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- WALDO COUNTY INITIATIVE SURPASSES YEAR ONE GOALS
- WALDO COUNTY CONSERVATION INITIATIVE FUNDRAISING UPDATE
- WINTER COMMUNITY EVENTS RECAP
- LEARNING LANDSCAPES LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
- FIELD REPORT
- WHISTLING THROUGH WEDNESDAY WORK CREW
- BIRDS BEYOND THE WINDOW
- LATE SEASON PHOTOS
- WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS
- TRAILHEAD UPDATES AT THE MEADOW BROOK PRESERVE
- INVASIVE PLANTS
- ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS AT BEECH HILL PRESERVE
- OUTDOOR LEARNING IS GROWING AT CAMDEN-ROCKPORT ELEMENTARY
- INVASIVE PLANTS
- SYMBIOSIS PROJECT: STUDENT ART AT BEECH HILL
- Coastal Mountains Nature Program talk - Exploring Nature in Peru’s Cloud Forests and Amazon Rainforest
Current News
WALDO COUNTY INITIATIVE SURPASSES YEAR ONE GOALS
April 16, 2023
As of April 1st, Coastal Mountains Land Trust met the goals needed to successfully complete the first year of its new Waldo County Conservation Initiative – a community effort to increase the amount of permanently conserved land in Waldo County for the benefit of wildlife, sustainable recreation, outdoor learning and climate protection.
In total, the Initiative raised $280,805 in support of the acquisition and stewardship of over 495 acres within the 12 Waldo County towns served by the Land Trust including Belfast, Belmont, Brooks, Knox, Lincolnville, Morrill, Northport, Prospect, Searsport, Stockton Springs, Swanville, and Waldo. In 2022 and early 2023, the Land Trust was thrilled to match a number of generous land donations from private landowners and earlier contributions with $100,805 in donations from individual community members and $180,000 from grants and foundations in Maine and beyond. In addition to an anonymous foundation, support was provided by the Maine Natural Resources Conservation Program, Leaves of Grass Fund, Mudge Foundation, Fields Pond Foundation, Maine Community Foundation, John Sage Foundation, and Margaret G. Jacobs Charitable Trust.
Specifically, the resources raised through the Initiative funded the addition of land to the Meadow Brook Preserve in Swanville and the Mount Tuck and Main Stream Preserves in Stockton Springs. The Land Trust also acquired its first two conservation parcels in the Town of Knox and completed the acquisition of its first Learning Landscape Preserve in Searsport within walking distance of the three local public schools. Together, these new preserves protect large areas of intact forest and high value wildlife habitats including extensive wetlands while also providing expanded opportunities for outdoor recreation and learning.
“We are extremely grateful to everyone, including our 12 volunteer committee members, who helped make the first year of this initiative a success. Coastal Mountains Land Trust is excited to build upon this momentum and continue to make an impact in our local community,” shared Elisabeth Wolfe of Belfast, Coastal Mountains Land Trust Board Member and Chair of the Waldo County Conservation Initiative Committee.
The Waldo County Conservation Initiative is ongoing and the team at Coastal Mountains Land Trust is actively working on and identifying new projects to pursue this year. To get involved, support the initiative, or stay up to date on the latest projects, click here.
WALDO COUNTY CONSERVATION INITIATIVE FUNDRAISING UPDATE
March 22, 2023
By Tempe Landi, Development and Communications Coordinator
On November 2nd, Coastal Mountains Land Trust launched the Waldo County Conservation Initiative, a community-based effort to conserve natural lands in Waldo County for the purposes of wildlife conservation, outdoor recreation, outdoor learning, and climate mitigation. The goal of the initiative is to grow the capacity to complete land conservation projects within the 12 Waldo County towns served by Coastal Mountains Land Trust: Belfast, Belmont, Brooks, Knox, Lincolnville, Morrill, Northport, Prospect, Searsport, Stockton Springs, Swanville, and Waldo.
For the first year of the Initiative, by March 31, 2023, the Land Trust is seeking to raise an additional $250,000 to match the $450,000 already raised from grants, land donations, and private gifts for important projects across Waldo County. Specifically, $150,000 from grants and $100,000 from the community.
FUNDRAISING GOAL: $250,000
• $150,000 from grants
• $100,000 from the community
PROGRESS TO DATE: March 22, 2023
• We have met our $150,000 grant goal!
• We only need $3,795 to reach our community goal!
DEADLINE: March 31, 2023
Our goal is to raise the funds necessary for this initial round of Waldo County projects by the end of our 2022-23 fiscal year.
Funds raised will support 12 conservation projects that will protect approximately 495 acres including open space on Mt. Tuck in Stockton Springs, near Hurds Pond in Swanville, at the headwaters of Passagassawakeag River in Knox, and across from the three schools in Searsport. Completion of these projects will conserve a wide range of forested and wetland habitats, provide space for hunting and future hiking trails, create an outdoor classroom, and add to the protection of several large areas of undeveloped forest that will continue to sequester carbon.
For more information, email Tempe Landi at tempe@coastalmountains.org
