Programs: Thanks to public support received from donors in 2016, aspen valley land trust was able to conserve two more high-priority properties. Since 1967, avlt has conserved over 38,000 acres of important wildlife habitat, public parks and trails, long-time family farms and ranchlands, and scenic open lands that define western colorado. In 2016, avlt purchased the 47-acre chapin wright marble basecamp to own and maintain for outdoor educational use by local school children. This property is a wildland parcel near marble, colorado that also protects a portion of a public trail. We also acquired a 13-acre conservation easement over amy's meadow at the heart of the aspen institute campus (next to benedict music tent)in downtown aspen. This meadow provides natural open space and trails for local residents and visitors to the campus. We successfully monitored each of our conservation easements and fee-owned public parks in 2016, as required in order to uphold and defend our conserved lands. Avlt is actively engaged in stewarding the conservation easements and public parks that have been entrusted to us. We work with landowners to address land management issues (such as weed control, erosion, etc) and answering questions about their conservation easements. In addition, we responded to violations of conservation agreements, and oversaw restoration of such violations on conserved lands. Managing conservation easements also requires reviewing and approving land use applications and landowner requests to ensure that the terms of the agreements are upheld in perpetuity.
Aspen Valley Land Trust is an accredited land trust. Accreditation means Aspen Valley Land Trust meets national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Aspen Valley Land Trust has demonstrated to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission its commitment to excellence. Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. These land trusts demonstrate their commitment to excellence by adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices, the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust, and meeting the accreditation requirements drawn from them. Learn More: http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/about.
