Overarching Themes
Land trusts are faced with issues and opportunities that are often complex and require a more comprehensive approach. As we look to the future and consider the long-term resilience and relevance of our land (and water) conservation efforts, what lessons can we share that will help us increase our impact?
For the second time, we challenged our presenters to consider incorporating into their sessions two cross-cutting themes that are critical to the future of land conservation. As land trusts, how might we think about how to plan, engage, adapt, mitigate and address these themes? In addition, as we asked our presenters to also consider how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their workshop topic.
Inclusion: A culture that fosters diversity, equity, support and respect within every facet of organizational services.
Climate Change: Multi-faceted implications of and strategies for a changing climate that range, for example, from nature-based climate solutions on natural and working lands to recovery from natural disasters to effective climate communication strategies for any audience.
Areas of Focus:
With the move to a 100% virtual Rally, we have streamlined content as well as our Areas of Focus. You will find the array of usual topics, but packaged differently. You will also find that many sessions fit within more than one Area of Focus so we encourage you to review the entire schedule.
Addressing Climate Change: Climate resilience; forest carbon offset markets; communications strategies around climate; renewable energy; managing and restoring forests
Caring for Land: Conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems; land and water management and restoration; conservation of working landscapes including farms and ranches; managing for public access; stewardship and monitoring
Engaging Community: Working to center people in land conservation and meet community needs; equity and inclusion; building authentic partnerships with your community; access to land
Leading Effectively: Effective governance, decision-making and risk management; organizational development; board and staff management; strategic planning; advocacy; transition and succession planning
Protecting Land: Transaction due diligence; drafting conservation easements; baseline documentation; appraisals; legal and tax issues; strategic conservation
Securing Support: Effectively borrowing money; leveraging public money; diversified fundraising strategies; developing an effective case for support; managing membership, annual giving and major donor programs; refining your identity/brand to build broader and deeper support; maximizing the impact of your communications tools