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 A
Strong Voice for Land Conservation — As a coalition
of Wisconsin land trusts, Gathering Waters Conservancy is in a position
to be an important resource for safeguarding Wisconsin's natural
heritage. We know that a sense of reverence for the land calls for
practical action and we marshal the resources to take that action.
Apart from being a unified voice for Wisconsin's land trust community
and providing technical assistance on conservation issues, Gathering
Waters Conservancy promotes better public understanding and support
for land trusts and encourages public policies that strengthen Wisconsin's
land and water conservation efforts.
Assistance and Protection: Taking the Lead — Conservation
efforts to protect significant lands vary from place to place. But
where they take root, it is a sign of growing public interest in
preserving natural areas and rural landscapes. That's why Gathering
Waters Conservancy exists. From top-notch technical assistance to
protecting land, Gathering Waters takes the lead.
Our Technical Assistance Program fills a knowledge
gap by providing both landowners and land trusts with the most current
information on conservation options. Gathering Waters helps new
land trusts get started and works with existing land trusts on more
complex conservation issues as well as effective management of nonprofit
organizations. With a wealth of databases, an extensive library
and more, we bring our expertise to bear on educating those who
need to know how best to protect Wisconsin's significant land and
water resources.
 Gathering
Waters Conservancy's Land Protection Program allows us
to work on conservation projects with existing land trusts in Wisconsin
while, at the same time, we operate statewide to conserve land and
water resources. Gathering Waters cooperates with other land trusts
to preserve key parcels of land in their communities. We provide
a link between conservation-minded landowners and local land trusts.
And, where no land trust exists or where there is a need for additional
land and water protection, Gathering Waters Conservancy is there
to step in.
We use our Education and Outreach Program to communicate
with many groups: land trust staffs and boards, other conservation
professionals, landowners and the general public. Gathering Waters
provides training and networking opportunities by hosting regional
and statewide land trust conferences and conducts special workshops
across the state. To reach landowners and inform the general public
about land and water conservation, staff and board members make
presentations across the state on land trust issues. Our Crosscurrents
newsletter provides timely information and land trust updates.
Adding a New Chapter to Wisconsin's
Conservation History — More than a quarter century
of organized land trust efforts in Wisconsin provided a firm foundation
for the establishment of Gathering Waters Conservancy in 1995. Today,
Gathering Waters supplies the focus for conservation partnerships
that influence land and water resource protection across the state.
We fill a need for technical assistance that keeps the practice
of land and water conservation alive among landowners who care and
local land trusts who are ready to help them protect their land.
Where public support for land and water conservation is critical,
Gathering Waters Conservancy speaks with one voice for the land
trust movement.
Photo credits: 1) Bob Nichols,
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; 2) Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources
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