2021 –2024 STRATEGIC PLAN SUMMARY
forever depends on what happens now.
Stroud Preserve | 571 acres
Preserved natural areas are essential to the health of our planet and the well-being of humans. Every acre we save and care for helps cool our planet, soak up floodwaters, provide wildlife with habitat, filter the water we drink, clean the air we breathe, and bring humans improved health and joy.
Natural Lands has long been a best-practice organization in utilizing strategic plans to guide annual work plan, budget, and fundraising priorities. Stoneleigh: a natural garden | 42 acres
For 2021-24, the heart of our mission—to provide land for life and nature for all—remains unchanged, as do the core areas in which we will focus our mission delivery. However, the combined, critical challenges of our time—a changing climate, loss of species diversity, a new wave of sprawl, and inequitable access to both open space and decision-making within the conservation movement—are now driving the choices we make about where to direct, accelerate, and expand our conservation efforts. While many of these issues are global in scope, Natural Lands’ scale and reach—in terms of geography, audience, and staff—position us to have a meaningful impact on our future right here at home. But we must act now and in concert with others. Because, while it’s true that none of us can do everything, there is room for all of us to do something. And together we can make a difference. Today. And forever.
Bryn Coed Preserve | 520 acres
Our Strategic Plan sets the course as we step forward.
Binky Lee Preserve | 112 acres
G OA L :
save open space. Global conservation goals, including measures to mitigate the impact of a changing climate, can only be achieved by protecting open space at the local level. Since our founding, Natural Lands has protected more than 125,000 acres—an accomplishment that now enables more than five million people in our region to live within five miles of land under our protection.
KEY 2 0 2 1- 2 0 24 I M PL EM EN TATI ON PRI ORI TI ES Help prepare our region to withstand the impacts of a changing climate by identifying and pursuing opportunities to preserve intact ecosystems; establish greenways and corridors (for wildlife and people); protect watersheds; and address increased flooding, excessive heat, and insufficient access to nature in vulnerable communities. Double the pace of land protection by expanding organizational capacities— including increased staffing levels and available funding streams. Take further steps to ensure that we fulfill our perpetual obligation to the more than 420 properties protected by Natural Lands conservation easements —a number that has more than doubled since 2008.
Crow’s Nest Preserve | 712 acres
Sadsbury Woods Preserve | 508 acres
G OA L :
care for nature. Natural Lands’ network of 42 preserves and one public garden encompasses 23,000 acres that span 13 counties and two states—all ecologically rich and diverse environments. But the dual impacts of a changing climate and greatly elevated public visitation sparked by the COVID pandemic now require that we adjust our management approach so our properties remain places where plants, wildlife, and people can thrive together.
KEY 2 0 2 1- 2 0 24 I M PL EM EN TATI ON PRI ORI TI ES Engage a subject-expert to assess climate impacts and vulnerability at Natural Lands’ preserves; integrate the best available science into our ongoing stewardship choices. Assess visitation patterns and impacts at our preserves and take steps to accommodate appropriate use levels—balancing natural resource management priorities with an exceptional visitor experience. Improve preserve infrastructure—including bridges, boardwalks, maintenance facilities, parking areas, signage, and kiosks—to complement and support natural resource management, wildlife habitat preservation priorities, and visitor needs.
Hildacy Preserve | 55 acres
G OA L :
connect people to the outdoors. Connecting people to the outdoors is core to who we are and what we do. It is a point of organizational pride that our properties—which now welcome more than 300,000 visitors annually—are free and open to the public throughout the year. But even those who never set foot on our trails benefit from the ecological services our nature preserves provide. We have a role to play in helping the region embrace conservation as a shared value.
KEY 2 0 2 1- 2 0 24 I M PL EM EN TATI ON PRI ORI TI ES Increase public understanding of how Natural Lands’ efforts to save open space and care for nature, coupled with individual action, can make a difference in addressing climate change and species loss. Make Natural Lands more welcoming and accessible to audiences that have not traditionally engaged with us—including communities of color, the LGBTQ+ community, non-English speakers, and people with disabilities. Expand Natural Lands’ brand recognition throughout the region—growing the audience that understands our mission and impact. Seek opportunities to move already engaged audiences from organizational exposure to more direct involvement.
Stroud Preserve | 571 acres
Hildacy Preserve | 55 acres
G OA L :
build a more diverse and inclusive organization. Our region is rich in diversity, not only in land and wildlife, but also in communities. Natural Lands’ mission is “land for life, nature for all,” but we recognize that our work does not yet include, engage, serve, and reflect “all” of the region’s residents. We are committed to the process of addressing this shortcoming— with an attitude of humility, curiosity, listening, and learning—as we work to integrate the values of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access throughout our organization and in all aspects of our work.
KEY 2 0 2 1- 2 0 24 I M PL EM EN TATI ON PRI ORI TI ES Accelerate efforts to diversify organizational leadership—the Board of Trustees, President’s Council, and NextGen Council— so that by 2024 our leadership composition begins to reflect more closely the demographics of the region we serve. Ensure that, by 2024, the candidate pool for staff positions—along with our vendors, contractors, and consultants—represent more fully the demographics of the region we serve. Develop a workplace culture that supports a greater diversity of staff, leadership, and volunteers, and fosters a sense of belonging—particularly for people who have traditionally been underrepresented in our field.
ChesLen Preserve | 1,282 acres
Green Hills Preserve | 201 acres
Glades Wildlife Refuge | 7,440 acres
open invitation. The broad Natural Lands community—of members, donors, volunteers, and partners—knows from experience that it can count on us to mirror its dedication with our own. We will continue to deploy our organizational resources in the most strategic and impactful manner possible to advance efforts to save open space, care for nature, and connect people to the outdoors throughout the region. If you would like to go beyond the pages of this 2021-24 Strategic Plan Summary to discuss any of Natural Lands’ implementation priorities in greater detail, please reach out to one of us to arrange a call or visit.
Oliver Bass, President oliver.bass@natlands.org or 610-353-5587 ext. 244
Ann Hausmann, Vice President of Development hausmann@natlands.org or 610.353.5587 ext. 242
land for life. nature for all.
PHOTOGRAPHY | Mae Axelrod, Dan Barringer, Anne Bevis, Dave Blinder, Eric Loken, Alessandra Manzotti, Jim Moffett, Bob Schafer COVER | Green Hills Preserve, 201 acres