Mission: To create a legacy of abundant open space, native habitat, and natural resources on lummi island by inspiring people to protect and care for the island's farms, forests, wetlands, and shorelines forever.
Programs: External education: outreach about voluntary land conservations tools and community conservation including publication of newsletters distributed to approximately 2,000 households, informational brochures, websites, social media, field trips, slide shows, workshops, community events on our properties, and private meetings with landowners. In 2017, the trust held public meetings to inform constituents and receive input regarding the aiston preserve restoration project.
easements and acquisitions: efforts to conserve land through purchase or donation of land and conservation easements. The trust continued preliminary discussions with various landowners wishing to voluntarily protect their private land with conservation easements. The trust acquired a small parcel of undeveloped land by donation, the land will be held and will expand the conserved area that is part of a future planned gift of adjacent land.
stewardship: the trust managed and inspected all land trust fee-held properties (389 acres) and monitored its 15 private conservation easement properties (284 acres). Removed invasive species, maintained public trails, and updated management plans. In 2017, the trust continued restoration activities at the aiston preserve, successfully completed restoration feasibility studies; secured grant funding to initiate design and permitting for this large-scal restoration project.
other program services: train and orient board, staff and volunteers to implement trust duties and educate our community and constituents. Participation in conferences, workshops, on-site trainings, and national and statewide associations. The trust continues to uphold its accredited status through the land trust alliance accreditation commission.
Lummi Island Heritage Trust is an accredited land trust. Accreditation means Lummi Island Heritage Trust meets national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Lummi Island Heritage 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.
