Executive Director of the John Muir Land Trust, Linus Eukel, speaks at the May 5 First Friday Forum at 10 a.m. at the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church. His topic is called, “Gaining Ground: The Importance of Conserving Land and the Critical Challenges. Facing Our Society."
Linus Eukel, executive director at John Muir Land Trust (JMLT), is speaking at First Friday Forum May 5 at 10 a.m. His topic is “Gaining Ground: The Importance of Conserving Land and the Critical Challenges Facing Our Society.” The presentation is in the Fellowship Hall at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church (LOPC), located at 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette.
“Since its founding 30 years ago, JMLT has become one of the leading forces for conservation in Northern California,” Eukel said. “With more than 3,500 acres protected, many beautiful places in the East Bay are permanently preserved for recreation and wildlife habitat. JMLT believes that the vitality of our natural open spaces is essential to the health of our earth, air, water, native plants and animals – and all of us.”
Acquiring land is at the heart of the Land Trust. Members protect and care for open space, ranches, farms, parklands and shorelines in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.
“It identifies and purchases open spaces that should be conserved in a natural state and enjoyed by everyone,” said Eukel. “It carefully stewards these properties by providing low-impact opportunities for public recreation, while protecting the needs of wildlife.”
According to their website, the JMLT community has protected a diverse collection of places, ranging from small community gardens to former ranches encompassing hundreds of acres. These locations provide outdoor recreation, protected wildlife habitat, stunning scenic beauty, sources of pure drinking water, natural economic benefits and close-to-home areas where everyone can experience nature and learn about shared environments.
“Foresighted people shaped the beautiful natural landscape where we live today,” said Eukel. “The lands protected by JMLT are an inspiring window into that past and a hope for what’s to come. The challenges of waves of population growth in the last century were huge and population pressure will become even more intense over the coming years.
“We urgently need to permanently protect our remaining essential wild lands to ensure an abundant, biodiverse future for nature for all,” he said. “JMLT is proud to be advancing a decades-long effort to conserve the places which make the East Bay special.”
Eukel, who joined JMLT in 2004, is a member, elder and past clerk of session of LOPC and board member of the California Council of Land Trusts, the East Bay Leadership Council’s Infrastructure Task Force and the Warren W. Eukel Teacher Trust.
“The next few decades will define the character of this region for generations to come, likely forever,” he said. “Come see how JMLT is working to make this happen.”
To attend via Zoom, register at lopc.org/forum. Registration is not required to attend in person.
Bobbie Dodson can be reached at bobbiedodson109@gmail.com.
