Causes: Environment, Land Resources Conservation

Mission: Our mission is to conserve the open space, scenery, wildlife habitat, and water quality of the palouse region for the benefit of current and future generations.

Programs: Land acquisition/protection - the palouse land trust works with willing landowners to protect working lands, open space, and wildlife habitat in north-central idaho and eastern washington. The primary tool the land trust uses to accomplish this is a voluntary conservation agreement called a conservation easement. Since 1995, the land trust and local families have used conservation easements to protect threatened farmland, wildlife habitat and corridors, rare and endangered plants and habitats, and areas for the public to recreate and enjoy nature.

outreach - the palouse land trust strives to reach new audiences and constituents to describe how voluntary conservation easements can be used to protect private lands. This includes focusing on outreach to soil and water conservation districts within its service area (north-central idaho and eastern washington), and also focusing on outreach to agricultural producers. The land trust also reaches out to the broader community to help people understand the public benefit of private land conservation by attending community and educational events, speaking to local service clubs and classes, and getting people out on the land to experience and enjoy nature.

land stewardship - staff members monitor all palouse land trust conservation easements and other projects encompassing 3,600 acres to ensure compliance with individual easement restrictions/language and to note any changes in the property. All monitoring data, such as photo points, are reported and entered into the permanent record. The land trusts fee simple land is also monitored. Staff and board members also organize volunteer work for pruning and improvements to the trails and habitat.