Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

Programs: Land protection:inhf protected 66 iowa properties in 2017 totaling 6,875 acres. About half of those sites will transfer to a public conservation agency for public enjoyment. Nearly half are privately owned lands, for which landowners have chosen to permanently protect wildlife habitat, open space, and agricultural areas through a permanent conservation easement held by inhf. Each conservation easement held by inhf is monitored annually by visiting the property and talking with the landowner. Since 1979, inhf has helped protect over 165,000 acres throughout the state. This includes important protection in priority areas such as loess hill, mississippi river blufflands and natural lakes in the prairie pothole region. Inhf works towards the creation of larger complexes of inter-connected protected conservation lands that improve wildlife habitat and offer management for improved soil health, water quality and outdoor recreation.

connecting people with nature:people become involved with iowa's conservation efforts through multiple opportunities with inhf. In 2017, nineteen iowa college students worked on real projects through the inhf land stewardship, communications, program and trails internship programs. Each year, hundreds of people and families participate in volunteer activities on the land with inhf staff and board. Interested landowners learn about their voluntary options for permanent land protection through printed materials, online resources and personal communication with inhf staff. Iowans discover the challenges and success stories to protect and restore iowa's land, water and wildlife through the inhf quarterly magazine, media outreach, and co-sponsored events and conferences.

creating impact statewide and beyond:iowa's landscape and land use choices are strongly shaped by current public policy and funding. To create tomorrow's conservation opportunities in iowa, inhf collaborates in a non-partisan way to support conservation policy. This helps protect state and federal tax incentives for land protection. It also creates stronger state public policies and funding that improve opportunities to protect and restore iowa land, habitat, recreation and water resources. Inhf excels in public and private collaborations that bring organizations and agencies together for action. In 2017, inhf led partnerships to restore extensive prairie and pollinator habitat, and to conduct ecological stewardship on natural and conservation lands. Inhf helps develop and implement long-range conservation plans. Inhf's land conservation and trail projects help fulfill multiple long-range plans developed by federal, state and county agencies such as the iowa wildlife action plan, iowa monarch conservation consortium action plan, iowa trails plan, prairie pothole joint venture, watershed management authority priorities, protected water areas plan and the iowa open spaces plan.