Shasta Land Trust was founded in 1998 as a non-profit organization dedicated to permanently conserving open space, wildlife habitat, and agricultural land. In our fourteen year history, Shasta Land Trust has been successful with many conservation accomplishments, and continues to work towards meaningful and lasting land protection for our region. 

Shasta Land Trust is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors:
Muffy Berryhill, Board Chair

John Stokes, Vice Chair

Nancy Ruffner, Treasurer

Dave Bush

Don Koch

Gregg Werner

Debra Townsend

Shasta Land Trust staff:

	Ben Miles Executive Director	Susan Partridge Administrative Assistant	Bridget Harrison AmeriCorps Member Conservation Associate

In addition to our hard-working Board of Directors and our dedicated staff, Shasta Land Trust accomplishes its goals through the inspiring contributions from our volunteers. 

Currently, our standing committees consist of:
- Lands Committee (Chair: Dave Bunte)
- Finance Committee (Chair: Dave Klasson)
- People Committee (Chair: Muffy Berryhill)
- Newsletter Committee (Chair: Ann Duchi)
- Environmental Education Committee (Co-Chairs:  Dave Bush & Bridget Harrison)
- Resource Development Committee (Chair:  Francis Duchi)

We also have great volunteer committees which make all of our various events possible.  Last year we had the following outstanding leadership:
- 2013 Wildways Steering Committee (Chair:  Nancy Ruffner)
- 2013 Wildways Kickoff Committee (Co-Chairs: Nancy Wilson, Bridget Harrison)

As you can see, we have an enormous group of volunteers that give substantial amounts of their time and talent to help Shasta Land Trust succeed.  There's room for everyone to contribute to Shasta Land Trust, and we hope you can join us!

Now, What is a Land Trust, anyway?

Land Trusts are local, regional, or statewide nonprofit organizations that help protect important land resources for public benefit. As community organizations they understand and respond to the needs of the land and people in their regions.

America has over 1,700 land trusts protecting approximately 4.7 million acres. These include farms, wetlands, wildlife habitat, urban gardens and parks, forests, ranches, watersheds, coastlines, river corridors, and trails. Land trusts provide a cost-effective approach to conservation. They often protect land at a cost far below market value.

Land trusts, with their ability to respond quickly and creatively to local conservation needs, are uniquely suited to meet the challenge of saving these lands. As private organizations land trusts offer quick response, flexibility, and confidentiality. They are often effective when government falls short.

Land trusts are the fastest growing conservation movement today, with new land trusts forming at an average rate of more than one per week. Land trusts offer a cooperative approach to land conservation. They are a creative answer to today's conservation challenges.