SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington’s oldest land trust is pursuing a merger that could significantly expand conservation efforts across the Inland Northwest region.
The Dishman Hills Conservancy, founded in 1966, has entered discussions with the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy about combining their organizations to strengthen their ability to permanently protect lands for future generations.
“We’ve made a deep local connection with the Dishman Hills,” said A.T. Miller, Dishman Hills Conservancy board president. “We basically have three areas of what we call the wild heart of Spokane which is protected through conservation.”
The merger would align with the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy’s goal to add 15,000 acres to their current portfolio of 30,000 protected acres. Currently, 90% of households in Spokane and Kootenai County have views of INLC-protected land.
“This is creating more of a connected conservation community,” said Toni Pessemier, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy board president. “So we can focus on more of those signature places like the Dishman Hills, but also really looking at that broader conservation effort across the wider region.”
“It’s more important than ever to strengthen that conservation effort in our region,” Pessemier said. “And 15 thousand is a number that we landed on that we think is attainable.”
While the merger has not been finalized, leaders from both organizations express optimism about reaching an agreement. The potential partnership represents a significant step forward in regional conservation efforts.
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