The Trust has participated in numerous processes and coalitions that have culminated in a 2008 statewide initiative, which will appear on the November ballot. The initiative proposes to amend the Arizona state constitution so that state trust lands can be managed and sold for conservation purposes.  The initiative, titled “Our Land, Our Schools,” protects forever 570,000 acres of state trust lands.  This means that the identified lands can never be developed. 

“Our Land, Our Schools” permanently protects lands that are environmentally critical for protecting Arizona's water sources, including lands next to major natural landmarks such as the Grand Canyon, Superstition Mountains, Picacho Peak, McDowell Mountains, and San Pedro River.  Lands identified upfront for protection include significant open space lands in northern Arizona.  Protected lands include acreage near Grand Canyon National Park, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, Observatory Mesa, Dry Lake, and Rogers Lake.

Conserved lands will remain in ownership (and management) by the state land department, but can be purchased by local governments at conservation value (stripped of development rights).  They can never be developed and must be managed consistent with conservation values.

The constitutional amendment will also validate the Arizona Preserve Initiative (API), a law which the Trust helped draft.  This will allow lands not immediately identified for conservation protection to be protected subsequently through the API process. 

While conserving some of Arizona’s most threatened state lands, “Our Land, Our Schools” continues financial support for Arizona’s schools.  (The Arizona Education Association endorses the initiative.)  By passing the initiative, we create the best scenario: We protect delicate land from development while increasing the value of the developable land neighboring protected open space.

“Our Land, Our Schools” is endorsed by many individuals and organizations, including Governor Janet Napolitano, The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Sonoran Institute, Arizona Education Association, Arizona League of Conservation Voters, Audubon Arizona, Center for Biological Diversity, and Trust for Public Lands.

The Grand Canyon Trust urges you to please vote "YES" on this initiative in November.