On Friday, October 12, at 7:00 p.m., the Goose Creek Association (GCA), the Land Trust of Virginia (LTV), the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT), and the Hill School Alumni Association invite the public to a free screening of a new film called Green Fire, the first full-length, high definition documentary about legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold.

The film explores Leopold's life in the early part of the twentieth century and illustrates how influential his 'land ethic' idea continues to be all over the world today. Best known as the author of the conservation classic A Sand County Almanac, Leopold is also renowned for his work as an educator, philosopher, forester, ecologist, and wilderness advocate. He understood that nature is an ecosystem and that man, wo is simply a part of it, should not try to dominate or engineer the ecosystem.

"Aldo Leopold has left an astounding legacy. Thousands of organizations across the nation and hundreds here in Virginia, including the Goose Creek Association, the Land Trust of Virginia and the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust, are following his lead. It's interesting to see how Leopold repaired riparian buffers on his land like GCA is doing today with our Goose Creek Challenge Program," said GCA Chair Lori Keenan.

"Our work is Leopold's work," said LTV Executive Director Don Owen. "Land trusts have protected more than 16 million acres of land in the United States, including more than 30% of the farm and forest land in western Loudoun and northern Fauquier counties. These lands, and the water resources, wildlife, battlefields, and historic resources on them, are one of the most important gifts we can give to future generations."

"One of the greatest challenges a conservationist faces in Northern Virginia is Leopold's notion of reconnecting the people who live here with the land around them. Green Fire is one of those inspirational films that reminds us all of our connection to land and our role in protecting it," said NVCT Director of Stewardship Ashley Stanton.

Viewing this film will be enlightening and a real treat for anyone interested in conservation. Citizens of Loudoun, Fauquier and Northern Piedmont counties are encouraged to attend.

Green Fire underscores Leopold's continuing influence by exploring current projects that connect people and land at the local level. Viewers will meet urban children in Chicago learning about local foods and ecological restoration, ranchers in Arizona and New Mexico who maintain healthy landscapes by working on their own properties and wildlife biologists across the nation who are bringing back threatened and endangered species, from cranes to Mexican wolves, to the landscapes where they once thrived.

Produced by the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service and the Center for Humans and Nature, Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time, includes highlights from Leopold's life and extraordinary career. Viewers will learn how he shaped conservation in the twentieth century and how his dedicated work still inspires people today.

The October 12th event begins at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at The Hill School in Middleburg, Virginia. It is open to the public and there is no admission charge. Refreshments will be served before and after the screening.

For more information, please contact Don Owen at (540) 687-8441, don@landtrustva.org; or Andrea Rosse at 540-687-3073, goosecreek@erols.com. You may also consult the website www.nvct.org.