Montezuma Land Conservancy

Montezuma Land Conservancy is a non-profit land trust based in Cortez, Colorado. The organization, founded in 1998, has a team of five employees and generates an annual revenue of $2.5 million. MLC focuses its efforts on the southwest corner of Colorado, specifically within Montezuma, Dolores, and San Miguel Counties. The conservancy works to protect diverse landscapes, including open space, wildlife habitat, public access trails, agricultural lands, and archaeological resources. Their primary method is through the establishment of voluntary conservation easements with landowners, a practice through which they have protected over 46,000 acres of land alongside 75 families. Beyond land protection, Montezuma Land Conservancy emphasizes community engagement. They offer a range of youth and adult programs that foster connections to the local environment and cultivate a sense of place. These programs, considered innovative and inclusive, aim to inspire the next generation of conservationists through leadership development, career exploration, and hands-on experiences. To learn more about Montezuma Land Conservancy and their initiatives, visit their website at montezumaland.org.