Krista Magaw, executive director of the Tecumseh Land Trust, is enthusiastic about the chance to work with other nonprofits that may become involved in the Greater Dayton Conservation Collaborative.

“It seems like by collaborating we can get more attention on conservation efforts generally and build support for conservation,” she said Wednesday, July 22.

In 19 years, the Yellow Springs-based nonprofit has protected more than 16,000 acres of farmland and significant historic or natural sites. In May, it became the first land trust in Ohio to become accredited by the national Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

Magaw likes that the consortium will get environmental groups networking more with each other. It also would coordinate communications for information resources and public education purposes and develop joint grant proposals to further regional conservation.

“What this means is that conservation groups throughout Greater Dayton can gain new resources to do their work through increased access to information, discussion and joint grant-making opportunities,” Dayton Foundation President Michael Parks said.

Parks noted that the person who is hired as a part-time environmental professional will monitor and review funding opportunities on the state and national level and determine what to go after collectively as a region.

Because this is a tough time for nonprofits, Magaw said it might offer an opportunity for some groups to explore the possibility of forming partnerships or mergers with other organizations.

Parks said 43 area conservation groups in the region will be invited to become part of the collaborative, and he hopes that they may be able to mobilize projects in the next 30 to 60 days.

The Foundation has created the Friends of The Greater Dayton Conservation Collaborative Fund so that other funding partners, as well as individuals who want to make a donation, can support the collaborative effort. For more information about the fund, call The Dayton Foundation at (937) 222-0410 or go to www.daytonfoundation.org.