Conservationist Donn Campion Shares Insights on Land Conservation and Sailing Adventures

July 15, 2024 – In a recent interview with Eco-Asset Solutions and Innovations (EASI), Dr. Donn Campion, a retired dentist and long-standing conservationist, shared his experiences and efforts in land conservation along with his passion for sailing. Believe it or not the two topics are closely related.

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If Donn Campion were to order business cards today he might put the abbreviation “CC” after his name. Though “Conservation Champion” would be an informal title—as opposed to DDS, Doctor of Dental Surgery Donn achieved years ago—the people who know Donn would nod their heads and say, “Conservation Champion? Why of course!”

From the Upper Midwest to California, from California to Hawaii and back, wild nature has been an important part of Donn’s life. Now 83, he has decided that two large properties still in his ownership should receive permanent conservation protection. He sees this as a legacy not only for his two sons but for all who will benefit from the ongoing natural processes—aka ecosystem services—underway on these undisturbed lands.

Early Life and Inspiration Born in Chicago in 1940, Donn Campion’s family moved to Glenview, Illinois when he was ten years old. There he developed a deep appreciation for nature, especially by participating in Boy Scouts of America activities during summer camps in northern Wisconsin. In between those summer camps Donn and his brothers would float shallow boats on the Des Plaines River near his Glenview home, another important natural playground and learning laboratory. Taken together these early adventures set the stage for Donn’s future conservation initiatives and left him with a special passion for wild birds.

Career and Navy Service Campion graduated from Marquette University in 1965. He served two years in the Navy, including a 13-month tour in Vietnam. Upon returning to the US, he established a dental practice in Santa Clara, California and raised a family. His career as a practicing dentist spanned over five decades until his retirement a few years ago.

Passion for Sailing A passionate sailor, Campion recounted his experiences sailing on Lake Michigan with his father, then later participating in the prestigious Transpacific Yacht Race between Los Angeles and Hawaii. As the owner of the well known racing sailboat Merlin, Campion made significant innovations to improve its speed, including the installation of a canting keel which provided a competitive edge in long distance races.

Although open ocean yacht racing didn’t allow much time for contemplating nature, Donn’s complementary experience as a cruising sailor along the California coast certainly did. Delivering sailboats from Santa Cruz to Los Angeles and San Diego allowed him to “just enjoy things as they occurred,” including interactions with Pacific Ocean sea mammals and camping on Santa Cruz Island off the Ventura coast. There he learned about the endangered Santa Cruz Island fox and its six subspecies, along with a variety of endangered plant species including the Torrey pine.

Hawaiian Conservation Efforts During a vacation in Hawaii in the early 1970s, Campion discovered a property on Kauai, 1400 acres of the Kalanipuu’ Headlands adjacent to Lihue. Despite initial challenges, including the lack of access roads and the need for conservation management, Campion fell in love with the land and purchased it. His interests once again focused on protecting endangered species—this time the Newell’s shearwater, monk seal, and Hawaiian hoary bat. The property has been studied as a potential National Park and has contributed film footage for well known movies such as “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “The Descendants.” The property is now for sale, and Donn is hopeful that a conservation-minded individual or group will continue his conservation legacy there.

California Conservation Initiatives Campion also owns a significant property in West Merced County, California, which he has similarly committed to conservation. In the 1990s he established one of the first compensatory mitigation banks in the state, the Agua Fria Multi-Species Conservation Bank, to protect species such as the San Joaquin kit fox, Western burrowing owl, and Swainson’s hawk. The 3000-acre landscape also supports Tule elk, loggerhead shrike, American kestrel falcon, golden eagle and American badger. No wonder the property has been compared to a smaller version of the African Serengeti!

Future Plans Just as with the Hawaii property, Campion’s remaining land in West Merced County—2700 acres—should be conserved in its current wild state, according to Donn. He envisions a phased approach to mitigation banking in the San Luis Reservoir region where his property can help developers offset impacts to nearby sensitive habitats. For example, a 2024 decision by the California Public Utilities Commission, ordered the construction of 38 gigawatts of new solar and battery energy storage facilities in the state. This is likely to require a great deal of compensatory mitigation especially in central California, for which the Campion property is ideally suited. Mitigation will ensure permanent protection for the landscape and its many wild residents, adding to Donn Campion’s conservation legacy.

Contact Information For more information about Donn Campion’s conservation efforts and the properties themselves, interested parties can contact Eco-Asset Solutions and Innovations at info@easillc.com or 415-706-6154.

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Campion’s lifelong dedication to nature, from his early days as a Boy Scout to his innovative conservation strategies in California, underscores the importance of preserving our natural heritage for future generations. The following illustrations are offered to accompany press releases:

Racing yacht Merlin approaches Hawaii’s Diamondhead during the Transpacific Yacht Race. Source: Wikipedia

Donn Campion’s Kauai, Hawaii property — the spectacular Kalanipuu’ headlands. Source: Donn Campion

Kalanipuu’ habitats include drylands on the southern coast and Pacific tropical communities inland. Source: Donn Campion

Agua Fria landscape. Source: Donn Campion

Conservation bank species that qualify for mitigation credits at Donn Campion’s Agua Fria property. Source: EASI

American kestrel at Agua Fria. Source: Donn Campion

Western meadowlark at Agua Fria. Source: Donn Campion

California tiger salamanders at Agua Fria. Source: Barry Sernovo (deceased), UC Santa Cruz

 

For more information about Donn Campion’s conservation efforts and the properties themselves, interested parties can contact Eco-Asset Solutions and Innovations (EASI) at info@easillc.com or 415-706-6154.