Have you ever wondered who are the Commissioners and what do they do? We caught up with Commissioner Anne Lowe and asked her five quick questions about her passion for land conservation and love of the outdoors.
Meet Commissioner Anne Lowe. Anne has served on the Commission for the past eight years. This extraordinary term of service will finish at the end of the year. Anne has brought so much wisdom and experience to her commissionership. She is the current open space and trails manager for the Town of Breckenridge, Colorado. She previously served as the executive director of Shasta Land Trust, an accredited land trust in northern California. To learn more about Anne’s professional experience, CLICK HERE.
Q: Why are you passionate about land conservation?
A: I have a great love of the land that was instilled in me from a very young age. The outdoors is where I go to recharge, find inspiration, and satisfy my innate curiosity about the natural world around me.
Q: What drew you to serve as a volunteer commissioner?
A: Land conservation is my passion because we all need permanently protected public and private lands, whether for our wellbeing, water quality and quantity, habitat connectivity, sustainable foods, recreation, or so many other ecosystem services. As a big picture thinker, I’m always drawn to thinking holistically about land conservation and what different organizations are doing around the country. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a number of different land trusts throughout my career, all of which sparked my interested in helping to design, shape, and carryout an accreditation program that advances the work of land conservation in the US. It’s been a remarkable transition and evolution of land conservation in my nine years on the Commission.
Q: What has been the most rewarding aspect of being a volunteer commissioner?
A: The most rewarding aspect of being a volunteer commissioner is seeing the amazing and innovative work of land conservation organizations across the country. I love seeing how responsive and engaged land trusts are in their local communities and with the landowners they serve.
Q: What is your favorite childhood memory of being outdoors?
A: My favorite childhood memory is spending every moment from sunup to sundown exploring, growing fruits and vegetables, and caring for animals on our 60-acre property in Petoskey, Michigan. Raising and growing my own food is a memory that sticks with me to this day and one that I’m anxious to revisit in my new home of Breckenridge, Colorado.
Q: What is your favorite way to spend time in nature?
A: My favorite way to spend time in nature is hiking! Since moving to the high Rockies of Colorado four years ago, I hike every chance I get, as there are so many trails and mountain peaks yet to explore. I usually have my camera and my golden retriever, Lucy, on these endless adventures.
Thanks to Anne for sharing her story with us and for her tireless work during her time with the Commission.