Antelope
Valley
Conservancy
P.O. Box 3133, Quartz Hill, CA 93586--3133
Serving the greater Antelope Valley region
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is the Antelope Valley Conservancy?
Photo: Cecilia Rejas
A: Antelope Valley Conservancy is a local land trust conservancy. It obtains and stewards lands that are important to the community for quality of life, scenic beauty, and plant and animal habitat.
Q: Can I donate my land?
A: Antelope Valley
Conservancy accepts
gifts of land for preservation, and holds IRC 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) status to ensure
land donations qualify for tax benefits. Donations of "trade lands" are also
important, as these can be sold to purchase lands with significant natural
habitat. The
Conservancy is happy to offer naming rights for preserved land.
Q:
Where are AV Conservancy's lands?
A: AV Conservancy focuses on Joshua Tree woodlands, the keystone species of the Mojave Desert, that support a wide variety of native species. Most of the conservancy's targeted preservation lands are in Los Angeles County's designated Significant Ecological Areas.
Antelope Valley Conservancy's first large grant has been approved for the preservation effort of the Una Lake / Barrel Springs wetlands. This unique area hosts wetlands, active wildlife corridor, and transitional habitat areas ("ecotones") where different habitat types meet. This preservation effort is supported by Senator Dianne Feinstein, the California Department of Fish and Game, the Los Angeles Department of Regional Planning, landowners within the immediate area, and dozens of regional groups.
Q: Do you help with mitigation for development?
A. Yes, AV Conservancy provides mitigation opportunities and services to lead agencies and developers. Across America, conservancies serve a critical function in fostering livable communities. We facilitate efficient and effective mitigation for development, and the natural and recreational resources preserved raise property values and employer desirability.
Q:
Can you help stop destruction of natural lands in my area?
A: Probably not. Antelope Valley Conservancy primarily preserves land by purchasing it. Once a parcel is undergoing development, it is too late for the conservancy to help.
Q:
Where is the Antelope Valley?
A: The Antelope-Fremont Valleys Watershed is located in the high desert portion of the Mojave Desert of California, north of Los Angeles. Although Antelope Valley Conservancy's services are not limited to a geographical boundary, we are a local land trust that focuses on the local community, which includes the watershed and its adjacent towns.
Q:
Why is land conservation important?
A: Never before in the history of Mankind have we had to think about our impact on our environment, but we do now. Our agricultural economies -- and the food we like to eat -- are reliant on complex systems of water and pollinator insects that we now find at risk. Most of the products we consume come from natural plant and animals sources. And, as our population builds across ever expanding reaches of previously natural habitat, the ecosystems that keep our air and water clean, and provide resources to sustain us, are being lost.
For more information (click on links):
The Economic Benefits of Land Conservation
The Story of Stuff (the economics of our choices)
Climate Change (State of California site)
Our Altered Oceans (Los Angeles Times video series)
Q: What can I do, or what can my organization do, to get
involved?
-
Identify and tell us about land that should be preserved. Tell your family, friends, and organization about our work.
-
Include AV Conservancy in your will and estate planning, and make a donation to support land acquisitions.
-
Make changes in everyday, personal choices. Use reusable shopping bags and bottles instead of throwaway plastics. Find ways to use less water and fewer petroleum products. Buy local products and products with less packaging, to reduce transportation and packaging costs --- and make less trash and pollution. These are things our grandparents knew. How did we forget?
For more information, please contact us at avconservancy@yahoo.com.
Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to hearing from you!