Conservation Strides Forward in Skagit

Nature Conservancy transfers properties to Skagit Land Trust for community-based conservation

MOUNT VERNON, WA — The Nature Conservancy and Skagit Land Trust announce that the Conservancy is transferring nine preserves totaling about 1,000 acres to Skagit Land Trust to ensure long-term, community-based conservation on these sites.

The preserves are all located in the Upper Skagit area (up-river from Concrete) and feature a mix of mature forests, river corridors, wetlands, and a diversity of wildlife habitat.

The Land Trust will add the nine Conservancy preserves to its community-based conservation program, which has already protected and stewarded more than 7,000 acres of land in Skagit County.

The Conservancy will continue to maintain its office in Mount Vernon, to own and manage other preserves in Skagit County as well as across the state, and to work on regional conservation projects such as Floodplains by Design.

“Skagit Land Trust is honored to accept responsibility for these wonderful preserves from The Nature Conservancy,” said Skagit Land Trust Conservation Director Michael Kirshenbaum. “These nine properties are sterling examples of what makes the Skagit special. We look forward to stewarding these properties for the benefit of future generations.”

“The Nature Conservancy and the Skagit Land Trust share a long partnership and commitment to ensuring that nature will thrive in these lands and waters for generations to come,” said Jessie Israel, the Conservancy’s Puget Sound Conservation Director. “We’re confident in the Trust’s continued stewardship of these preserves.” The Land Trust has stewarded these nine preserves, plus four others, since 2012 under contract with the Conservancy and is intimately familiar with these beautiful places.

Conservation efforts on the Skagit go back to the early 1970s, when The Nature Conservancy and other partners began to conserve habitat for bald eagles, which were vanishing from across the American landscape. Since then, a strong partnership including the Skagit Land Trust, Seattle City Light, and other partners has developed a coordinated approach that has protected more than 10,000 acres in Puget Sound’s most important river system.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect the lands and waters on which all life depends. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.washingtonnature.org.

Skagit Land Trust is a community-based conservation organization celebrating its 25th anniversary. Over 1,500 community members support SLT through membership, volunteering and donations of land.