Giving voice and value to nature

Flooding, loss of forests due to poorly planned developments, new roads and a host of other issues in the greater Cedar Rapids area led residents Jacque and Denny Holloway to launch a private-sector effort with Trees Forever ten years ago. I started the nonprofit Trees Forever a decade and a half earlier, and when the Holloways first approached me, I knew that this was an opportunity that Linn County needed. Together our partnership blossomed into the Our Woodland Legacy program with the slogan 'Giving Voice and Value to our Natural Assets.”

This year, we celebrate 10 years of bringing together policy makers, planners, concerned citizens and elected officials. The symposium has inspired community leaders and advocates to create change! Attendees have become a 'learning community” - discussing each year what steps individuals, schools, neighborhoods and cities can take to increase the amount of trees and forests, prairie and natural areas. Every year a steering committee develops a theme such as public health, rebuilding after flooding or pollinator habitat. Holding true to the theme put in place a decade ago, next week's symposium has the theme, 'Why Cities Need Nature (and Nature Needs Cities?)” and features sustainability and development expert Kaid Benfield - named 'the most influential people in sustainable planning and development” by the Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

During our early conversations developing the Our Woodland Legacy program, the Holloways told me about a revelation they had. The couple traveled all around the United States - from the oceans to the mountains to the northern woods, and each time they returned to Iowa, they asked themselves why Iowans don't seem to value their natural assets. Iowa has beautiful trees and woodlands, gorgeous native prairies and wetlands that border both the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers! Yet when new roads were proposed, the route often went through the most beautiful natural areas. Together we wondered if it is because crop land has more vocal stakeholders or has an accepted method of valuation. Regardless of the reason, we agreed that our natural assets are equally, if not more, valuable than our crop land and developed areas in towns and cities and needed a 'voice!”

This is a time when individuals and the private sector are expected to lead the way to inspire and educate on what works and what no longer makes sense, and Linn County is stepping up to the challenge! Recently Linn County residents voted to support a conservation bond at an amazing 74 percent majority. While this funding will be carried out by the county, board members from the private sector led the initiative and will provide close oversight on how the funding is spent. It will establish more wetlands, buffers and natural areas of all types.

We are very proud of the many changes brought about by the Our Woodland Legacy program. Hundreds of engaged attendees come back every year - bringing new ideas, sponsors and community projects with them! We hope you will join our movement and help us celebrate 10 years of Our Woodland Legacy on December 8. More details and registration can be found at www.treesforever.org/symposium. Please join our movement!

' Shannon Ramsay is founding president and CEO of Trees Forever