Red-Tail Land Conservancy Inc

By preserving and restoring the dynamic vitality of forests, prairies, and wetlands, Red-tail Land Conservancy plans for a future where the natural beauty and habitat health of east central Indiana will exist for future generations.

In 2020, we have permanently protected over 2,700 acres of land. Red-tail uses land we own to create nature preserves, many of which are open to the public. These preserves include diverse woodlands, vital wetlands and vulnerable grasslands. Endangered and threatened plant and animal species have been found in these preserves. They have walking trails and wildlife viewing areas to promote connections with nature through outdoor recreation.

Protecting land also takes the form of conservation agreements with landowners. We offer options to help landowners achieve their conservation vision. The options to protect their land may include a conservation agreement, a land donation, an estate gift, or a purchase.

Red-tail Land Conservancy preserves land by buying high quality woodlands, wetlands and grassland using monies from donations and grants. We also build partnerships with landowners who have property they would like to protect for future generations using a conservation easement.

Habitats that are protected often need restoration to improve the ecological health, which in turn results in healthier more diverse wildlife. Through staff work and volunteer events, invasive plant species are systematically removed giving native plants the capacity to thrive. We also have planted thousands of trees native to the region that will provide shelter and food increasingly as they grow.

To connect people with areas of natural beauty, we provide 10 public nature preserves throughout our area of operation. The trails on these preserves provide vibrant outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking and wildlife watching. Because of the focus on ecosystems over human amenities, they are a place of solace and emotional restoration where visitors can see trees and creeks that are hundreds of years old.

Red-tail Land Conservancy also provides resources and materials, like our daily nature play summer calendar, to help teachers and parents keep their children engaged in the outdoors. We host a monthly program for youth called Wildlife Warriors that covers natural resource science and real conservation issues that is not often discussed at school. Additionally, we coordinate this area's Master Naturalist class.

Red-tail Land Conservancy has a staff of three, each heading a different mission component. Our stewardship coordinator manages habitat health and trail maintenance in the nature preserves and conservation easements. The outreach coordinator works with community partners to create and implement nature-themed events, programs and resources. In addition to fundraising, our executive director works with private landowners, corporations, government agencies and other stakeholders to identify and purchase high quality land.

Our volunteer board of directors has committees that assist with land acquisition, outreach and fundraising.

Red-tail Land Conservancy has a robust volunteer corps that helps with stewardship and land restoration. Some are certified Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners, giving them capability to be expert volunteers on hikes or at exhibitor fairs.

We have permanently protected over 2,800 acres of land: 16 nature preserves, 19 conservation easements and 10 miles of streams and rivers. Ten nature preserves are open to the public with 11 miles of hiking trails winding through them.

Over 15,000 native trees have been planted. The protected land includes habitats that support dozens of endangered species, including the cerulean warbler and spotted turtle.

Thousands of volunteer hours have been spent removing invasive plants over 20 years, significantly and visibility allowing native plants to regrow.