When you talk with Johnny Armstrong, it becomes immediately clear that the natural world is not just an interest—it’s a calling. A retired medical doctor, Johnny lives with his wife, Karen, and their dog just outside Ruston, Louisiana, where the couple actively stewards a remarkable 500-acre property — land that includes rare old-growth forest and a diversity of species that once thrived throughout the region.
Through a conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy, the Armstrongs are permanently protecting this invaluable Louisiana landscape, ensuring that its ecological treasures will endure far into the future.
Johnny chronicled his passion for conservation in his book Rescuing Biodiversity, published with LSU Press, which explores the urgency of preserving Louisiana’s vanishing ecosystems and restoring native plant and animal life. Today, he continues to advocate for land protection across the state—especially through his support for Land Trust for Louisiana’s work conserving our lands, waters and natural resources.
Read on for some of Johnny’s reflections on legacy and stewardship, and why he’s turning these values into action with Land Trust For Louisiana.
As a landowner and conservationist, what does “legacy” mean to you?
“To me, legacy means leaving something behind that has a lasting impact, and to a conservationist what could be better than leaving behind a parcel of land with vital habitat under the umbrella of permanent protection? The conservation value—the land’s vital habitats—would always be safe from exploitation, and the landowner and the landowner’s family would retain ownership and continue to enjoy their property. That’s truly a win-win.”
READ MORE: Are you a Louisiana landowner? Learn more about how conservation can work for you.
Why do you choose to support Land Trust for Louisiana’s conservation work?
“Long ago, one of my conservationist friends and I were lamenting the problem of Louisiana landowners having almost no options for saving vital habitat on their property. Today, Land Trust for Louisiana is actively acquiring conservation easements and saving habitat — making conservation available to all landowners.”
“With almost 90 percent of the land in our state being privately owned, it’s crucial that conservation-minded landowners act on behalf of our natural world. Land Trust For Louisiana is there to partner with those landowners who want to leave their own legacy — and this is why my wife, Karen, and I take great joy in supporting this excellent organization. The natural world is boundlessly important to us.”
YOU CAN ACT TOO
Louisiana’s landscapes depend on people like Johnny—landowners who care deeply and act boldly. If you’d like to join him in safeguarding our state’s natural heritage, please consider making a gift to Land Trust for Louisiana today.