Nantucket Land Council - Planning - Protecting

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Conservation: Partners

Nantucket is fortunate to have a variety of organizations working to protect and raise awareness about our fragile natural environment. Because there are so many, the three most commonly confused are: The Nantucket Land Council (that’s us!) The Nantucket Conservation Foundation and the Nantucket Islands Land Bank. The main difference between us is: We (the NLC) are focused on advocacy, being a “watchdog” group, and we hold Conservation Restrictions. The Conservation Foundation is Nantucket’s largest property owner and focuses on stewardship of open space and environmental research. The Nantucket Land Bank collects a 2% real estate transfer fee and purchases open space for public benefit including recreation.

Here is a list of some other groups working to protect Nantucket:

Land Trust Alliance
Headquarters located at: 1331 H Street NW, Suite 400 Washington DC 20005-4734 202-638-4725 http://www.lta.org The LTA is the national convener, strategist and representative of more than 1,600 land trusts across America, of which the Nantucket Land Council is a member.

The Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Inc.
110 Eel Point Rd. PO Box 1359 Nantucket, MA 02554 Nantucket’s newest conservation partner, the LLNF was founded by Linda Loring just prior to the Nantucket Land Council’s Loring Campaign to preserve 270 acres of Loring’s property. The LLNF will act as the stewards of the land and will build an educational center, maintain walking trails, and organize educational programs to foster appreciation for the natural world. The LLNF will be endowed with the funds raised by the NLC.

Maria Mitchell Association
Two Vestal Street, Nantucket, MA 02554 (508) 228-9198 http://www.mmo.org/ This membership-supported, nonprofit organization maintains an excellent science library, a natural science museum, a small aquarium, and two astronomical observatories. Also, it sponsors research and interpretive programs, which include nature walks, children's programs, and lectures.

Massachusetts Audubon Society
South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 (617) 259-9500 http://www.massaudubon.org/ Not to be confused with the National Audubon Society, this state-wide group is one of the nation's oldest and most respected conservation organizations. On Nantucket, it owns sanctuaries on Hummock Pond and Sesachacha Pond, and conducts various research projects involving Nantucket's bird, plant, and animal populations. It is a nonprofit organization supported by membership dues and donations.

Massachusetts Land Coalition
18 Wolbach Road Sudbury, MA 01776 www.massland.org An informal association of Massachusetts land trusts and conservation organizations.

Nantucket Conservation Foundation
118 Cliff Road PO Box 13 Nantucket, MA 02554 (508) 228-2884 www.nantucketconservation.org As Nantucket’s largest property owner, the mission of the Nantucket Conservation Foundation is to assist in the preservation of Nantucket’s character by permanently conserving, maintaining, and managing natural areas and habitats and to encourage an appreciation of and interest in the Island’s natural resources. Many of the properties originally conserved by the Nantucket Land Council have now been transferred to the NCF for stewardship and management.

Nantucket Islands Land Bank Commission
22 Broad Street Nantucket, MA 02554 (508) 228-7240 www.nantucketlandbank.org Formed by an act of the state legislature in 1984, this town agency is charged with the responsibility of administering funds derived from a 2% tax on all real estate transactions. The Land Bank works independently and in conjunction with other organizations to acquire and preserve open space and recreational lands for public use. To date, it has acquired more than 2,455 acres.

The Nature Conservancy
Massachusetts Chapter headquarters located at: 79 Milk Street, Suite 300 Boston, MA 02109 (617) 423-2545 http://nature.org/ An international membership-supported organization, The Nature Conservancy's mission is "to preserve plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive." The Conservancy has designated Nantucket as one of forty "Last Great Places," and is involved in establishing and maintaining a Geographic Information System database of the island's natural resources for use by conservation organizations and government agencies.

The 'Sconset Trust, Inc.
PO Box 821 Siasconset, MA 02564 (508) 228-9917 http://www.sconsettrust.org The Trust is a nonprofit, Massachusetts-chartered corporation that was formed in 1984. It is supported by membership dues and contributions, and seeks to acquire and manage parcels of land in and around the Village of Siasconset for conservation purposes. Cooperation to the fullest extent possible with other conservation and environmental groups is also a primary aim.

The Trustees of Reservations
Headquarters located at: 572 Essex Street, Beverly, MA 01915 (508) 921-1944 http://www.thetrustees.org A membership-supported, nonprofit organization, the Trustees' interests are state-wide. It was established in 1891 by the state legislature. On Nantucket, The Trustees is supported through the efforts of the Friends of Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, its local fund-raising unit. The Trustees own properties at Great Point, Coskata, and Coatue. Also, they manage and conduct research regarding endangered shorebirds that nest on Nantucket's beaches.

Tuckernuck Land Trust, Inc
Cheryl Creighton, Executive Director PO Box 1093 Nantucket, MA 02554 Telephone: 508-228-2638 E-mail: tlt@tuckernucklandtrust.org The Tuckernuck Land Trust, Inc. (TLT) was created in the summer of 1996 as a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to conserving the extraordinary natural resources and rich rural character of Tuckernuck Island.

University of Massachusetts, Nantucket Field Station
180 Polpis Road, Nantucket, MA 02554 (508) 228-5268 http://www.umb.edu/nantucket/ This is a research and educational facility of the state university system that offers undergraduate courses utilizing the Island as a natural science laboratory. The Field Station also provides facilities and technical support for research projects conducted by other universities and conservation groups. While the property is not open to the public, the Station's permanent staff is always interested in meeting with visiting investigators whose interests include marine biology, coastal plant communities, coastal geology, and other topics regarding the Island's natural history. Such meetings can be arranged by calling the Director at the telephone number listed above.