What is the New Hartford Land Trust all about?
|
|
|
Our History
|
The New Hartford Land Trust is an all-
volunteer, private non-profit
membership organization dedicated to
promoting the permanent preservation
and protection of farmland, forest, and
other open space and natural
resources in New Hartford.
|
|
In the mid 1800's, many "village
improvement societies" formed in New
England to "improve the quality of life and
of the environment." These small nonprofit
organizations were the forerunners of
today's land trust movement. A few years
later, in 1891, the Massachusetts
legislature incorporated The Trustees of
Reservations to protect the “jewels of the
living landscape”. The Society for the
Protection of New Hampshire Forests, with
similar purposes, was formed in 1901.
Today, both organizations are among the
nation's leading state conservation groups.
Not all the pioneers were in the northeast.
At the turn of the century, a group of
Californians organized the Sempervirens
Club with the slogan "Save the Redwoods".
Connecticut currently boasts 114 individual
land trusts surpassed in the nation only by
Massachusetts at 116. The New Hartford
Land Trust, a private, non-profit, tax-exempt
organization formed in 1973, is currently
preserving 250+ acres of open space and
natural resources in New Hartford for the
benefit of the public.
The Land Trust provides a means by
which woodlands, meadows, farmlands,
water resources and unique natural sites
can be preserved forever.
|
In addition, the Land Trust's
activities extend into other
environmental areas:
|
- Safeguarding interesting geological
features and areas of ecological value
|
|
- Preserving unique scenic, natural and
historic sites
|
|
- Promoting scientific study
|
|
- Educating the public about its local
natural resources
|
|
|
Our role in protecting New
Hartford's land
|
The Land Trust is incorporated,
directed and managed by private
residents of the community. It is
outside the realm of town government.
Therefore, it is free to act on
behalf of the specific land owner,
unlike town agencies which must
serve all taxpayers.
|
|
