Santa Fe Conservation Trust

SEE PART III LINE 1

We envision a future where everyone in northern New Mexico cherishes nature and works to preserve it

Goal One: Increase Organizational Capacity. Hiring additional land and trail program staff to increase our ability to conserve land and expand the scope and reach of the trails program.

Goal Two: Complete and Implement Strategic Conservation Plan - to guide and leverage land conservation efforts in order to achieve landscape scale impacts, serve landowner needs and our Community

Goal Three: Practice Community Conservation — to support and expand programs to broader audiences and underserved communities, with the aim of increasing our impact in our service area of northern New Mexico.

As a member of the Land Trust Alliance, we send employees and board members to the LTA Rally. Last year, the land program manager and a land review committee member attended the "virtual" Rally. As well, SFCT has paid for access to all ongoing webinars from the LTA this year, allowing for 6 attendees to any and all webinars. Board and staff are always encouraged to expand their horizons through education and training, and offers reimbursement for related activities. As well, they are encouraged to participate in land stewardship and trail work, regardless of their role in the organization.

In light of the inability to hold in-person events, the Santa Fe Conservation Trust transformed many of its programs into a virtual format, still promoting and advocating for environmental issues and engaging with the community. It was actually an opportunity to refocus on the work we could do outside and remotely, which fortunately are exactly our core programs: land and trails. SFCT closed on six land projects last year, including new conservation easements, easement transfers, and a 300-acre fee owned property, more than we have ever done. We continued to monitor and steward the properties already under our protection, on foot and via advanced satellite imagery (neat, right?). Trail maintenance and construction activities continued in small, distanced groups, as well as trail planning and collaboration. After scrambling to get our workforce online and working remotely, applying for gaps in funding after canceled events and contracts, and not being able to utilize our rather large volunteer base, we have come out the other side stronger and better equipped for the future.