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 Who We Are
Northern Prairies Land Trust was established in 1999 to preserve the unique ecosystems of the Upper Grasslands. We are a non-profit conservation organization with the overall goal of providing land preservation tools to landowners in South Dakota and Nebraska. Since our inception, we have made great strides in securing easements on over 3000 acres, including areas famously chronicled by the explorers Lewis and Clark. We are continually working on new easements and also use our conservation expertise to act as a referral source for other private and governmental organizations.
 What We Do
NPLT works with private landowners one-on-one to provide long-term, legally sound conservation strategies to protect the natural and economic elements of their land. Our primary tool for accomplishing our mission is the perpetual conservation easement. With a conservation easement, a landowner is able to protect the unique values of certain lands for all time. NPLT also offers a menu of other tools, as outlined under the "Tools and FAQ's " heading.
 How We Do It
Even though there are common elements to every easement,
such as those precluding subdivision, commercial development
and other activities detrimental to soil, water or wildlife
habitat, each easement is tailored to the unique character
of the land and the conservation goals of its owners.
In addition, NPLT works extensively with governmental
and private partners to enhance the availability of
current conservation programs, and to develop new and
innovative solutions for the preservation of natural
resources.
President’s Letter May, 2009
Dear Friends:
Many reasons motivate our work here at Northern Prairies, the principal one being the need to permanently protect private lands that are important for habitat, agriculture, water quality and open space. Our work is also about people, and it brings us into daily contact with those who see themselves as stewards first, and owners second, and who recognize an obligation to leave the land in a better condition for the future.
We emphasize the use of conservation easements because they are popular with landowners, represent a balance between private ownership and conservation, and are encouraged by federal and state policies. But Northern Prairies has evolved into far more than a holder of easements. Our Board has seized every opportunity to innovate new forms of conservation protection, as evidenced by our several Tallgrass Prairie Partnerships, the Harvey Dunn and Prairies Without Borders wetland protection initiatives, the Big Sioux River Watershed Project, and leadership in protecting the recreational corridors of the Missouri River between Nebraska and South Dakota.
Recently, however, a powerful reason for our work was highlighted with release by the Secretary of Interior of the first ever comprehensive report on bird populations in the United States. The report is somber news indeed, concluding that nearly one-third of the nation’s 800 bird species are either endangered, threatened, or in “significant decline.” Of the 46 recognized grassland breeding birds, 48 percent are “declining significantly,” and many of these are those that depend on the native grasslands of Nebraska and South Dakota for their survival. The principal but not only reason for the decline is the conversion of grasslands to cropland. This report makes the work of Northern Prairies all the more pressing, and I urge as many of you as possible to help us confront the challenge
When he released the report, Secretary of Interior Salazar wrote: “Just as they were when Rachel Carson published Silent Spring nearly fifty years ago, birds today are a bellwether of the health of land, water and ecosystems.”
The challenge is before us. Let’s seize the opportunity to act now for the immediate and long-term future.
Yours in Conservation; John H. Davidson
The Value of Partnerships
The Staff, Directors and Volunteers of Northern Prairies Land Trust truly values the many partnerships they have established while working through a large variety of projects.
There are several examples which illustrate the extensiveness of our partnerships. The South Dakota Department of Game and Fish and Parks, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission have partnered with NPLT under the federally-funded Landowner Incentive Program.
The Big Sioux River Conservation Easement Program includes partners such as project sponsor East Dakota Water Development District, South Dakota Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pheasants Forever and South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts.
Northern Prairies also teamed up with the Natural Resources Conservation Service under the federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program, and Nebraska Environmental Trust, to obtain an easement on the historic "Old Baldy" along the banks of the Missouri River, as well as having a Cooperative Agreement with NRCS for a conservation easement in South Dakota along the Big Sioux River.
Northern Prairies is also leading the way in developing partnerships through umbrella organizations such as the South Dakota Conservation Alliance and Nebraska Tallgrass Prairie Partnership.
Our Watertown, SD office is yet another example of partnering, with the office space being donated by the City of Watertown and Upper Big Sioux River Watershed Project (UBS). We also team up with UBS, Ducks Unlimited and Partners for Fish and Wildlife in various individual projects in northeast SD.
NPLT recently joined the Prairie Coteau Habitat Partnership and participates in prescribed prairie burns with other conservation groups under the leadership of The Nature Conservancy.
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