and Barbecue event. This year, it is being held in Essex County at Wheatland and Saunders Wharf on October 4. Tickets are available at the Land Conservancy’s website. Sponsorships are available and come with event tickets. Contact info@nnconserve.org or 804-250-2334 to learn more.
Drew Gladwell mentioned two additional ways to help Northern Neck Land Conservancy achieve these strategic goals and reach 100 easements. “Get a Northern Neck special license plate through DMV, or become a supporting member for as little as $35 per year. The land conservancy is a community-supported nonprofit. It can’t achieve its goals without the region’s generous supporters.