stewardship

INHF

In many cases, land protection can’t be separated from land stewardship. A small prairie remnant can be protected from plows and bulldozers but then gradually lost to invasive species. In such cases, true protection requires active stewardship, such as prescribed burning. These practices mimic natural conditions—like prairie wildfires—under which these landscapes evolved.

Many Iowa landowners have devoted significant personal money and time to managing natural resources: hand-harvesting and planting native seeds, conducting prescribed burns, watering young trees, removing invasive species and providing natural habitat for all wildlife species. They don’t want to see their work undone by simple neglect.

Talk it over

If you are such a landowner, explore long-term stewardship options as part of your complete protection plan. Talk with your conservation partner about what long-term stewardship is needed, how it can be accomplished and how it can be funded.

Some conservation groups provide land management assistance during your ownership. For example, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation sometimes provides technical advice and even trained crews to assist landowners who have permanently protected their land.

To pay for long-term management costs, many conservation partners ask for an upfront donation or bequest. These funds can be invested and the proceeds used to cover ongoing management expenses.

reprinted from Landowner’s Options, © 2007, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation