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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | NOVEMBER 2023 29 What is a conservancy? According to Merriam-Webster, a nature conservancy is an organization or area designated to conserve and protect natural resources. The Nature Conservancy developed out of a scholarly organization initially known as the Ecological Society of America (ESA). The ESA was founded in 1915, and later formed a Committee on Preservation of Natural Areas for Ecological Study. As the organization grew, the organization focused largely on buying as much land as possible in the name of conservation with little scientific research conducted on land before being purchased. Purchases were to be an effort to keep forests in productive timber management and protect the area's clean water and abundant fish and wildlife habitat, while promoting continued public access to these lands for fishing, hiking, hunting, and other recreational pursuits. Because of their interest in undeveloped land, developers, loggers and miners became involved in the conservation goals. Together with elected public officials they soon worked out mutual benefits for both interests. Developers would set aside parcels for preservation (usually forests or streams) and funds for conservation efforts and receive tax credits for these donations. It became a win-win scenario. Over time the practice became abused. Developers would set aside unbuildable land regardless of its conservation value to receive these credits. The developers would then attempt to assist Mother Nature in creating an environment conducive to forests and thriving streams. Unfortunately, once started, these artificial conservancies required continued attention and resources to survive. The land area that became our Four Seasons Beaumont community contains such a "Conservancy" area. This Conservancy traverses our community in a south-easterly direction from Potrero just west of our main gate to south of our Crooked Creek Gate at the Edison easement at Highland Springs. When we walk along our Trails A & B and the eastern section of our Edison Easement, we are in the Conservancy. Because preservation of the original natural landscape did not promote a forested "Conservancy" conducive to would-be home buyers, the builder's development plan provided for supplemental plantings and irrigation for the first five years of construction. At that point, all irrigation fixtures were to be removed and the Four Seasons Beaumont Conservancy would be returned to Mother Nature's watering for perpetuity. However, at the end of the initial five years of construction, it was evident that supplemental watering was needed for ongoing survival of the many small trees and shrubs in the Conservancy. Our builder requested and received approval to continue using the installed irrigation system that is still in use today. Continuing to provide water beyond what Mother Nature historically provides has allowed the Conservancy's trees and shrubs to flourish beyond what this area would have normally sustained. In case you have ever wondered about what we are doing with our Conservancy today and what it costs annually to maintain, stay tuned for a future article from your Conservancy Committee. ~ Len Tavernetti, ltavernetti@hotmail.com Conservancy

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