Landscape Stewardship Certificates of Appreciation - 2012

Photo (l to r): Randy Sorenson, Realty Specialist; Bill Mortimer, PLF; Luke Lynch, Wyoming State Director, The Conservation Fund; and Joe Meyer, Casper BLM Field Office Manager

The Public Lands Foundation presents Luke Lynch, Wyoming State Director of The Conservation Fund, with its 2012 Landscape Stewardship Certificate of Appreciation and this Citation.  The Foundation grants this recognition to honor private citizens and organizations that work to advance and sustain community-based stewardship on landscapes that include, in whole or in part, public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The North Platte River Project is an ongoing, multi-year effort that began in 1998.  Luke Lynch and The Conservation Fund have been working with the BLM to facilitate acquisition of lands along the North Platte River, and to develop the infrastructure to enhance recreational use and protect natural resources on those acquired lands.  These river front parcels are critical to furthering BLM’s efforts to develop recreation and public access opportunities along the river and allow BLM to protect and enhance the wildlife, fisheries, wetlands, and riparian resources that are present.

The Conservation Fund has been instrumental in negotiating lands acquisitions to fulfill the project goals, and has provided substantial funding for both acquisition costs and infrastructure development.

Six acquisitions have been accomplished, of which, four were negotiated by The Conservation Fund.  With The Conservation Fund’s ability to pre-purchase land, several key properties were acquired and held until BLM funding could be obtained.  The Conservation Fund was also instrumental in instigating measures for resource protection on the properties.  These measures often motivated additional conservation minded groups to join in the greater project with funds, material and labor.

With The Conservation Funds help, BLM has been successful in developing recreational facilities and enhancing opportunities on the river, conserving wetlands and riparian areas, improving fish and wildlife habitats, providing interpretive facilities, and in carrying out meaningful youth education and involvement in managing public lands.

Thanks in large part to The Conservation Fund, over six miles of frontage on the North Platte River have been committed to preservation forever, and over 1,000 acres of fish and wildlife habitat are destined to be managed in harmony with the unique recreational opportunities that are only in the river corridor.

The Public Lands Foundation is pleased to present Luke Lynch with its 2012 Landscape Stewardship Certificate of Appreciation and this Citation for invaluable contributions to the stewardship of America’s public landscapes.

 

Henri Bisson
September 15, 2012