Montezuma Land Conservancy

Background Statement

Founded in 1998, Montezuma Land Conservancy (MLC) is more than a traditional land trust. While working to protect important landscapes in Southwest Colorado, we also strive to engage our community in our mission and bring the benefits of land conservation to as many people as possible.

MLC partners with landowners in Montezuma, Dolores, and San Miguel Counties to place permanent protections on the amazing landscapes of our Southwest Colorado region which provide important wildlife and plant habitat, scenic open space, agricultural heritage, historic or cultural significance, and public access for education or outdoor recreation.

MLC’s Community Programs, based out of our 83-acre educational farm hub, Fozzie’s Farm, utilize land as a canvas for positive youth development, building leadership skills, and exposing youth and young adults to careers in conservation, helping to ensure that the next generation is ready to continue this critical work. Our land management workshops additionally support landowners and others by conveying best practices in conservation and natural resource protection.

MLC additionally works closely with partners from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe on Cross-Cultural conservation initiatives that expand Tribal access to ancestral homelands, strengthen relationships between landowners and the Tribe in our region, and increase understanding and application of Indigenous perspectives in land conservation work.