INHF's new strategic plan envisions future

With the words “We Envision …,” INHF President Mark Ackelson welcomes you to be part of the action outlined in our new five-year plan.
The plan, whichwill take INHF from our 30^th anniversary in 2009 to 2014, was developed by staff and board, with assistance from our advisors and conservation peers.

In his opening message, Ackelson recognizes the organization’s strengths and many valued relationships forged during its lifetime. Those relationships enabled us to protect more than 100,000 acres, create half of Iowa’s premier trail systems, train over 200 interns and steadily increase membership to 7,000. Not bad for an organization soon to be 30 years young!

Even as it acknowledges past achievements, the plan’s purpose is to look ahead. It outlines four main action-oriented themes for the next five years: protect, connect, restore and engage.

Protect. Protecting Iowa’s “wild places” is INHF’s key niche and most noted strength. During the next five years, we plan to accelerate protection efforts to permanently preserve at least 25,000 more acres of priority lands.
Connect. INHF links public and private lands to create expansive natural landscapes. We’re also a leader in establishing Iowa’s multi-use recreational trails that link communities and individuals to nature. To expand this work, we will advance the vision of “Quality of All Life” corridors — connected natural landscapes, including wildlife corridors, healthy waterways, trails, and other recreational and scenic areas.
Restore. INHF helps restore wetlands, prairies, savannas, woodlands and watersheds. We model good stewardship on land we manage or own, and we also advocate for programs and funding to help private landowners implement sound practices. We plan to emphasize restoration of natural areas that will create complexes for wildlife habitat and natural resource protection.
Engage. INHF is known for its leadership in inspiring Iowans to experience, value, protect and speak out for our natural resources. In the next five years, we plan to double e-mail outreach to non-members as well as members, with special emphases on reaching young Iowans and landowners.

“We can’t do all this without you!” the plan concludes. You are needed to learn, to tell others, to advocate and to give. Only together can we turn plans into realities and realize our dreams for Iowa’s future.

A pdf copy of the INHF Strategic Plan 2009-2014 is available by mail upon request.