John,
As so many of our communities have been and are being transformed in new and unexpected ways, I’d like to talk instead about the positive ways that The Trust for Public Land is transforming communities and accomplishing our goal to protect one million acres of land in the next five years.
First, though, I just want to remind you that the offer to match your donation two to one is about to expire. I hope you won’t let such an unusual opportunity slip away.
When railroads were being extended through the western part of the country, the federal government divided the land up into square mile parcels, granted every other one to the railroad companies, and kept the remaining parcels as public land. Timber companies eventually acquired much of the private land, creating a checkerboard pattern of alternating private and public land.
One unique “checkerboard” example spread across what is known as the Crown of the Continent ecosystem — the largest intact ecosystem in the United States. Within its 10 million-acre embrace lie Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, and the headwaters of three of North America’s great rivers. The list of plant and animal species living here has remained unchanged since the time of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
To safeguard this unique habitat from fragmentation, The Trust for Public Land and our partners are transforming these checkerboard lands by purchasing and protecting the privately held squares to create an uninterrupted network of conserved lands. The result will be permanent protection of lush forests, open meadows, and glacier-capped peaks across western Montana. We’ve had many successes in recent years, including 300,000 acres of former timber holdings through the internationally recognized Montana Legacy Project. But we still have a long way to go.
We are protecting and preserving these lands for posterity, so that our grandchildren’s grandchildren will have access to its awe-inspiring beauty and its connection with our nation’s history. Your tax-deductible gift will help us reach our goals here and across the country.
And don’t forget, an anonymous patron is going to match every gift we receive through #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5, two for one, up to a total of $250,000.
When you donate $25, they will match it with $50 of their own … turning your gift into $75. When you donate $35, they will make it $105. Your generous gift of $50 will become $150.
This land is a treasure, and others like it need to be protected. As a non-profit, even in the best of times, the resources we need in order to reach our goals here and across the country are completely dependent on the generosity of members and dedicated public land activists like you. That is even more true now as we try to weather the current crisis. Please help us continue our vital work with a of $35 or whatever you can afford to The Trust of Public Land right now.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kim Elliot
Director of Membership
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