Unite for Nature - Shape the Future of a Sustainable Licking County
Unite for Nature is the opportunity to bring together a new conservation-based consortium developed for leaders from local, state, and federal government, non-profits, membership organizations, universities and civic groups to collaborate on critical environmental challenges and share innovative solutions. Thanks to the generosity of a Licking County Foundation grant, the steering committee consisting of:
- Soil & Water Conservation District
- Licking Park District
- Farm Bureau
- Licking Land Trust
- Dawes Arboretum
The grant project background and description provided below.
You may be familiar with FRAMEWORK. The initiative created collaborative vision addressing economics, land use, character of place, transportation, and other topics. Fifteen jurisdictions focused on understanding the impacts―and identifying the potential benefits―of the anticipated investments from the public and private sectors, catalyzed by the investment from Intel. The FRAMEWORK report that was released in September 2023 with Chapter 7, What Should We Do? being the catalyst for this initiative, recommending a Sustainability Committee for the county.
If you are interested in participating with this Licking County consortium, United for Nature, we would greatly value your input. We invite you to participate in a survey to be included in the database, help shape our collective priorities and future actions, including developing a base for the Licking County Sustainability Committee.
The survey is broken down into local, state and federal organizations. Please choose the best representation for your organization here:
Licking County Partner Survey: https://forms.office.com/r/nyyEGg3BZB
State and Federal Partner Survey: https://forms.office.com/r/pxAEtGqqDB
Licking County Foundation Grant
Project Background:
Conserving natural resources in Licking County is vital for several reasons. Firstly, the county's natural resources, including its soil, waterways, forests, and wildlife, provide essential ecosystem services that support life and livelihoods. Conserving these resources helps maintain clean air and water, fertile soil for agriculture, and habitats for native plants and animals, contributing to the overall health and well-being of residents.
Responsible resource management is crucial for mitigating environmental challenges such as pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. By conserving natural resources and adopting sustainable practices, Licking County can reduce its ecological footprint, enhance resilience to environmental threats, and contribute to global efforts to address pressing environmental issues.
Overall, conserving natural resources in Licking County is essential for protecting the environment, supporting the economy, and safeguarding the well-being of current and future generations.
FRAMEWORK was an incredible response to the needs of the county during this unprecedented land use change after the Intel announcement in January 2022. Although the focus was fifteen jurisdictions that would be most immediately affected by rapid growth, the information gathered is valuable to the county as a whole.
Recommendations from Chapter 7 of the final report includes: Key to long term success of FRAMEWORK is a focus on implementation. While FRAMEWORK represents an unprecedented collaborative planning effort in Licking County, it will not have a positive impact in the long term unless participating governments take actions that ensure the vision contained here is implemented. Two sections stand out: Sustainability and Conservation.
Project Description:
Land use change in Licking County necessitates careful and strategic planning to ensure sustainability and long-term viability. As the county experiences shifts in population, economic activities, and urban development, it's crucial to balance growth with environmental conservation, agricultural preservation, and community needs. Soil & Water believes the county needs an inventory of the environmental organizations that can coordinate efforts of the conservation of our natural resources and create a sustainability committee the FRAMEWORK report suggests.
Once the data is collected through a series of surveys, stakeholder meetings and analysis, Insights, recommendations, ideas and next steps will be documented in a planning document for us to use to support alignment, planning, and growth. As a trusted community leader for 80 years, Soil & Water has take the lead on organizing, coordinating with the consultant and delivering the final project to the stakeholders for discussion.
