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PRESS RELEASE
Land Trust Adds Staff to Accelerate Pace of Land Protection
"Permanent changes to the landscapes and natural features of Whidbey and Camano Islands are increasing. The next five years will be pivotal to the future of our islands and our quality of life”, this according to Pat Powell, Executive Director of the Whidbey Camano Land Trust. For 21 years the local non-profit has been protecting water quality, and conserving and stewarding natural areas, wildlife habitat and working farms by working with landowners, community groups and public agencies. To step up the pace of land protection in Island County, the Land Trust has named Lisbeth Cort as the Director of Outreach and Development, a newly created position.
The Land Trust's success in land protection has grown exponentially since hiring professional staff in 2003. Cary Peterson, Vice-President of the group's Board of Directors, said the Board decided in November to create the outreach and development position. "We are being inundated by requests to protect special lands, both by landowners interested in finding ways to protect the special features of their land and by the public seeking ways to save the best of what's left on our islands. The Board believes that experienced staff is the key to accelerating the pace of land protection in Island County". The Land Trust has protected 1,100 acres since hiring Pat Powell just two years ago. "Hiring Lisbeth will allow Pat to focus more of her time on what she does best -- protecting land. We'll be able to conserve even more significant lands in the years ahead, like wildlife habitat, working farms and hiking, biking and walking trails,” added Peterson.
Cort joins the Land Trust after a 22-year career in historic preservation, serving most recently as Executive Director of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation in Seattle. She brings extensive experience in non-profit fundraising, communications, management and public education. " We're fortunate to have found an Island County resident who has this high level of expertise and cares so deeply about our rural lands and habitats," Powell noted.
Cort holds a Masters of Science degree in historic preservation from Ball State University in Indiana. But she has spent most of her professional career in the West and understands our region well. She was Executive Director of the Utah Heritage Foundation for seven years and has been frequently asked to serve as a trainer and consultant to numerous preservation non-profits and community agencies across the country.
In the late 1980s, Cort was Assistant Director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Western Regional Office in San Francisco, working in nine western states including Washington. It was that job which brought her to Whidbey Island for the first time, almost 15 years ago, to visit the relatively new Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve. Now, Lisbeth serves on the Reserves's Trust Board. "I fell in love with Whidbey Island the first time I visited Ebey's Landing. Little did I know I'd one day live here and be part of helping protect our beaches, natural areas and wildlife habitat for future generations who will live here." She and her husband, Larry Cort, who grew up on Whidbey Island, finished restoring the historic 1890 Charles Angel House in Coupeville last year. In her new job with the Land Trust, she looks forward to increasing public outreach, financial support, and membership at a time when the islands' rural character is changing rapidly.
Powell said the Land Trust board recognized there was a real need to take this next step in the organization's growth. " We can now be more proactive in carrying out effective conservation on the islands. In hiring Lisbeth, we'll be better able to promote wise use of the time and money contributed by our members. Ultimately, we will be able to conserve more at-risk properties with increased funding. And, island residents will be able to enjoy this protected land for generations to come."
Information about the Land Trust, its projects, and how citizens can get involved is on the Whidbey Camano Land Trust's website at www.wclt.org. To contact the Land Trust, call 360-321-5141 or email Cyndi Fernandez at cyndi@wclt.org.
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