Round up in July to help maintain clean watersheds, fire-resilient landscapes, and productive soils! Southern Oregon Land Conservancy (SOLC) protects and enhances precious land in the Rogue River region to benefit our human and natural communities.

SOLC works with landowners and communities to protect more than 12,000 acres of land, primarily in Jackson and Josephine Counties, through both voluntary conservation agreements and fee-ownership. In addition to land conservation and stewardship, SOLC offers community natural history hikes and events, and youth environmental and ecological education.

Conserving land protects habitat for wild communities, but it also helps maintain clean watersheds, fire-resilient landscapes, and productive soils that benefit our human community here in the Rogue Valley. Land conservation includes ranch and farm land and protecting these properties with conservation easements means that they will never be subdivided or developed, which directly supports local and sustainable food systems.

In addition to legally protecting wild and working lands in the region, SOLC offers community education and engagement opportunities to help learners of all ages to connect with local land and water, develop scientific and environmental literacy skills, and nurture curiosity and wonder. Through these programs, they seek to include all members of the community, not just those who have traditionally had access to conservation, land ownership, outdoor recreation, and/or formal education opportunities. They currently use one accessible fee-owned property, and two municipal properties on which they hold easements to host these programs. In 2021, over 400 local students participated in these programs.

Positive Change funds will be used to support the growth of education and stewardship programs on publicly accessible lands in SOLC's care.