Critical shifts, collective action.
This past year was full of change, review, and growth at Blue Mountain Land Trust (BMLT). As I step into a new role as the Executive Director, I’m reminded of how far we’ve come in our 20+ years as an organization to protect what matters most.
When I joined BMLT in 2017 as the first remote employee in the newest part of our service area — the John Day Basin in Eastern Oregon — we had big goals. We set out to grow our conservation program in a new region, create relationships with local organizations, landowners, and partners, and learn about unknown places. Opportunities brought exciting changes, difficult conversations, internal reorganization, and our greatest successes. I’m confident this transition will lead to similar growth for our organization and deeper connections with you and the beautiful Blue Mountain places we all care deeply about.
In the past year, with community and partner support, we made great strides:
Phipps Meadow — our first purchased property of 278 acres on the Middle Fork John Day River — is home to 200+ species and one of the longest free-flowing waterways in the west.
We completed our largest conservation project to protect farmland and habitat. The Secret Valley Ranch conservation easement in Unity, Oregon, permanently protects 8,877 acres of sagebrush steppe habitat, a population of Greater sage-grouse, over 15 miles of creeks and streams, and a working cattle operation.
Our team increased our total protected acreage of land from 13,259 to 22,652 with three new conservation easements.
We expanded community reach and relationships through environmental education programs, volunteer trail stewardship opportunities, and networking events.
The effects of climate change continue to dominate our headlines. But despite these challenges, I am repeatedly reminded of the places we can find common ground. The places within our region that matter to us all for their clean water, healthy forests and grasslands, productive soils, and plant, animal, and human inhabitants. The unique combination of farm and natural lands that make this part of the world so special.
Protecting these places through local conservation efforts is climate change work. Action at the local level is more important now than ever. It is up to our communities to safeguard our water resources, farmland, fish and wildlife habitat, and migratory corridors essential for species survival. By supporting our work, you’re supporting a more climate-resilient future.
I hope you enjoy taking a look at these highlights and more from our work together over the past year. I am excited about the future of our community and encourage you to join us for the important work ahead.
— Amanda Martino,
Executive Director
Together, we’re making a big impact.