Our Vision
Monterey County and neighboring environs are a magnificent natural world, a unique blend of land and sea, of people and nature. It’s a landscape with vibrant communities held in a rare and delicate balance with their natural surroundings. Yet our region is facing tremendous pressures that are testing our ability to maintain this balance.
In October 2006, The Big Sur Land Trust conducted a retreat facilitated by the Center for Whole Communities. The goal of the retreat was to examine the future direction of the Land Trust, its role in the community, and the many forces of change affecting our conservation mission. Members of the Land Trust staff, its board of trustees and eight members from diverse Monterey County communities gathered to discuss topics of mutual concern. Conservationists, farmers, ranchers, educators – our goal was to have all major communities represented. Ultimately, we explored how the Land Trust can play a leadership role to protect the long-term health and welfare of both the human experience and the natural environment. From that retreat came an articulation of an expanded vision for the Land Trust:
We see a future for our communities in which rich natural resources, working landscapes, prospering human communities and the unique character of place are conserved and cared for through collaborative partnerships and mutual support.
Our vision encompasses the essential role of stewardship. We will enlist partners from all sectors of our community in this aspect of our work. Whether these partnerships involve private property owners, public agencies, or neighbors, our focus is to ensure the long-term care of the unique lands and communities of the Central Coast.
The Land Trust’s success at achieving this vision depends largely on community involvement and support. To gain that support, we will engage in sustainable conservation solutions that address and meet community needs. We will create more opportunities and places for all of our people to connect with nature. We will make lands more accessible and the time spent there more educational.
The Land Trust will achieve this vision by engaging in productive community partnerships in regard to land planning, land purchases, cooperative land owner agreements, trail and recreation design, coastal river and watershed restoration, and long-term care of our special landscapes. We will focus on the significant lands and waters most at risk and on opportunities where our involvement will generate immediate and lasting results.
Our vision is amplified by a set of core values we believe are important aspects of our future work.
Vision Page-Final.doc