PALOUSE LAND TRUST INC

Palouse Land Trust works with private landowners to ensure that the lands that define us, sustain us, inspire us, and that form the backbone of our shared heritage, history and experience will endure not just for today, but for generations to come.

We work collaboratively to develop meaningful land conservation solutions that benefit our entire community by keeping our fertile working agricultural lands and forests productive, protecting and promoting healthy wildlife and fish habitat, preserving iconic landscapes and open spaces that are unique to our landscape, and championing and improving access to the outdoors for more members of our community. This work ensures that our children, grandchildren, and generations to come will benefit from and enjoy the lands that make our region such a wonderful place to live, work and call home.

We are committed to sharing the power and importance of land conservation through education, outreach, and more opportunities for our community to connect with the power of nature and the amazing health, mental, and spiritual benefits that come from time spent on the land.

We envision a future where the critically endangered Native Palouse Prairie ecosystem not only survives but thrives; where native fish, birds, and wildlife have connected travel corridors and healthy habitat; where family farms and forests remain in sustainable production, protecting our rural way of life and economy; where people of all abilities can access and explore Idler's Rest Nature Preserve thanks to accessibility improvements, programming, and opportunities to connect with the space, and with one another; and we imagine a future where our children and grandchildren will be able to gaze in awe at the grandeur of our iconic rolling hills of grain, lush forests, and unique geography.

Palouse Land Trust works to conserve lands important to our community using a tool called a conservation easement. This legal framework is tied to the deed of the land, and outlines the conservation values and properties of the land and guarantees permanent protection of those properties through the removal of certain development rights and land uses. Essentially, we use this tool to protect the lands that make the Palouse what it is: working farms and forests, wildlife and fish habitat, open spaces, endangered ecosystems, and treasured outdoor recreational spaces. The perpetual nature of a conservation easement guarantees that these special lands will be protected for today, for tomorrow, and forever.

We work collaboratively with landowners, local organizations, regional, state, and federal agencies and government entities to create meaningful conservation solutions that benefit our entire community now and for generations to come. By bringing in multiple partners and resources, we create the most effective, efficient, and beneficial conservation projects as possible, and can ensure that the lands our communities hold dear will remain intact and cared for well into the future.

Aside from our land protection work, we also engage in community education and outreach to share the importance of conservation with the general populace, community leaders, and the next generation of conservationists. We offer resources, programming, and educational opportunities for young children to adults, and facilitate research and higher education activities on conserved properties. These living classrooms are not only offering a window into our past, but also providing a testing ground for innovative and effective land and wildlife management.

Palouse Land Trust has achieved national Land Trust Accreditation, a mark of distinction in land conservation. This accreditation certifies that our land trust meets national standards for excellence, upholds the public trust and ensures that conservation efforts are permanent. Further, accreditation signifies a commitment to sustainability, efficiency and efficacy in all areas of our organization, programming, and projects.

Thanks to the continued support of our community, private foundations and grantors, Palouse Land Trust is celebrating 25 years of conservation impact and progress in 2020. In 25 years, 2,040 acres of the most valuable and important wildlife habitat, working farms and forests, open spaces and iconic landscapes, healthy waterways, public outdoor recreational spaces, and critically endangered Native Palouse Prairie ecosystem have been permanently protected across the Palouse and north-central Idaho.

Already in 2021, we have closed on two new conservation easements, one adding additional land to an existing city park, and a second protecting 4-acres of land adjacent to the park, creating a permanently protected natural green space. Final funding has been secured to protect 80-acres of native Palouse Prairie ecosystem and wildlife travel corridor in northern Latah County. Permanent protection will be finalized by this summer.

This June, we will complete a 5-year accessibility improvement project at our public nature preserve, Idler's Rest. Thanks to the support of the community, private foundations, and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, we have expanded parking capacity and added accessible parking to the main lot; installed an accessible restroom facility; installed a new Universal Access trail, which allows for entry to the cedar grove portion of the preserve; and we will complete a new informational kiosk and directional and informational signage throughout the preserve.