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Maine Legacy, Summer 1998 Significant Conservation Value

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Maine Legacy, Summer 1998 Significant Conservation Value TheNatureConservancy A Family’s Gift A New Hampshire family looks at its extensive assets in real estate uses may be appropriate for these and considers how these undeveloped forest lands should be used in the tracts as well. The family, who wish future. They also weigh pressing estate planning needs and wonder if the to remain anonymous, held these two issues can be addressed through a single dramatic act. They do not rush. lands as timber assets. And com­ They consult among themselves and with trusted professionals, including patible forestry is one possibility for Conservancy staff in their home state. When the family reaches its the future. Other options include remarkable decision, Conservancy records topple in two states. designation as nature preserves, research or educational sites. ver 8,300 acres of forested land field and Lovell. The big news in New Hampshire is Oin Maine and New Hampshire While all the lands will remain as a 2,200-acre tract that is contiguous will be transferred to The Nature undeveloped open space, providing with the Green Hills Preserve in North Conservancy next January. The 5, 539 habitat for wildlife and recreational Conway. The donation will nearly acres in western Maine represent the opportunities for area residents, other double what is already the largest largest single gift of land preserve owned by The Nature in the Maine Chapter’s Conservancy in that state. More history; and the 2,8 25 than that, the parcel also abuts acres in New Hampshire both the White Mountain Na­ represent the largest tional Forest and the Conway single gift of land in that Town Forest, furthering the chapter’s history as well. Conservancy’s goal of main­ The holdings are div­ taining large, unfragmented ided into a number of tracts of forest land. These areas separate parcels (12 in provide critical habitats for a Maine alone), but the variety of wildlife, from large largest tracts in each state mammals to such migratory are impressive in their birds as warblers, thrushes, own right. In Maine, two tanagers and hawks. abutting tracts that spread Given its strategic location and over the Oxford County the Conservancy’s long-standing communities of Wood- familiarity with the land, the stook, Rumford, and Mil­ decision to add this new parcel ford Plantation add up to to the Green Hills Preserve was some 4,400 acres. Other obvious. Other parcels, however, Maine tracts range from will require careful inventory and 40 to 370 acres and are conservation planning before the located in Oxford and Conservancy can determine a western Cumberland long- term conservation plan for Counties, including sites each. in Fryeburg, Hebron, Beyond determining how these Hartford, Naples, Buck- Continued on page two ttbrary- JUL 2 0 1998 preserve the health and assure that these reserves are sur­ biological diversity of rounded by compatibly managed forests that cover more forests. Although the Conservancy has than three-quarters of been able to acquire and protect a the State of Maine and number of important sites throughout sweep on westward the northern forest, neither the pace through New Hamp­ nor scale of these advances is sufficient. shire, Vermont and New For that reason, we are exploring a York. new approach, one that harnesses both With the sudden im­ our traditional expertise in science and petus of these imminent our 40-plus years of experience in real land sales, discussions estate. Working in partnership with undreds of thousands of acres of about what the conservation com­ philanthropic and responsible forest­ HMaine forestland are for sale as I munity should do - can do - have taken land investors, we are determined to write this column. SAPPI is selling on a renewed urgency. For The Nature pursue larger forest acquisitions as they 912,000 acres in the Moosehead Lake Conservancy, these discussions are an become available. By purchasing these region - and this is only one (albeit extension of the strategic planning we lands at wholesale, rather than retail, the largest) of several major north have undertaken at both the regional we believe we can be more effective in wood’s holdings currently on the and state levels. protecting both preserve quality sites market. Conservation science tells us that the and ensuring compatible forestry on However, it is more than enough to survival of biological diversity in the the surrounding lands, whose long galvanize public interest. Over the last North woods (the full variety of plants, term economic benefits are so vital to decade, forest landowners, govern­ animals and natural communities the state. ment officials, environmental organ­ native there) depends on our ability A recent project in Vermont em­ izations and the public at large have to set aside large blocks of unfrag­ bodies these