Rounding out the year with gratitude and hope
Dear Friends,
What a year we have been through. We extend our hearts to all of you, hoping you are well and safe and healthy.
No doubt we have all been pulled, stretched and challenged in new ways. And through it all, I continue to be inspired by your support, how our land trust community has supported each other and the ongoing, valuable work we’re all a part of—protecting and celebrating our natural world.
Creativity and hope
We have 29 member organizations and when the pandemic first hit, our community responded.
- I saw land trust staff work hard to bring nature to our living rooms. Folks recorded the
first flowers of spring, for instance, to share with people who could not be outdoors. - In the last year, Deschutes Land Trust has doubled the acres of high desert they have protected.
- During the summer, The Wetlands Conservancy engaged volunteers in socially-distanced beaver monitoring.
- North Coast Land Conservancy led over 20 virtual tours to connect Oregonians to their
proposed Rainforest Reserve.
You make this possible! Thank YOU for being part of the ingenuity and creativity of conservation organizations in Oregon and for being a champion for our natural world.
Standing up for all Oregonians
Sometimes it takes a crisis to show us new things. This past year I saw a world of have and have-nots come into stark relief. I saw passionate protests calling for equity and action. We, at COLT, stand in support of racial equality and with all those who demand it.
This year we saw people seeking outdoor spaces in huge numbers, to find solace, fresh air, and restoration. Our trails, city parks, and open space were more appreciated than ever. These are the values we hold dear and often the very spaces Oregon land trusts are growing and stewarding for us all.
As 2020 comes to a close (finally!), join with us in supporting the land we love and local communities across Oregon by giving a year-end gift.
With gratitude,
Kelley Beamer
