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Land conservation efforts flourish across South Sound

Trusts gain popularity as lower parcel prices create opportunities for buying

By John Dodge | The Olympian • Published March 17, 2009

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OLYMPIA – South Sound land conservation groups are busier than ever, despite an economic downturn that cuts across the landscape.

In the past month, Capitol Land Trust has closed three deals to protect more than 130 acres of special habitat in Thurston and Mason counties, bringing its conserved land base in South Sound to more than 3,000 acres.

"We have another 2,500 acres in the works," said Capitol Land Trust executive director Eric Erler.

The past year has been good to the Nisqually Land Trust too, said the trust's executive director, Joe Kane. The nonprofit conservation group centered in the Nisqually River watershed has topped the 2,000-acre mark in fish and wildlife habitat protected and launched a three-year habitat restoration project to plant 50,000 native trees and 20,000 native shrubs.

Land transactions that are near closing could double the conservation group's land base later this spring, Kane said.

"We saw folks reluctant two years ago now saying: 'Let's make a deal,' " Kane said.

The continued success of the two land trusts during tough economic times can be traced to several factors.

Many of the recent transactions are fueled by state, federal and private grants and donations that were in the pipeline before the economy soured.

"A lot of the grant money was awarded before the economy sank," Erler said. "That makes us a willing buyer at a time when others can't make offers to willing sellers."

Both land trusts have matured over the past 20 years and developed increased credibility in the community as nonconfrontational, apolitical vehicles to protect habitat by purchasing it, rather than regulating it.

A case in point: Capitol Land Trust's annual conservation breakfast fundraiser last month was attended by 200 people of all political persuasions and with businesses as well represented as environmental groups.

"I'm amazed by the people I see at those breakfasts," Erler said. "It really is a cross-section of the community."

The land trusts are small enough to change strategies quickly to take advantage of new opportunities.