Dear Friend,
Take a walk with me. Imagine we’re on a path that runs deep into the forest. We’re surrounded by majestic pines, oaks, and sycamores (my favorite tree). Along the path grow yellow and purple wildflowers with orange butterflies flitting from one plant to the next. You can smell the flowers’ heady fragrance.
You can hear the birdsong and the calming rippling water of a nearby stream. The air is clear as you take in a long breath. The sky above is crystal blue with the occasional puffy cloud. As we round the bend, we encounter a doe who quickly flicks up her white tail and leaps away. This is nature and if you’re like me, being in it is restorative and good for the soul.
As humans, we all connect to the beauty that nature offers.
Our opportunity in NWA is to work with supporters, communities, developers, and partners to preserve and protect what makes this part of the country so beautiful. I am reminded of the children’s book, The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, where we see how protecting the natural environment is key to ensuring sustainable economic growth and a thriving community. Dr. Suess highlights the need for each person to take part in protecting the gift of the natural world around us. As the story’s narrator so eloquently put it "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
Every day, the population of Northwest Arkansas grows larger. People come for the opportunities NWA's dynamic economy provides but also because of the natural beauty that surrounds us, creating an incredibly positive quality of life. They come to live near glittering lakes, cascading waterfalls, and land in its natural state that they can hike and bike through. They come to live here, where the air is clean, and people care about the environment. This growth directly impacts the natural environment. If we don’t proactively plan and work alongside our partners in growth, we may suffer the same fate as the community in The Lorax, and lose acre after acre of the land that helps drive Northwest Arkansas’ success.
We can help preserve what makes Northwest Arkansas so special. You can help protect it forever! Your land legacy begins when you decide to make a difference. The work of the Land Trust remains community-focused and community-fueled. Will you consider growing your land legacy with a yearend gift to NWALT?
Each gift allows NWALT to increase the pace of land conservation, expand our habitat restoration and public access efforts, and grow our educational outreach to the next generation of conservationists.
As one of our donors put it, “When we protect the natural environment, we are protecting a larger web that we are all a part of. We retain access to peace of mind, rejuvenation, and gratitude. We can also have experiences of awe, beauty, adventure, and discovery. In honoring and respecting the nature surrounding us, we are doing the same for ourselves."
Our team has gathered a few stories from this year that highlight how NWALT, fueled by our supporters and partners, has continued to help preserve and enhance the quality of life for everyone in Northwest Arkansas through the permanent protection of land.
I hope you’ll join us in protecting the natural areas that make our home one of the best places to live in the country. You can click the link to donate.
Thank you for being difference-makers for Northwest Arkansas,
Grady Spann
P.S. The Northwest Arkansas Land Trust is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Your contribution is 100% tax deductible.