How PLC Protects

Selecting and Prioritizing Conservation Efforts

Due to limited staff, time and funding, PLC must carefully weigh all aspects of each potential conservation project prior to accepting a role in it. PLC has established policies and procedures to ensure that every potential project is evaluated for its conservation significance and the impact its successful completion would have on surrounding lands. While PLC plays many roles and protects many types of land as defined by PLC’s four project themes of farmland, water resources, natural heritage, and urban natural areas, each conservation project must meet the following requirements:

  • Uphold PLC’s mission;
  • Be within PLC’s service area (unless PLC obtains approval to proceed from
    the serving land trust);
  • Have a willing landowner;
  • Benefit one or more of the PLC’s four project themes; and
  • Be approved by PLC’s Board of Directors.

Once a project is approved, it is ranked relative to PLC’s other conservation projects using three factors:

  • Conservation Significance (e.g., proximity to other protected lands, presence of rare and endangered species, integrity of property, identification as a priority in a conservation plan);
  • Level of Threat (e.g., the property is on the market, the property’s location, surrounding land-use trends, number of landowners); and
  • Readiness (e.g., funding is available/secured, landowner’s timetable, long-term stewardship is secured).
  • By setting priorities, PLC tries to ensure that approved conservation projects are completed as efficiently and strategically as possible.

By setting priorities, PLC tries to ensure that approved conservation projects are completed as efficiently and strategically as possible.