Land trust strategy catches on across US

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A strategy developed by the Central Indiana Land Trust is winning national acclaim from officials hoping to put the blueprint to work in their communities.

The strategy identifies more than 300,000 acres in Marion and surrounding counties that have conservation potential. A separate 30-page report describes how the trust worked with scientists, planners, government officials and others to identify the parcels.

Erin Heskett of the Washington, D.C.-based Land Trust Alliance tells the Indianapolis Business Journal that "Greening the Crossroads" has a broader scope than strategies developed by similar groups across the country.

The strategy stemmed from a 2007 proposal by the land trust's Heather Bacher. She wanted to make the organization more aggressive about spreading environmentalism and encouraging others to pursue conservation projects the trust couldn't handle itself.