Guest post by James Todd
I support the Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. (CILTI) because it is a local agency that does the important work of protecting and preserving what remains of our natural environment. Because CILTI is local to Central Indiana, I believe that my donations have a large impact on our local areas.
Since I was a kid growing up in Oklahoma I have always loved being outdoors. I moved to Indiana in the early 1980s and ever since, I have enjoyed the beauty of the Indiana landscape. I spend a lot of my time outdoors hiking, camping, and kayaking in the lakes and rivers here. There is much beauty in Indiana, but much has been lost or damaged in recent years.
Wetlands, forests, rivers, and streams in Indiana are endangered by short-sighted overdevelopment. This is where CILTI steps up. When a critically important property becomes available, CILTI will perform a lengthy assessment of the property, then will buy it if it meets certain criteria. Acquiring the property takes it off the market so it can be restored and protected, providing a habitat for endangered or threatened species to continue to thrive.
I support CILTI with my dollars and my time. I have volunteered with the White River Docent program at Oliver’s Woods, and have worked pulling weeds on various properties. Volunteering is a good way to meet like-minded people who are willing to work together to do something to make Indiana a better place to live now and in the future. I encourage you to do the same. There are many ways to serve. Indiana needs you now, more than ever.
