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Biodiversity Interview with Christian Freitag

Question: I know you have a background in land protection. Could you please share your insights on how the preservation of land, habitat, and species intersect?

Freitag: I’m a systems guy. The knee bone’s connected to the thigh bone, as they say. You care about critters? Then save the places they need to live and eat and mate. You worry about how the critters will adapt to climate change? Connect the protected landscapes so they can move. And for heaven’s sake, take care of the water. Every life depends on it. But most importantly, understand that human beings are not separate from nature but instead a participant. As Jane Goodall says, you cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you, so decide what kind of impact that will be. What will your grandchildren say about your impact?

Brabson Family Foundation Provides Grant Support for CLC’s Conservation Easement Template Project

The CLC is proud to announce that the Brabson Family Foundation has continued to support our work with a grant of $20,000.

Freitag co-authors article on sustainable development in Costa Rica “blue zone”

Along with colleagues from Syracuse University and INCAE, Costa Rica’s main business school, CLC Executive Director Christian Freitag recently co-authored an article concerning Nosara, Costa Rica, one of only five “blue zones” in the world. 

Ropchan Foundation awards CLC first-time grant to support Land Program

Conservation Law Center is excited to announce a first time award from the Ropchan Foundation to fund the Indiana Land Protection Program.

Conservation Law Center names Kacey Cook as the Constance and Terry Marbach Conservation Attorney

The Conservation Law Center is excited to announce Kacey Cook as the inaugural Constance and Terry Marbach Conservation Attorney. The Marbach Conservation Attorney will focus primarily on land conservation and habitat protection projects. This position will be responsible for fostering existing relationships with land trusts and other clients as well as developing new relationships and projects for CLC.

CLC welcomes Rob McCrea as Landscape Conservation Attorney

Conservation Law Center is pleased to announce that Rob McCrea has been hired as the Landscape Conservation Attorney. Rob grew up hiking, hunting, and camping in the hills of southern Indiana. Rob’s passion for the outdoors began in his childhood camping at his family’s land in Monroe County with his father and friends. Rob studied Ecology and Natural History at Prescott College in Arizona and received his Law degree at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. While he has been fortunate to travel widely, his heart has always remained in Indiana.

Long-time HEC Attorney Kim Ferraro Joining Legal Team at Conservation Law Center

Today, the Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) wishes a warm farewell and many thanks to its long-time Senior Attorney, Kim Ferraro, who is leaving HEC after 11 years to become the Senior Staff Attorney at the Conservation Law Center (CLC), effective August 1st.

Simon Family Foundation Continues its Generous Support of CLC’s Land Conservation Work in Indiana

Conservation Law Center appreciates our long-standing relationship with the Herbert Simon Family Foundation and are proud to acknowledge their continued support of our efforts. This year, the Herbert Simon Family Foundation will be aiding us in our land conservation work which includes our ongoing support of Indiana land trusts as well as our new Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape program.

CLC Executive Director Freitag joins Lake Monroe Water Fund Board of Directors

CLC is pleased to announce Executive Director, Christian Freitag, has joined the Board of Directors for the Lake Monroe Water Fund.  The Lake Monroe Water Fund is an active funder for watershed projects that conserve, protect and sustain Lake Monroe as a shared community water resource. Its board includes leaders from the five counties that surround Lake Monroe who share goals of community education about watersheds and understanding external impacts to drinking water.

CLC Announces New Position: the Constance and Terry Marbach Conservation Attorney

Conservation Law Center is excited to announce the creation of a new position for the organization—the Constance and Terry Marbach Conservation Attorney.
Macaw

CLC coauthors report on threats to survival of endangered Costa Rican Great Green Macaw

This report, requested by the Macaw Recovery Network (MRN), details the ways in which the rapidly growing pineapple industry in Costa Rica threatens the survival of the Great Green Macaw, an already endangered species. It specifically examines the impacts of the pineapple industry on the environment, labor rights, and public health. It also provides overviews of several initiatives aimed at amending the pineapple industry and offers suggestions for enhancing Great Green Macaw conservation efforts. Finally, the report outlines potential next steps for continued research that may be helpful to MRN’s conservation efforts.

Formation of Lake Monroe Water Fund thanks in part to Duke Energy grant

Water is essential for life, and people concerned about the health of Lake Monroe have worked together to form the Lake Monroe Water Fund. On its website, it’s described as an “active funder for watershed projects that conserve, protect and sustain Lake Monroe as our shared community water resource.”

$60,000 Grant from Simon Family Foundation to Advance Water Quality and Land Conservation in Indiana

Thank you to the Herbert Simon Family Foundation who has awarded the Conservation Law Center a $60,000 grant to further our work in water quality and land conservation. 

The Promise of Protecting Land Forever

Land conservation has always been one of Conservation Law Center’s focus areas. With a combined 60 years of experience, Christian Freitag, our Executive Director, and Bill Weeks, our Board Chair and Founder, have continually improved our legal support of land trusts, helping them do their work better and faster.

Thank you Herbert Simon Family Foundation

We continue to work on solutions to Indiana’s water quality challenges thanks to a generous gift of $40,000 from the Herbert Simon Family Foundation.

Freitag Represents the Center at Public Affairs Governance Workshop in China

This past June, I accepted an invitation from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and Ocean University of China to participate in the 2019 Public Affairs Governance Workshop in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.

CLC is Assisting The Nature Conservancy with Clearing Mineral Rights Encumbrances

The CLC is assisting The Nature Conservancy in clearing mineral encumbrances from properties in the Wabash River watershed for conservation.

CLC Co-Sponsors Conference on Conservation Easement Law

The CLC believes that conservation easements are essential for conservation, and that they will be more effective if key public officials know how they work. Thus, in May, CLC joined with the Columbia University School of Law Charities Oversight Project and the National Association of State Charities Officials to sponsor a conference on the law of conservation easements.

CLC Represents Clients in Oral Argument at the Indiana Supreme Court

The CLC's Jeff Hyman represented three Indiana environmental groups in oral arguments before the Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday, March 15, in a case that will have repercussions for advocacy organizations throughout Indiana.

CLC Prepared Third Conservation Easement Guide for the Land Trust Alliance

The CLC prepared the third in a series of conservation easement guides for the Land Trust Alliance (LTA).

Completion of Manual for Landowners in Indiana and Illinois

In partnership with The Nature Conservancy, CLC has developed a manual for landowners in Indiana and Illinois who are interested in preserving their land by donating conservation easements, but are concerned that lingering mineral interests on their land could complicate or undermine their efforts.

Litigator of the Year Award Bestowed on CLC Staff Attorney Jeffrey B. Hyman by HEC

CLC Staff Attorney, Jeffrey B. Hyman, has been named the Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) "Litigator of the Year" for his talents and dedication, especially in regards to the IKEC v. Citizens Groups case.

CLC Attorneys Present at LTA Rally

In mid-October, CLC attorneys presented workshops at the annual national meeting of the Land Trust Alliance in Portland, Oregon. Bill co-presented the workshop "Conservation Easements in a Changing World - Balancing Flexibility with Permanence."

CLC Helps Friends of Patoka River Incorporate

With the legal assistance of CLC attorneys and Clinic interns, Friends of the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge incorporated as a not-for-profit organization.
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