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November 2020 | Land Trust eNews
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Maryland Environmental Trust Spotlight |
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 First Virtual Roundtable a Success
On November 10, Maryland Environmental Trust held its first virtual Land Trust Roundtable, Stewardship and Monitoring Challenges for Land Trusts during COVID-19. If you missed the event, don't worry! A copy of the PowerPoint is available online and jam-packed with useful tips from MET's Stewardship Program. For more information on this and other Roundtables visit MET's event page.
Meet MET's New Volunteer Coordinator
Maryland Environmental Trust welcomes Jacob Honn, the newest Volunteer Coordinator through Volunteer Maryland Americorp Program. Jacob will be working with MET volunteers to ensure our solely held easements are monitored this year. Jacob is a recent graduate of Earlham College. He graduated in May with a degree in Biology. Jacob is motivated to facilitate positive change in both his community and natural environment while developing skills and connections. If you are interested in learning more about MET's Volunteer Program contact Jacob at jacob.honn@maryland.gov.
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Want Locally Sourced Food? You’ll Need Land Preservation!
Your recent article about the local food revolution featured farmers doing what farmers do best: supplying fresh local meats, dairy and produce directly to customers. Unspoken is the role land preservation plays in making this possible. Maryland was the first state in the nation to provide for lower assessments on land devoted to farm or woodland uses.
Centuries of Business: Why both Loggers and Conservationists Want the Evolving Eastern Shore Lumber Industry to Stay
"It's not always perfect," said Kate Patton. "But an organization like ours needs to find that kind of sweet spot between the conservation goals we have and the realization that private landowners need tools to manage their land — and they need an income.”
Protecting Undeveloped Green Spaces in Harford County Pays Big Dividends
Harford County’s population has grown by 70% since 1980 to well over 250,000 people. Projections estimate that we will add another 50,000 people over the next 30 years. Most of these future residents will live on land that we now know and love as farms and forests.
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Two New Consultants Selected to Lead Battlefield Preservation Projects
As a part of Preservation Maryland’s Battlefield Preservation Campaign, the organization selected two consultants to lead projects in western and southern Maryland: the South Mountain Battlefield Project Expansion (Frederick & Washington Counties) and Maryland’s Largest Revolutionary War Battle: St. George Island (St. Mary’s County). Read more.
Pocomoke River Wildlands Expansion and Recreational Trail Proposal in Worcester County
The Maryland Forest Service is seeking public comment until November 27 on a proposal to expand the Pocomoke River Wildlands by approximately 80 acres and adjust the Wildlands boundary to create a public access passageway in Worcester County. Read more.
Restoration Efforts Take Place at Frederick County Farm
Volunteers and Chesapeake Bay Foundation staff finished planting over 1,000 trees at a Frederick County farm last weekend. This was one of two large-scale tree plantings over the past month – the other took place in Carroll County. Read more.
Harford Administration’s Land Preservation Initiative Meets Pushback at County Council
The public hearing on legislation to place 15 farms under the county’s agriculture conservation program — with the county purchasing development rights easements on the properties so they can remain farmland — spilled over its allotted time by more than 40 minutes as council members asked questions and others showed up in support of the cause. Read more.
Agricultural Conservation Leasing Resources.
The Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology announces the availability of a new resource, "Navigating Tax Issues When Leasing Farmland." All of materials, as well as links to an educational presentation and webinar on structuring cost-share are available for download at go.umd.edu/conservationleasing.
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Online Learning Opportunities |
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Maryland DNR Survey
The results of this survey will be used to improve DNR's ability to provide the opportunities and services that fit the needs of our customers. This survey is designed to gather information and preferences from outdoor enthusiasts that access Maryland's public lands and waters. All individual results will be kept confidential and used only by the DNR.
The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete.
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Collaborating for Land Trust Success
Free until November 30
LTA offers a free webinar recording until November 30. In this webinar, staff from Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, an accredited regional land trust in north-central Massachusetts, will present a transferable, relevant framework for developing a results-oriented collaboration strategy tailored to the needs and realities of land trusts. Learn more.
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2021 Chesapeake Conservation Finance Intensive Course
Apply by December 2
This online, intensive training course will help mid-career professionals use innovative and effective financing strategies for land and resource conservation, restoration and stewardship. It will be held online from February 8-11, 2021. Scholarships available. Contact Jennifer Miller Herzog, Land Trust Alliance, with any additional questions at jmillerherzog@lta.org.
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How to Attract Volunteers and Donations with a Strong Visual Brand
December 2 | Free
Nonprofits need donors and volunteers to thrive. But, a worthy mission isn't enough to win them over. This interactive session will discuss the power of visual branding for nonprofits, when it's time to refresh a visual brand, how to build loyalty and engagement through the visual brand design process, and simple ways to personalize stock template websites and emails. Learn more.
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Nonprofit Tips and Tricks |
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COVID Burnout: Seven Ways To Reset When You’ve Hit The Wall
A new survey by Mental Health America reported that 75% of workers have experienced burnout, with 40% saying it was directly due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read more.
Meet Change with Enthusiasm and Honesty
Whether you like it or not, we’re living in a world of constant change, and fundraising as we knew it has changed. Business as usual is simply is never going to be the same. Read more.
The Power of Narrative Change for Nonprofits
Many nonprofits, political groups, and movements are investing in narrative change as a strategy to build power and shape the conversation around their work. Read more.
Fundraising Software Trends in 2020
What are the trends in the donor management and fundraising software market, and are the systems changing fast enough to make it worth your while to select and implement a new one? Read more.
4 Unique Ways to Create a Successful Fundraising Campaign
In 2020, the fundraising landscape has been both unconventional and challenging for many nonprofit professionals. As we move forward from crisis-focused activities, there are opportunities to hone your strategy and plan for the future. Read more.
This Incredible Google Experiment Lets You Time Travel to Your Hometown 200 Years Ago
Three years later, his attempt at virtual time travel is taking shape as an open-source map that can show, in both a bird’s-eye view and a pedestrian-level view, the changes that happen to city streetscapes over time. Read more.
How to Engage Major Donors during #GivingTuesday and year-end Fundraising Season
COVID-19 and shifts in the economy have many people questioning how this year-end campaign cycle will be different from others. Some of you may also be wondering if, or how, to engage major donors during this unusual year-end campaign season. Read more.
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Share Your News
If you would like to share relevant conservation news, success stories, announcements or events with Maryland's land trusts and conservation partners through this publication, please contact Michelle Grafton by the first of each month at michelle.grafton@maryland.gov.
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