Desert Foothills Land Trust “We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” – Native American Proverb.
This philosophy is the heartbeat of Vicki Preston’s work with the Desert Foothills Land Trust. The DFLT Trust is a nonprofit organization actively working to conserve land through acquisition and stewardship. Vital work that protects the beautiful local landscape we all love so much.
Preston who joined the land trust in 2011 as the conservation director became the president and CEO in 2016. And with the help of members, volunteers, and stewards has helped to permanently protect nearly 1,100 acres on 29 preserves.
Notably, at the end of 2022, the Land Trust in great partnership with Maricopa County and the Town of Cave Creek conserved 30 acres from development starting at the trailhead of the 2,200-acre Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area.
Preston always knew she wanted to work with nature. Growing up in Northeast Ohio near the shores of Lake Erie is where her love of nature began. After working for local groups such as the Watershed Planning & Land Protection Coordinator and the Grand River Partners Land Trust in Northeast Ohio, she came out west and fell in love with the Sonoran Desert.
“The work we do is forever. When we accept a gift of land or a conservation easement, we vow to protect and defend that property forever. In other words, the land we protect today will be there for the generations of tomorrow.”
The Desert Foothills Land Trust relies entirely on generous support from individuals, foundations, and grants. To learn how you can support please visit https://www.dflt.org.