[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2864-2865]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           30TH ANNIVERSARY OF MARIN AGRICULTURAL LAND TRUST

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to 
recognize the 30th anniversary of Marin Agricultural Land Trust, MALT. 
Located in Marin County, CA, MALT was the first land trust in the 
United States to focus explicitly on farmland preservation. Since its 
founding in 1980, MALT has successfully protected more than 41,800 
acres of California's land on 66 family ranches and farms.
  Thirty years ago, in response to a changing economy and increasing 
urban expansion, biologist Phyllis Faber and dairywoman Ellen Straus 
recognized that in order to preserve Marin's 150-year-old tradition of 
family farming and protect the county's tremendous natural resources, 
ranchers and environmentalists would need to work together. Phyllis and 
Ellen cofounded MALT, bringing together a diverse coalition of ranchers 
and environmentalists who came together to pursue their vision for 
conserving Marin's pristine farmlands. By providing an alternative to 
the sale of farmland, MALT has protected thousands of acres of open 
grasslands, fertile floodplains, oak woodlands, and mixed evergreen 
forests that would otherwise have been sold or developed.
  Working in areas stretching from the salt marshes of Tomales Bay to 
the Douglas-fir forest crowning Hicks Mountain, MALT continues to be an 
environmental and community leader. In addition to establishing 
easements, MALT runs a variety of stewardship and educational programs, 
including its Farm Field Studies Program in which more than 1,700 
students from 35 schools recently participated. MALT also coordinates 
hikes and tours, giving residents opportunities to explore and 
experience Marin's stunning agricultural landscapes first hand.
  MALT is also doing its part to reduce greenhouse gases and integrate 
the agriculture industry into the fight against climate change. As a 
founding member of the Marin Carbon Project, MALT is working with 
project partners in an attempt to sequester carbon in Marin's rangeland 
soil using agricultural management strategies.
  Due to the dedicated efforts of its 5,000 members, staff, volunteers, 
funders, and partner agencies, MALT has helped revitalize local 
agriculture while preserving the ecological value of the land. Each 
year, Marin County produces millions of dollars in livestock, livestock 
products, feed, and crops, without diminishing the county's biological 
vitality.

[[Page 2865]]

  Over the past year, despite difficult economic times, MALT achieved 
permanent protection for a goat dairy, a small-scale sheep ranch, and a 
grade A Holstein dairy that has been in operation since 1933. These 
crucial projects were funded through a combination of grants from 
public agencies and donations from private individuals.
  The Marin Agricultural Land Trust's vision and commitment to 
protecting California's ecological, environmental, and agricultural 
endowment should be commended. Please join me in congratulating MALT 
for its three decades of hard work and wishing MALT much more success 
in the years to come. I look forward to future generations having the 
opportunity to enjoy Marin County's rich agricultural tradition and 
natural beauty.

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