President's Corner
Conservation Education
Takes Many Forms

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"So read this magazine. Visit our website. Learn! Then get out there on the land you've helped protect and start knowing--and enjoying--it."

With increasing urbanization, we can no longer assume that the average Iowan has much direct experience with natural resources-let alone an understanding of their importance. That's why, from our original mission statement to the present, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation has always combined conservation action with conservation education. This magazine details several recent examples of INHF's educational outreach. For example, we supported publication of three new conservation books-including our own booklet about protecting neotropical migrant habitat. We continue to devote many pages of our magazine and website to "Ecology College" articles.

Knowing that "book learning" isn't enough, INHF also promotes experiential learning. This spring, many Iowa school children designed and completed service-learning projects to protect local resources-thanks to INHF funding. Working with other conservation groups, we organized hands-on activities like the Statewide Prairie Rescue and National Trails Day. We continuously expand our website's "Explore Iowa" section-including our newest online feature about what to see and do in the Iowa River Greenbelt. Some INHF educational efforts have targeted special audiences. Stunned by the state's conservation budget cuts in 2002, we joined other conservation groups to educate policy makers and voters about the devastating extent and impacts of those cuts-and it made a difference in the 2003 budget! As leaders in bringing federal Farmland Protection Program funds to Iowa, we're teaching Iowa's landowners, agencies, policy makers-and ourselves-about new ways to understand and implement conservation. So read this magazine. Visit our website. Learn! Then get out there on the land you've helped protect and start knowing-and enjoying-it! Sincerely, Mark C. Ackelson President

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.