Conservation Before Coffee — An Early-Morning Chat with Terre Haute South Rotary
What does land conservation look like right here in west-central Indiana—and what role can each of us play in it?
Ouabache Land Conservancy Board President Alysa Morley joined members of Terre Haute South Rotary this week for an early-morning introduction to local land conservation, OLC’s work, and some of the places the Conservancy protects.
The conversation started with the basics: what exactly is a land trust? OLC works with willing landowners and communities to conserve land for the long term, protecting woods, wetlands, waterways, and wildlife habitat across six counties in west-central Indiana.
From there, the group explored why protecting land close to home matters—from wildlife habitat and clean water to natural beauty, quality of life, and places for people to explore.
Conservation for the long term
The presentation also offered a closer look at how OLC protects land through both nature preserves and conservation easements, along with examples including Atherton Island Natural Area and Jackson-Schnyder Nature Preserve.
But protecting a property is only the beginning.
Every acre OLC protects comes with an ongoing commitment to stewardship, monitoring, restoration, recordkeeping, and relationships. As the Conservancy continues to grow, so does the work required to care for these places for the long term.
Making connections close to home
Terre Haute South Rotary members brought plenty of questions and enthusiasm to the conversation, making for a lively discussion about conservation in our own backyard.
OLC also shared information about upcoming programs and events, ways to explore our nature preserves, and opportunities to get involved. With National Public Lands Day on the horizon and October bringing some of OLC’s busiest weeks of the year, the timing couldn’t have been better.
As we shared with the group, conservation is a community project. Visiting a preserve, attending an event, volunteering, making a gift, or simply introducing someone new to OLC can all help connect more people with conservation close to home.
Thank you to Terre Haute South Rotary for the invitation—and for being such an engaged audience, even at 7 a.m.!