Patrick Burke isn’t trying to make a grand statement. He just lives by a simple motto: If you can protect something, it’s your duty to do so.

So it made sense that he and his wife, Nancy Rigler, both of DeKalb, Ill. recently protected their 130 acres of land by donating a conservation easement to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, a non-profit conservation group.

The couple’s property, which will remain in their private ownership, lies three miles southwest of Lansing in Allamakee County. The couple built a cabin on their property about four years ago, and they spend about two months a year on their land. “It’s a beautiful area, even though it’s not untouched,” Burke said. “We’ve gained better appreciation for it from spending time walking around the property.”

Though the couple retains private ownership and use, the easement permanently protects the land from mining, developing, clear cutting, over-grazing and other activities that could diminish the area’s natural resources and scenery. The easement restrictions apply to Burke, Rigler and all future owners. The specific purpose of this easement is to protect the natural land attributes and wildlife habitat.

The property consists of steep wooded bluffs and savanna areas along Lansing-Harpers Road southwest of Lansing. On their land, there are goat prairie remnants and rock outcrops.

The couple’s cabin, which has commanding countryside views, is one of Burke’s favorite spots on the property.  The land is also full of history. Village Creek Valley, near the north point of their land, used to house a growing town of Village Creek in the 1800s. “Though the town was eventually burned and flooded out,” Burke said, “there are still breathtaking views left, it’s really special to us.”

INHF is a nonprofit, conservation group that works with private landowners and other partners to protect Iowa’s land, water and wildlife. Since its founding in 1979, INHF has helped protect almost 100,000 acres of Iowa’s wild places.

Other INHF projects in Allamakee County include the Heritage Addition to Effigy Mounds, Clear Creek and Paint Rock.

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.