By Jim Bruner

In the mid-1800s, many “village improvement societies” formed in New England to “improve the quality of life and of the environment.” These small nonprofits were the earliest ancestors of today’s land trust movement.

It could be said that the creators of the biggest land trusts were President Teddy Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot, who started the National Park Service in 1916. John D. Rockefeller was a one-man land trust who bought and donated the land that is now Grand Teton National Park.

Founded in 1973, the Trust for Public Land works with citizens’ groups and public agencies to “conserve land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.”

Working with more than 400 land trusts and community groups in over 1,000 conservation projects nationwide, TPL has helped communities explore, plan and implement innovative land-protection initiatives. TPL-Washington’s Web site lists eight of its favorite projects, including Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, which was established in 1978.

Since 1984, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust has helped protect our islands’ natural and rural areas by working with private landowners, community groups, and public agencies. It:

Acquires land and conservation easements through donations and purchases to protect coastal areas, wetlands and streams, wildlife habitat, farmlands, scenic vistas, natural areas and trails.

Provides expertise to landowners interested in permanently protecting the conservation values of their land.

Provides valuable tax benefit and other tools and techniques as incentives for landowners to conserve land.

Provides stewardship on the properties it owns and the conservation easements it holds.

Works with local, state and federal agencies, and community organizations on land conservation projects.

Focuses on lands that are critical to our islands’ 118 watersheds that provide natural habitat and aquifer recharge to protect our drinking water; over 200 miles of shoreline, coastal bluffs, and bays and coves that provide habitat for birds and marine life, including nurseries for forage fish and salmon.

Emphasizes heritage, which is connected to the land through working farms and forests, beaches, hiking, biking and walking trails, and the views of Admiralty Inlet, Saratoga Passage and nearby mountains.

After 150 years of farming near Coupeville, the Engle family sold their 414-acre farm to TPL in 2000, which protected it with conservation easements while the Engles continued to farm it. The farm now constitutes much of Ebey’s Landing.

Last month, the WCLT completed three more easements in Ebey’s Landing, adding another continuous stretch of 166 acres of historic farmland that will never be developed.

The WCLT spearheaded efforts to protect state school trust lands in Island County through the Trust Land Transfer Program. This program allows the legislature to generate revenue for school construction by transferring school lands with special value to local or state governments for protection as parks, natural areas, or wildlife habitat.

To date, the WCLT has helped to protect more than 6,100 acres in Island County, including large parts of Fort Ebey, South Whidbey, and Deception Pass State Parks. It is a precious gift from environmentally conscious citizens of Island County that will keep on protecting our environment and heritage for present and future generations of residents and visitors.

Happy 25th birthday, WCLT, and best wishes for many more.

Jim Bruner lives in Oak Harbor.