*Reminder – Congress passes new tax incentives for Conservation Restriction Donors.  Benefits expire at the end of 2007. Read more here.

April 24, 2007

The Nantucket Land Council, Inc. officially records the Loring Campaign Conservation Restrictions.  From both the NLC and hte Linda Loring Nature Foundation, T hank you to the over 1,800 people who donated, volunteered, hosted and participated in making this campaign a success! Read more about the campaign below.

January 2nd, 2007

The Nantucket Land Council, Inc. is very pleased to announce the successful completion of its campaign to raise $14 million to purchase conservation restrictions from Linda Loring and The Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Inc.

The conservation restrictions will permanently preserve 270 acres of environmentally significant land, including upland and wetlands, around the Head of Long Pond and from Madaket Road to Eel Point Road. Three areas, totaling less than 10 acres, are reserved for development of a center by the Linda Loring Nature Foundation to promote its mission to further environmental education on Nantucket.

The Land Council secured the options to purchase the conservation restrictions in the summer of 2004. “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 years, and they all deserve a very large thank you”. The number of individual donors to the campaign totaled 1150 ranging in gifts 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.”

The Land Council Board of Directors voted to exercise its options, which expired in late January, and to set a closing date for April. Because the Land Council will need to borrow funds for the closing against more than $4 million in outstanding pledges, donors are being asked to pay their 2007 pledges as early in the new year as possible.

The Loring property is 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.”