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Big Sur Land Trust
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Big Sur Land Trust
The Big Sur Land Trust is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit located in Monterey, California, that has played an instrumental role in preserving land in California's Big Sur and Central Coast regions. The trust was the first to conceive of and use the "conservation buyer" method in 1989 by partnering with government and developers to offer tax benefits as an inducement to sell land at below-market rates. Since 1978, with the support of donors, funders and partners, it has conserved over 40,000 acres (16,187 ha) through conservation easements, acquisition and transfer of land to state, county and city agencies. It has placed conservation easements on 7,000 acres (6,880 ha) and has retained ownership of over 4,000 acres (1,620 ha).
The trust was founded in 1978 by a small group of local Big Sur residents who were members of the Big Sur Citizens' Advisory Committee. Four of the residents visited the San Francisco offices of The Trust for Public Land in 1977 where they learned about land-trust finance and management. They decided to form an organization that could promote environmental protection in keeping with the Coast Master Plan and the California Coastal Act. In February 1978 the community members incorporated The Big Sur Land Trust as a nonprofit California corporation. Their original aim was to protect Big Sur's natural beauty "from over development without recourse to government control while recognizing a property owners' right to sell to whomever they wish". The trust has partnered with many public and private agencies and organizations to protect land.
Before Big Sur Land Trust was incorporated, a small group of local Big Sur residents were appointed in 1977 by Monterey County to the Big Sur Citizens' Advisory Committee. They were assisting the county in developing a Coast Master Plan for Big Sur. Retired oil company executive Earl Moser, who helped lead an effort to prevent building a refinery at Moss Landing near Monterey, chaired the effort.
The diverse group shared a common mistrust held by Big Sur residents of added government. They knew local groups were already upset by what they viewed as the California state park's lack of responsiveness to local concerns. The Coast Master Plan and the laws enforced by the California Coastal Commission published new rules for clean air and water, protecting land and sea, endangered species, disposing of hazardous waste and procedures for evaluating new development along the coast with environmental impact reports. A group of Big Sur residents decided to form their own organization that could promote environmental protection reflecting the desires of the people who lived there.
The Big Sur Land Trust is well-regarded and ranked alongside notable trusts like Washington's San Juan Preservation Trust, Wyoming's Jackson Hole Land Trust, New York's Adirondacks Land Trust, and Maine Coast Heritage Trust.
In 1978, seven families formed the Big Sur Land Trust. They envisioned preserving the iconic Big Sur landscape for the benefit of future generations. The founding members were Zad Leavy, an experienced attorney and his wife Laela, Sherna and Kipp Stewart, Roger and Beverly Newell, Nancy Hopkins, Lloyd and Pat Addleman, Martin and Suzanne Forster and Peter Harding. Hopkins, daughter-in-law of Hewlett Packard founder David Packard, became the trust's first president. Attorney Zad Leavy became its first executive director and served for 25 years.
The Big Sur Land Trust is governed by a board of trustees including 12 trustees and four administrators: board chair, co-chair, treasurer and secretary. Board members represent local and regional community members. The board is supported by a 15-member advisory council and an 11-member science and land management council. Donors include local philanthropists and community members from all backgrounds. The trust is operated by a professional staff and supported by hundreds of members and volunteers. Volunteers play a significant role by contributing their time and talents to stewardship projects, guided hikes, events and many other aspects of Big Sur Land Trust's work.
When it was founded in 1978, the trust's mission was to conserve important waters and lands along California's Central Coast and focus on purchasing property for conservation in perpetuity. In 2012, their mission was, "to conserve the significant lands and waters of California's Central Coast for all generations." It emphasized conserving unique landscapes on California's central coast including stream spawning beds for threatened steelhead trout, coastal redwoods, grasslands and oak woodlands. In 2009, it added environmental education and a youth outdoor program.
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Big Sur Land Trust
The Big Sur Land Trust is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit located in Monterey, California, that has played an instrumental role in preserving land in California's Big Sur and Central Coast regions. The trust was the first to conceive of and use the "conservation buyer" method in 1989 by partnering with government and developers to offer tax benefits as an inducement to sell land at below-market rates. Since 1978, with the support of donors, funders and partners, it has conserved over 40,000 acres (16,187 ha) through conservation easements, acquisition and transfer of land to state, county and city agencies. It has placed conservation easements on 7,000 acres (6,880 ha) and has retained ownership of over 4,000 acres (1,620 ha).
The trust was founded in 1978 by a small group of local Big Sur residents who were members of the Big Sur Citizens' Advisory Committee. Four of the residents visited the San Francisco offices of The Trust for Public Land in 1977 where they learned about land-trust finance and management. They decided to form an organization that could promote environmental protection in keeping with the Coast Master Plan and the California Coastal Act. In February 1978 the community members incorporated The Big Sur Land Trust as a nonprofit California corporation. Their original aim was to protect Big Sur's natural beauty "from over development without recourse to government control while recognizing a property owners' right to sell to whomever they wish". The trust has partnered with many public and private agencies and organizations to protect land.
Before Big Sur Land Trust was incorporated, a small group of local Big Sur residents were appointed in 1977 by Monterey County to the Big Sur Citizens' Advisory Committee. They were assisting the county in developing a Coast Master Plan for Big Sur. Retired oil company executive Earl Moser, who helped lead an effort to prevent building a refinery at Moss Landing near Monterey, chaired the effort.
The diverse group shared a common mistrust held by Big Sur residents of added government. They knew local groups were already upset by what they viewed as the California state park's lack of responsiveness to local concerns. The Coast Master Plan and the laws enforced by the California Coastal Commission published new rules for clean air and water, protecting land and sea, endangered species, disposing of hazardous waste and procedures for evaluating new development along the coast with environmental impact reports. A group of Big Sur residents decided to form their own organization that could promote environmental protection reflecting the desires of the people who lived there.
The Big Sur Land Trust is well-regarded and ranked alongside notable trusts like Washington's San Juan Preservation Trust, Wyoming's Jackson Hole Land Trust, New York's Adirondacks Land Trust, and Maine Coast Heritage Trust.
In 1978, seven families formed the Big Sur Land Trust. They envisioned preserving the iconic Big Sur landscape for the benefit of future generations. The founding members were Zad Leavy, an experienced attorney and his wife Laela, Sherna and Kipp Stewart, Roger and Beverly Newell, Nancy Hopkins, Lloyd and Pat Addleman, Martin and Suzanne Forster and Peter Harding. Hopkins, daughter-in-law of Hewlett Packard founder David Packard, became the trust's first president. Attorney Zad Leavy became its first executive director and served for 25 years.
The Big Sur Land Trust is governed by a board of trustees including 12 trustees and four administrators: board chair, co-chair, treasurer and secretary. Board members represent local and regional community members. The board is supported by a 15-member advisory council and an 11-member science and land management council. Donors include local philanthropists and community members from all backgrounds. The trust is operated by a professional staff and supported by hundreds of members and volunteers. Volunteers play a significant role by contributing their time and talents to stewardship projects, guided hikes, events and many other aspects of Big Sur Land Trust's work.
When it was founded in 1978, the trust's mission was to conserve important waters and lands along California's Central Coast and focus on purchasing property for conservation in perpetuity. In 2012, their mission was, "to conserve the significant lands and waters of California's Central Coast for all generations." It emphasized conserving unique landscapes on California's central coast including stream spawning beds for threatened steelhead trout, coastal redwoods, grasslands and oak woodlands. In 2009, it added environmental education and a youth outdoor program.