Page 146 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2020

FINAL SAY
JUDY
STECKLER
Executive Director, Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain
I am honored and thankful to be
a part of this particular issue of
South Mississippi Living as it focuses
on nature and our environment.
The Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain (LTMCP) has been working in the six southern counties of Mississippi for the past two decades to conserve, promote, and protect
the open spaces and green places of ecological, cultural, or scenic significance.
In January of 1998, business and community leaders came together
for a series of roundtable discussions regarding the community, the economy, and the environment. One of the greatest concerns voiced during these meetings was the loss of green space and scenic vistas in a growing coastal community. To address these concerns, a committed group of private citizens, corporations and public agencies banded together to create a land trust to protect spaces of importance to our coastal community.
In October of 1999 a Board of Directors was established and the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain was born. I had been a part of the discussions from the beginning and was selected to be the first Executive Director for the new non- profit organization.
LTMCP and its mission are very close to my heart. Growing up, some of my favorite activities were spending
time on the bayou and wandering the forests picking wildflowers. We always enjoyed spending time outdoors or
on the river with the family camping, fishing, and boating. As I saw the Coast grow, I realized the expansion needed to be balanced with the environment in mind. LTMCP works with cities and developments to ensure that green spaces are preserved for future generations.
Since its formation, LTMCP has consistently worked with local, state, and federal agencies and non-profit organizations and has established partnerships with local governments, citizens groups, and communities
in a proactive, non-confrontational manner to promote conservation awareness. Over 10,600 acres of property have been conserved in
the six coastal counties. These properties provide critical habitat for threatened and endangered species, as well as educational opportunities for youth organizations to learn about wildlife habitat management, land stewardship, ecosystem restoration, water quality, and other environmental topics.
Trails, observation decks, and educational signage have been developed on many of our properties such as the Enchanted Nature Trail at Henderson Point in Pass Christian and the Depot Creek Greenway in Lucedale, inviting visitors to interact
with
nature and learn about
the intricate relationships found
in the Coast’s varied ecosystems. Photographers, birders, and hikers particularly enjoy the nature trail
at Twelve Oaks in Ocean Springs, currently under protection by
the Coastal Preserves Program. Acquisition and development of these natural spaces for low impact outdoor recreation would not have been possible without strong partnerships with community, local, state, and even national representatives such as former U.S. Senator Thad Cochran.
LTMCP has been recognized by many civic, city, state, and national organizations for our conservation efforts. It is the only domestic land trust accredited by the national Land Trust Alliance in the state
of Mississippi. Most recently, the Environmental Protection Agency awarded a third Gulf Guardian Award to the Land Trust for our Training Program for Southern Mississippi Youth. LTMCP was also recently recognized as one of the top non-profit organizations in the state by the Mississippi Business Journal.
We want to thank our members and supporters for making our organization what it is today, and enabling us to continue to preserve the natural beauty of the Coast and leave a lasting legacy.
146 | March 2020
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