It is our intention to sustain the conservation values of easement-protected lands and to ensure that the ecological, scenic and agricultural benefits will continue to define the character of Jackson Hole. We have had the fortunate opportunity to take some additional measures, beyond our requisite functions, to enhance the conservation values on some of the lands we help to steward. We know easement-protected properties are part of a larger landscape; wildlife moves across it, water flows through it and people live on it. What happens on easement-protected property affects the land that surrounds it. No single property is a biological island. We are now beginning to more thoroughly examine the ecological functions of the properties we have protected as they relate to the larger landscape to understand how best we can help to sustain those important functions.

Working with Neighborhoods...
The Land Trust has embarked on an initiative to engage the community and the landowners that surround protected areas to better understand and collaboratively sustain the values from which they benefit. Recently, we hosted a meeting for three adjacent subdivisions and three large agricultural landowners. 69% percent of that area is under conservation easement, but several of the natural features are shared and not under the control of any single person or group. Together with the Land Trust, these neighbors have volunteered to learn more about the streams that flow across their lands and the trout that spawn throughout their neighborhood. These citizens will be surveying for trout spawning in the spring of 2008 and will provide each homeowner with the results.

These fish represent a real value to the homeowners, but it is suspected that thousands of these fish move out into the Snake River every year to become an important part of the public fishery and ecology of Jackson Hole. This year these landowners will meet again to learn about the productivity of their neighborhood streams and its current contribution to the greater Jackson Hole area. Depending on the results, there may be opportunities to work collaboratively in order to improve the water quality and trout populations within the neighborhood.

Taking a deeper look into the ecological function of easement-protected lands...
It is a commonly held assumption that conservation easement agreements are making a difference in preserving the beauty, character, and ecology of the land, and that they will continue to have a lasting effect. The Jackson Hole Land Trust is now conducting a scientific study to measure the effectiveness of our conservation easements. We know that 37% of the ecologically high-functioning areas in the valley are influenced by conservation easements. This study is intended measure what difference the easements are making.

The first in a series of studies will measure how conservation easements and the stewardship actions of protected property landowners are sustaining the ecological health of their lands compared with areas that are unprotected. In the future, additional research will investigate how conservation easements affect other conservation values.

Jackson Hole Land Trust works with a multitude of other non-profits and government agencies to implement our best practices.
The following agencies have worked with Jackson Hole Land Trust and demonstrate our commitment to stewardship of these great lands.

City Kids to Wilderness Program: built bluebird boxes
Elder Hostel: fence removal, tall bull rush transplants
Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance: NRO update reviews
Jackson Hole Community Foundation
Jackson Hole Community School: resource mapping internships
Jackson Hole Historical Society: field trip interpretation
Jackson Hole Middle School: Karns Meadow clean-up
Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation: fence removal equipment & collaboration
National Elk Refuge: strategic partnership for wildlife corridor conservation
Teton Science Schools: student volunteers for stewardship projects, conservation research data
Teton Science Schools Wildlife Expeditions – cross training
Teton Conservation District: noxious weed eradication cost sharing, grant monies for habitat enhancements
Teton County Recreation Center: field trips
Teton County Weed and Pest: educational outreach
Town of Jackson: Karns Meadow
University of Wyoming: Agricultural Enhancement Demonstration Project
Wyoming Game and Fish: conservation value identification and verification
Wyoming Wetland Society: swan pond creation
Wilson Elementary School: Wilson Centennial Pond educational interpretation signs