Accolades were not sought by James Barrett; instead, he worked by example, leaving a legacy of preserved land for generations to come. Led by his unquenchable thirst for science, Jim drew inspiration and encouragement from writers such as Aldo Leopold, who stated: “Land … is not merely soil; it is a fountain of energy flowing through a circuit of soils, plants and animals.”

Jim, who died Sept. 22 at the age of 87, was always an outdoors lover. In fact, Jim and his wife, Pat, and their children, Ann, Barbara and Bob, lived within a 123-acre nature preserve named Oak Hill that they donated to ACRES Land Trust. How appropriate that the land he lived on and loved will continue to remain in a natural state forever.

While his accomplishments were numerous and varied, it was his conservation work that leaves the largest legacy. Along with being a founding member of ACRES Land Trust, Jim served as a trustee of the Indiana Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and was instrumental in the creation of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Nature Preserves.

In ACRES’ publication, The Quarterly, Jim stated:

“In 1966, Tom and Jane Dustin and I attended a program by George Fell of Illinois, about the nature preserve concept for areas dedicated by governmental agencies. On the way home, we discussed how the concept could be expanded to permit dedication of land owned by ACRES and other private entities. The proposed nature preserve legislation which I drafted, the Indiana Nature Preserves Act, contained important legal provisions not in the two other state nature preserve laws (Iowa and Illinois): dedication of non-government-held land; a statement of public policy for the protection of natural areas; and provisions that dedicated areas are held in trust for present and future generations and are committed to their highest and best use. These legal provisions are vital to increasing the protection of natural areas, which the Act provided. With the help of environmentalists in the Izaak Walton League, Tom Dustin shepherded my draft through the legislature. Following negotiations with the State, it became law in 1967. Over 200 areas throughout Indiana have been dedicated under the Indiana Nature Preserves Act. This law is unique and has served as a basis for other states’ nature preserve laws.”

The Nature Preserves Act is perhaps the ultimate gift that Jim gave to all of us. His belief that the land should and could be protected resulted in the Nature Preserve Act providing state-dedicated nature preserves the highest level of land protection available in Indiana.

Because of Jim, land has been preserved. ACRES now owns more than 4,850 acres of forests, wetlands and meadows, and throughout Indiana 41,000 acres have been protected under the Nature Preserve Act.

In addition to a wonderful example to follow, Jim left us powerful tools to protect the landscape he held so dear. Now it’s our turn. Thanks to Jim, the tools are there – pick one up.