dual objectives and may traded thoughts on how best to mented, unmanaged forest and to serve as a model for other large-scale A Family’s Gift continued from page one tracts relate to the surrounding land­ scape, the Conservancy will want to learn how they relate to the com­ munities in which they are located so traditional uses can be maintained wherever possible. “We have a great deal of work before us,” said Kent Wommack, executive director of the Conservancy in Maine. “This is a remarkable opportunity which springs from a singular act of philanthropy beyond the capacity of most families. We are tremendously grateful to the donors, and we in Maine appreciate as well the time, care and effort our colleagues in New Hamp­ shire have devoted to advising the family and helping to make their hopes of conserving these lands a reality.” 2 - Maine Legacy, Summer 1998 significant conservation value. Ultim­ ately, timber assets and/or acreage could be traded for other conservation lands. We’ll be watching this exper­ iment closely. In the meantime, there are similar opportunities in Maine, and we are actively pursuing several. However, none of the grand visions to protect lands in the northern forests will succeed until the conservation com­ munity is able to muster the financial resources to compete in the mar­ ketplace. The key to this bold strategic approach - the difference between seeing an opportunity and seizing it - is the ability to secure investment capital from public and charitable sources. Forestlands will continue to conservation projects in the Northeast. million grant from the Freeman Foun­ go to the most competitive bidders. The Nature Conservancy and the dation, the organizations formed the We are working to see that at least Vermont Land Trust recently pur­ Atlas Timberlands Partnership. Still in some of those successful bids are put chased the third largest private owner­ its formative stages, the Partnership forward by the most conservation- ship in Vermont, 26,000 acres of will seek to manage for compatible minded bidders as well. working forestland. Thanks to a $5 forestry, while setting aside lands of Gifts of the Heart and Mind to become more prevalent in coming cuss these matters in confi­ years as the aging of the “baby boom­ dence, please contact Mason gift of 8,300 acres of undeveloped ers” (and, hopefully, a continuation of Morfit, Director of Planned A forest land in New Hampshire and favorable stock market and other asset Giving, The Nature Conser­ Maine is exciting news indeed. That values) results in an unprecedented vancy, 14 Maine Street, Bruns­ is the public face of philanthropy. inter-generational transfer of wealth. wick, Maine 04011 (207) 729- What remains private, and appro­ Families facing the need for estate 5 18 1. priately so, are the months of thought, planning have many options to consi­ discussion and planning which pre­ der. For those who believe cede such gifts. strongly in the necessity of Gifts of the major proportions protecting our natural heri­ described above are not made casually. tage for future generations, They become no less complicated charitable gift planning when they involve contributions of should be a part of that highly-appreciated securities (espec­ process. While final deci­ ially if restricted), tangible personal sions regarding major plan­ property (art, antiques, etc.), retire­ ned gifts should be review­ ment fund assets (401(k), etc.), gifts ed by the donor’s attorney through one’s estate, gifts providing and financial advisors, The lifetime income to the donor and/or Nature Conservancy can other beneficiaries, and real estate, offer useful information on both undeveloped and developed a broad variety of philan­ (“trade lands”). thropic options. Such “planned gifts” are predicted If you would like to dis­ Maine Legacy, Summer 1998 - 3 T f „ After Cobscook Bay, Towering tides and reversing Jails, , , , „ and work around Cobscook Bay to protect dramatic headlands and eagle nesting 1C1C S larC ^ anY more id habitats on shore and beneath the islands, salmon pens, fishing boats and Down East left to discover, deep green bay. We’ve scheduled a full day communities rich in traditions honed by self-sufficiency, of exhilarating and informative activities for Saturday, wicked winters and livelihoods wrested from the sea. Come September 12 - and that gives you all day Sunday to enjoy see why the Conservancy works with the people who live the annual Eastport Salmon Festival and more! f Saturday, September 12, 1998*1 CobscookAnnual Meeting At a dozen marine sites around the world - from Down East Maine to the South Pacific Annual Meeting Field Trips Bay - The Nature Conservancy is working with A. Reading Jake a look at marine life in the Eastport local communities to protect another world, a Old Rocks area as it existed 410 million years ago. world that begins where our coasts meet the Paleontologist Lisa Dickson will show us evidence of life sea.
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