WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Goals and Objectives     Stewardship Funding     Stewardship Roles     Landowner Resources

According to Merriam-Webster, “stewardship” can be defined as the “Conducting, supervising or managing of something; especially: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.”  For PLC, stewardship is the obligation to ensure properties protected by PLC are cared for in a manner consistent with the site’s ecological riches and the terms agreed to by all involved parties. 

For instance, if PLC protects a river’s water quality through a conservation easement, then it is PLC’s obligation to ensure that activities in the easement area that negatively impact water quality are prohibited. The easement terms will require maintenance of a riparian buffer zone in which activities such as timber harvesting are prohibited.  Through regular monitoring PLC will ensure that the terms are being upheld and will enforce the terms if they are not upheld. 

Through PLC’s Stewardship Program, PLC ensures the following obligations are met:

•  Easement terms protect the land’s ecological riches;

•  Easement terms are upheld forever;

•  Landowner relationships are maintained and strengthened;

•  Acquired lands are placed with the most appropriate steward for
   the long-term benefit of the land and its ecological riches;

•  PLC Preserves serve as an example of high quality land stewardship that
   other landowners can follow and

•  Adequate financial resources are available to carry out the Stewardship
   Program and legally defend easement terms, if necessary.

If PLC’s Stewardship Program did not meet these obligations, land protection would be meaningless.  By meeting these obligations, PLC permanently protects land and helps ensure future generations will have clean water to drink, clean air to breathe, and fresh food to eat.  Through effective stewardship, PLC is protecting the nature of the Piedmont while creating a legacy of protected lands that balances preservation and growth.

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STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

As a result of an in-depth strategic planning process in 2005, PLC set forth the following goals for PLC’s Stewardship Program: 

• Identify and work with willing landowners to permanently protect native plants, animals, and natural communities; conserve farm land and areas with significant geographical features and scenic beauty;
   

• Manage PLC Preserves and make them accessible to the public as appropriate; and
   

• Recognize and encourage personal and community responsibility for conserving our natural heritage.
   

To achieve these goals, PLC set these stewardship objectives: 

• Develop an effective stewardship program that differentiates stewardship of PLC Preserves and  
  Easements;

• Develop management procedures that enhance biological diversity and open PLC Preserves for public access, education, research and conservation demonstration projects whenever possible;

• Develop management plans for PLC Preserves that protect and improve their ecological function;

• Develop volunteer resources that help maintain and manage PLC Preserves; and

• Collaborate with the environmental education community to provide educational opportunities on PLC Preserves.
   

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PLC’s STEWARDSHIP ROLES 

Stewardship of a property and its ecological riches begins the moment the project is approved by PLC’s Board and continues forever.  Initially, stewardship for either PLC Easements or Preserves requires documenting the current condition of the land and its resources and securing the necessary funds to ensure its perpetual stewardship.  Once the land is protected, PLC has one of three stewardship roles – Easement Steward, Permanent Steward, or Interim Steward -- depending on PLC’s interest in the property. 

1) Easement Steward ~ Most often, PLC protects land with a conservation easement.  The easement defines PLC’s long-term interest in the property but the landowner retains ownership. PLC’s stewardship role is one of monitoring and enforcing the easement terms carried out through:  

• Annual site visits to document the condition of the land relative to its baseline condition and the terms of the easement;

• Annual landowner interviews to maintain communication and respond to any questions or concerns the landowner(s) may have;

• Boundary posting to ensure that all parties know where the easement terms govern;

• Responding to landowner requests or notices as required by the easement terms;

• Investigating alleged violations; and

• Resolving violations in a manner consistent with the nature of the violation and the purposes of the conservation easement.

2) Preserve Steward ~ In rare instances, PLC acquires and retains ownership of a property.  When this occurs, the property becomes a PLC Preserve and PLC’s stewardship role is one of managing the land and its resources for public benefit through these activities:

• Boundary posting to delineate boundaries with adjoining lands;

• Building relations with adjoining landowners;

• General property maintenance and upkeep;

• Upholding the terms of any easements or deed restrictions related to the land and its use (Note: If public funding is used to acquire the property PLC often grants a permanent conservation easement to the public entity);

• Development of long-term resource management plans;

• Use of techniques such as stream stabilization, road stabilization, and habitat enhancement when appropriate; and

• Development of community education opportunities regarding natural resource management and land conservation.

3) Interim Steward ~ When PLC acquires ownership of the land, PLC usually has a plan for its ultimate transfer to another entity -- oftentimes a local, state or federal agency committed to managing the property for the general public’s benefit.  Until the property and its ongoing management are transferred to the selected entity, PLC acts as a Preserve Steward for the property.  If the property is transferred without further restrictions on how it can be used, then PLC’s stewardship role ends with the transfer of the property.  However, if the property is transferred with restrictions on how it can be used, then PLC will act as an Easement Steward for the property.

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