When acquiring a parcel of land, York Land Trust vows to protect it in perpetuity. But what does that mean? How did we choose and acquire that piece of land in the first place? Our Land and Stewardship teams work to locate and review properties, conduct title and legal work, close on the piece, and then manage, protect, and care for it forever. That’s a very long time.
What are we looking for?
York Land Trust has two separate land protection focus areas: the MtA2C focus area and the Cape Neddick focus area. The MtA2C focus area is part of the Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative, which is a regional conservation partnership stretching back two decades and involving nine separate organizations. The Cape Neddick focus area, while newer to York Land Trust’s attention, is an ecologically important region of highly desirable land along the coast. Regardless of focus area, once we have a parcel identified, our Lands Committee fills out a project criteria form to see if it would be a good fit for us. York Land Trust looks for parcels that are typically at least five acres in size and contain important ecological and publicly beneficial features. These can be wildlife habitat, scenic views, agricultural or historical importance, or water quality impacts. We especially appreciate land that is contiguous with other conserved lands; this helps to create those precious wildlife corridors that many species need to live and travel.
What next?
Many of the next steps vary depending on whether a property or easement is being donated or whether we are purchasing it. Regardless, there are many costs involved with acquiring a property, even if it is donated to us. Land project costs typically include legal fees, title work, and closing costs, as well as staff costs, surveying fees, environmental hazard assessments, property taxes, short term stewardship costs, and a contribution to our stewardship endowment for long-term land management.
What is long-term land management?
When we acquire a property, we are obligated to protect and care for the land in perpetuity — should York Land Trust cease to exist, the land would go to a parallel conservation organization to remain protected. Our first step on this path to forever is to create a management plan for the property. This plan outlines whether the property will have public access or limited access to it. Public access means that there will be a maintained trail system and parking infrastructure available onsite; limited access does not. The plan also determines the most suitable management strategy for long-term care.
There are two basic land management strategies: active and passive. Active management involves targeted interventions, such as invasive species removal and habitat restoration. It can also include trail building and infrastructure maintenance. Passive management allows healthy properties to remain undisturbed with minimal human impact, preserving their ecological integrity. Our properties are a mix of public access and limited access pieces, with either an active or passive land management strategy. Our seven public preserves that you know and love are public access lands with active land management strategies. Interested in learning more or helping out? Sign up for a Stewardship Workday with Stewardship staff members Liz and Evelyn to see land management in action!
Smelt Brook Preserve is a public access preserve with an active land management strategy – our Stewardship team and volunteers work to maintain the trail system, including the many bog bridges.