Island Conservation Group Protects More Than 260 Acres
The Nantucket Land Council, Inc., a Nantucket non-profit environmental group founded in 1974, announced that it recorded conservation restrictions (conservation easements) on more than 260 acres, for which it paid $14 million.
The exquisite property protected includes upland grasslands and wetlands, and it extends around the Head of Long Pond and from Madaket Road to Eel Point Road. This expansive tract contains a variety of natural habitats; the Loring land will ensure that a level of biodiversity will be preserved on the island.
The campaign to raise the $14 million was launched by the Land Council in the summer of 2004 when it secured options to purchase conservation restrictions from long-time Nantucket resident and conservationist Linda Loring and The Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Inc., a private foundation Loring established to provide children with environmental experiences and education on Nantucket.
Three areas covering less than 10 acres are reserved for development of a center by The Linda Loring Nature Foundation to promote its environmental mission on Nantucket.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect the most coveted piece of property on the island,” said Nantucket Land Council President Larry Breakiron. “The Nantucket community has shown incredible generosity over these past two and a half years, and they deserve a very large thank you”.
The number of individual donors to the campaign totaled over 1880 and gifts ranged from $5 to over $1 million. “We had a huge show of support”, said Campaign Manager Linda Holland. “Our Board, staff, and community have worked hard to make this amazing day a reality.”
With these two new restrictions, the Nantucket Land Council, Inc. now holds and enforces 63 permanent Conservation Restrictions which protect more than 1025 acres.
The Loring property was the largest unprotected property left on Nantucket. “This is a huge conservation victory for the people of Nantucket,” said Nantucket Land Council Executive Director Cormac Collier. “This expansive area now will be protected in perpetuity, ensuring vibrant plant and animal habitat, unspoiled scenic vistas, clean groundwater and the additional protection of Madaket Harbor.”
The Nantucket Land Council negotiates with private owners to voluntarily restrict use of their land and preserve conservation values. These permanent easement agreements provide benefits to the community and tax advantages to the landowners.
For more information about the Nantucket Land Council, Inc. and the property it protects, visit www.NantucketLandCouncil.org.
