<== Site Review (2007-03-04) ==>

Shorelands Preserves

The Nature Conservancy is my favorite environmental effort. Rather than using nature as a platform for social change, the Nature Conservancy has a single minded focus on preserving nature by directly establishing preserves and conservation easements. This is where you can invest your time and effort directly on the cause of conservation.

There always seems to be a high degree of professionalism in each of the actions taken the organization. I just finished reading the response to a schedule hearing by the US Senate Finance Committee on tax reform regarding abuse of land easements. While most environmental organizations would use such meetings as a call to action or highlight some sort of conflict between nature and man, The Nature Conservatancy is using the opportunity of Senate oversight to help improve management and to reduce abuse of tax easements.

While the reading may be dry. This is exactly the type of work and ethics that needs to be developed for long term environmental protection.

Nature Conservancy Utah Style

While tax policies and management styles are necessary parts of nature conservation, the real work is in the conservation efforts themselves.

The Utah Preserves page lists a few of The Nature Conservancy's efforts in the Bee Hive State. Closest to Salt Lake's heart is the The Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve. This is just a little piece of wetlands near Farmington Bay that is going to the birds.

The Great Salt Lake, of course, is one of the most important stops on the migratory paths in the western United States. The preserve provides the Salt Lake metro population with a great chance to watch nature and saves an extremely important stop on the migration.

The Shoreline Visitor Center lists scheduled group tours on June 18, July 16, August 20 and September 17.