From the Director: Fall 2026
Dear friends and supporters of Golden State Land Conservancy,
I can hardly believe it, but the seasons are changing again. The air is cooling, the days are getting shorter, most of the year has flown by in record time, and it's been a busy one. The GSLC team (opens in new tab) has been hard at work as we strive to do right by the lands of this beautiful state we get to call home. In addition to our fieldwork across California, we have been developing an initiative that led to the very letter you're reading right now: a push toward greater, more meaningful public engagement.
It may have been a minute since we appeared in your inbox or on your screen. That's not because we've been idle. For more than two decades, GSLC has done much of its work behind the scenes, building a reputation in mitigation easements and the land trust community. But organizations, like the landscapes we work to protect, are constantly evolving, and we're ready to share more of that work with you.
Since taking up the mantle of GSLC’s Executive Director in February 2025, one of my priorities has been to give you a clear idea of who we are, how we operate, and how your support is advancing our shared mission: a healthy and thriving California landscape. This goal is now reflected on our updated website, gslc.org (opens in new tab), where you can find more stories that capture all facets of our work in our published Field Notes (opens in new tab) and our new quarterly Newsletter, Rooted Forward (opens in new tab), designed to keep you up to date on our operations.
As we strive to grow closer with our supporters and our community, we have also taken an honest look at who we are as an organization and where we want to go. This has led to important conversations about our mission, our priorities, and our role in conservation, prompting us to examine how we can diversify our expertise and deepen our impact. Three words continue to guide us as we work to realize GSLC's full potential: conservation, stewardship, and collaboration.
Our reflection has further taken shape in our 2026–2030 Strategic Plan (opens in new tab), which sets five key priorities for the years ahead. It builds on a strong foundation: since 2000, GSLC has permanently protected more than 35,000 acres on 90 properties across 20 California counties, from forests and wetlands to working ranches and wildlife habitat. We're tracking our progress against the plan in the open, and you can follow along on our Impact (opens in new tab) and Strategic Plan (opens in new tab) pages.
Throughout our evolution, we remain rooted in the belief that has been at the heart of GSLC since day one: lasting conservation outcomes are achieved through strong partnerships, strategic flexibility, and clear alignment with community needs. This new chapter won’t simply mean completing more easements; it will mean using our nimbleness and flexibility as a small organization to partner with local and regional land trusts and deliver lasting conservation outcomes. We are creating a GSLC that is both more intentional and more impactful; a stronger organization well-positioned to serve California for decades to come.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. Your support helps us protect California's remarkable landscapes and moves us all towards a more sustainable future.
Sincerely,
Devin Best