Of Mountains and Mole Hills

The relationships are necessary, and honest. A kestrel perches just ahead of us on a tree fairly low to the ground looking for the next meal. We disturb its hunting as we get closer and it flies ahead of us to its next perch. Out on the land yesterday it was hard not to feel how necessary the balance of these relationships are and how we threaten these relationships when we do not honor the balance that they represent.

Finding that indeed a violation had occurred was disturbing for all the reasons one might imagine. Can the damage be repaired? The initial analysis is that it can. Further investigation though will be necessary as we pursue a remedy. What was most disturbing was the "beg-for-forgiveness" part. Imagine if your lawn had been cleared of vegetation and piles of debris dumped up to your front porch. Who does that? So beyond the obvious, is the relationship that has been marred by this unfortunate, perhaps unintentional violation. It creates a lack of trust and a sense of a lack of regard or respect for the conservation easement, for Utah Open Lands, for the grantor and for the public.

As we left we were greeted by a fox, reminding us of the relationship that we have in the protection of this land. Providing a perspective, if you will, that this is his front lawn, his front porch just as much as it is ours. Our stewardship of this land and the protection we have agreed to honor will hopefully ensure that future generations will be greeted by kestrel and fox and share in the understanding of this delicate balance.