1 minute read
From the President
from Return on Investment: How putting a dollar figure on the value of conserved lands can help save more
New Perspectives
EVERY FEW MONTHS the seasons remind us that change is the only constant in life. Just as we get used to the long days of summer, the air turns crisp and the leaves start to turn.
Lately, I find myself taking stock of life’s changes more often—one of the many psychological impacts of the pandemic. And change seems more rapid and intense than ever before. So much change is unsettling, but it brings with it the opportunity to see the world in a new way.
This issue of the magazine showcases how shifting perspectives can take conservation to new heights. Our story on land trusts using satellite and aerial imagery to remotely monitor their holdings—while keeping staff, volunteers and landowners safe during the pandemic—takes this literally (see page 14). Other stories highlight the transformative power of new perspectives—from looking more closely at how land trusts can partner with tribes and Indigenous groups (see page 20) to how viewing nature through an economic lens can help conserve more land (see page 26).
Of course, fall brings a change in routine, with kids back to school and, this year, a return to inperson work for many land trust practitioners who have been away from the office for months.
ALENA KAUFMAN
These might be welcome changes or stressful ones, depending on each of our perspectives. But one constant I look forward to every fall is Rally, where we gather—virtually or in-person— to hear new perspectives and connect with colleagues in the land trust community. I hope you will join me at this year’s virtual Rally, which promises to be another rich and inspiring event.
