Registration is NOW OPEN for the 2025 MLTC Annual Meeting in St. Louis!
This year, we’ll have great field trips on Tuesday, June 3, followed by a reception on the rooftop patio at the Moonrise Hotel in the Delmar Loop neighborhood, with exceptional views of downtown St. Louis.
Wednesday’s events will be held at the Delmar Divine nonprofit center, with special Keynote Speaker, Sabarras George. As director of St. Louis Zoo’s WildCare Park, a conservation project in north St. Louis County, George can speak to the ways we can move collaboratively toward conservation in urban areas.
Schedule of Events
Tuesday, June 3
Join us Tuesday, June 3, for field trips and examples of land trust work across the St. Louis region, from urban farms and gardens, to Missouri River protection, to an innovative habitat conservation project in partnership between local residents and a church.
St. Louis County Missouri River easement (Ozark Land Trust); 1-2 p.m.
In December 2023, landowner Wes Fordyce donated a conservation easement on 74 acres of ecologically significant land along the Missouri River in St. Louis County, Missouri. This scenic property includes 1,300 feet of river frontage and a native hardwood forest with exceptionally large specimens. Its protection helps expand a growing network of conserved lands near the river, including nearby St. Stanislaus Conservation Area, Sunset Park, and Pelican Island.
The easement, held by Ozark Land Trust, is part of a broader effort to safeguard natural spaces in a rapidly developing region. This parcel, along with a second 52-acre property also owned by Mr. Fordyce, adds to a total of 485 acres OLT has helped protect in the area.
St Louis County habitat (Open Space STL); 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
In Creve Coeur, Missouri, Kei and Susan Pang, alongside the Church of the Open Word, partnered with Open Space STL to protect and restore 4.25 acres of ecologically valuable land. The Pangs transformed their overgrown woodland into a native habitat rich with biodiversity, installing rain gardens, a pond, and native plants that now absorb stormwater from over 20 uphill homes—reducing flooding and supporting wildlife.
Their work inspired the neighboring church to begin restoring its own 2.15-acre woodland, aligning with its values of compassion and stewardship. Together, the two properties will offer walking trails, educational programs, and hands-on conservation opportunities for the community.
“This property is more than just a woodland; it’s a place for the community to connect with nature,” Kei said.
These efforts show how even small, privately owned parcels can play a powerful role in managing stormwater, preserving biodiversity, and providing space for environmental education in developed areas.
Urban Land Trust Projects: International Farm & Botanical Heights Community Garden (Seed St Louis); 4 – 5 p.m.
Join us for an insightful tour of two urban agriculture projects managed under the Gateway Greening Land Trust by Seed St. Louis. This session will explore how Seed St. Louis uses land trusts to secure the land beneath community-driven agriculture initiatives, ensuring these vital spaces remain protected and community-managed for future generations.
International Farm: Discover how immigrant and refugee farmers use this space to grow culturally significant crops, reconnect with their agricultural traditions, and foster community in their new home.
Botanical Heights Community Garden: Visit this vibrant community garden next door, which serves as a hub for residents to grow fresh produce and build connections. We will discuss the successes and challenges of urban agriculture projects within a land trust framework.
Evening Reception: 5:30 – 7 p.m.
The Moonrise Hotel in the dynamic Delmar Loop neighborhood.
Wednesday, June 4
Location: Delmar Divine
8 a.m.: Registration, Networking
9 a.m.: Keynote by Sabarras George: Director of the St. Louis Zoo’s WildCare Park talks about conservation in an urban setting.
10:30-11:15 a.m.: Land Trusts in Metro Regions: There are plenty of projects in urban and suburban areas that may vary from what the more traditional perception of rural and outlying land protection projects looks like. We visit with a few of those whose work encompasses metro regions and the challenges and opportunities that more densely populated areas bring.
11:30-12:15: Our Funders and Partners: A panel discussion with philanthropists, land trust sector experts and unique voices will discuss how our sector relates to the broader community and how we can leverage our outreach for more project and funding success and collaboration with a variety of our current and potential partners.
Lunch by Deli Divine, and Networking Time
1:30-3: MLTC Annual Meeting: We review the past year and hear about the work of the Study Group examining future plans for MLTC, and have the MLTC membership consider the Steering Committee’s recommendations based on the Study Group’s work.. Followed by Breakout Groups to follow up on the recommendations and offer goals for implementing those recommendations.
3 p.m.: Reconvene for Open Brainstorm and Idea Share
4 p.m.: Adjourn
Accommodations
A block of hotel rooms will be available at a discounted rate for attendees from out of town. All guests receive free parking. Delmar Divine is a 20-minute walk from Moonrise.
Please contact Alexis Robles for more details.