Director's Message

By Steve Hobbs, Executive Director
The Meadowlark
Fall, 2008

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The other day I was out with the bison. The sky was a crystal blue, but there was a mist that hung just a few feet above the prairie. Sometimes it’s hard for me to get very close to the bison, but on that day, for whatever reason, they allowed me to get within just a few feet. They were aware of my presence, but only gave me a passing a gaze as they went about their job. Eating. Grunting. Crunching through the grass. I stood there for more than twenty minutes as they slowly milled around me and I forgot for a moment that it was 2008. For just a brief time I was on an ancient prairie with these magnificent animals and all the worries of our modern world were somewhere off in a distant future. They began to move away from me and one by one they disappeared into the shoulder-high grass, into the mist and into another time. Then they were all gone and I was left alone.

What would it be like if they were to never return again? What if all the efforts to bring back the bison had failed? What if, at that critical time 140 years ago, people with a vision and determination to protect our natural heritage hadn’t stepped up and simply refused to allow bison to disappear from this earth on their watch?

Those same issues face us today. These are times that test our resolve. Seldom in history have we been confronted with so many choices that will have such a lasting impact on future generations.

The Belwin Conservancy is working hard to solve the problems that we confront with innovative and sustainable solutions. We are using the bison to restore the prairie in an economically sustainable way; a way that can serve as a model for others to emulate. Likewise, we have joined with District Energy and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to show how the byproducts of our prairie and oak savanna restoration can be used to generate energy. We have also recently completed an internal energy audit to determine our own contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. By doing this, we are able to conserve and at the same time calculate how the Belwin Conservancy’s land can be a reservoir for carbon sequestration. This will enable the us to sell carbon credits as part of any proposed cap and trade carbon mitigation program.

The Belwin Conservancy can be a local leader in these efforts with your help. Please consider making a year-end donation to keep the momentum going here at the Belwin Conservancy. I know I can count on you to help us as you have in the past.

On behalf of the bison and everyone at the Belwin Conservancy, thanks!

Sincerely,

Steve Hobbs
Executive Director