SAN JUAN PRESERVATION TRUST

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San Juan Preservation Trust completes 22nd year

posted 12/27/01
The San Juan Preservation Trust has completed its 22nd year as a private non-profit conservation land trust serving the San Juan Islands. The Trust protected 8 properties in 2001, including land on Guemes, Lopez, Orcas, San Juan, and Stuart islands. For the 2000-2001 period, membership grew to 1,658 individuals and families.

Recognizing the vulnerability of the islands, a group of farsighted citizens established the Trust in 1979, as the first local conservation land trust in Washington State. "These islanders saw that the very qualities that draw people to the islands would disappear without careful attention to conservation," said Alan Davidson, President of the Board of Trustees.

"The Trust performed well in 2001," said Bob Myhr, Executive Director. "In addition to the protection arrangements closed during the year, we began working on several opportunities that hold promise for exciting results in 2002. We were also pleased to advance our interest in working with groups of neighbors to conserve land in neighborhoods, and we further developed our ability to purchase land where necessary."

In 2001, the Trust also continued its work of education and stewardship. Members and the public participated in wildflower walks, shoreline cruises, and special tours of protected land. Volunteers pulled invasive weeds, counted migrating swans, and assisted in the Trust office. Stewardship staff visited and monitored the 187 properties on 15 islands protected by the Trust, ensuring that the wishes of easement donors are honored in perpetuity.

The Trust engaged in internal education for its staff and board, as Myhr and Davidson attended the National Land Trust Rally, the largest conference in the U.S. designed for nonprofit land trusts and others dedicated to conserving the nation’s dwindling open spaces. The conference allowed them to exchange ideas and experiences with professionals and volunteers from hundreds of land trusts around the country and featured over 125 workshops and seminars on land conservation.

"We continue to work hard to fulfill our mission of preserving open space, forests, farmland, shorelines, and wildlife habitat for future generations. While we are pleased with the Trust’s success in all of its program areas, we have much more work to do," said Karin Agosta, Vice President of the Board. "The population of San Juan County grew forty percent in the last decade. The cumulative effects of this trend on our landscape, wildlife and quality of life will be substantial if we don’t also continue to protect land."

Individuals may join the Trust online by visiting its Web site or calling the Trust office at 360.468.3202.