You probably know the Conservancy through our nature preserves like Clark, Kellys Run, and Wizard Ranch. Maybe you’ve attended our educational programs or fundraising celebrations. But less often seen is the team of motivated, passionate, and talented people who make it possible for the Conservancy to protect and restore our natural lands and provide opportunities for our community to connect with nature. That’s why we want to introduce you to some of our team members doing critical work for our natural world!
Hylon Plumb is the Stewardship Manager at Lancaster Conservancy. He helps our stewardship team to oversee, document, monitor, and track information about the Conservancy’s nature preserves and conservation easements.
1. What are Annual Monitoring Visits, and why do we do them?
Lancaster Conservancy protects natural resources by either acquiring land (creating nature preserves) or acquiring the development rights of privately held land (creating conservation easements). Aside from using Annual Monitoring Visit (AMV) reports for internal purposes, AMV reports fulfill a requirement of a conservation land trust’s accreditation. I visit each of the nature preserves and easements we manage once a year, walking the properties and their boundaries to create reports describing aspects of the property like the natural resources, land management, and recreation resources there, which also includes tracking year-to-year projects and initiatives on the property as well as noting any potential violations or negative impacts to the conservation values of the property that need to be addressed. I do about 120 AMV reports per year.
2. What’s your favorite part about your role at the Conservancy?
I really enjoy immersing myself in the preserves and documenting and building a knowledge base that is important to the Conservancy. I also enjoy phone calls with those interested in learning about our nature preserves.
3. What would you recommend to someone interested in a career in conservation or a job like yours?
Conservation is very broad, and one could start with volunteering opportunities to learn more about conservation and local conservation organizations. Be curious and try new things that may take you out of your comfort zone. Regarding a start in mapping and geographic information systems (GIS), there are plenty of online resources and help guides, such as a free open-source application called QGIS.
4. What’s a favorite experience you’ve had on a Conservancy preserve?
There are two! First, during an AMV with Regional Preserves Manager Travis at Wizard Ranch, we heard what we thought was a red-tailed hawk. We immediately focused on the direction of the call, and after a few minutes of tracking the silhouette of a bird, we determined the call actually came from a blue jay imitating the raptor. It was exciting to witness this nuance of nature. Second is the opening of the universally accessible Lloyd Clark Trail. The whole Conservancy team came together to make this project happen. Each department played a part, and to see the culmination of all that work during the opening was a great experience. Minutes after the conclusion of the event celebrating the trail’s opening, a hiker using a walker with oxygen assistance finished the universal access trail and expressed their gratitude for the new trail!
5. What do you want others to know about conservation and nature?
Take time to immerse yourself and your loved ones in nature (even in winter) to learn the patterns and mechanisms of nature. I hope that more people are inspired by the Conservancy to plant more trees and create riparian buffers which control, filter, and absorb runoff water, while also helping to provide habitat for wildlife. I also hope more people become land stewards and follow the conservation principles of Leave No Trace.
