Our Work
Land Conservation
RLHT Conserves Land - forever.
We partner with state agencies, NGOs, local government, and people like you to conserve the natural assets of the Rangeley Lakes Region.
Accreditation: A Mark of Distinction
Of the 1,400 land trusts in the United States, RLHT is one of only 464 accreditated.
The Land Trust Alliance, which oversees the accreditation process, rigorously reviews each land trust’s procedures for fiscal accountability, organizational leadership, and lasting stewardship policies. The accreditation seal is awarded to land trusts meeting their highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence.
Easements & Fee Lands
By purchasing land or using a conservation easement tool, RLHT ensures that those lands will remain forested.
The benefits are innumerable. In conserving land, RLHT strengthens:
- A thriving forestry economy
- The outdoor recreation economy of the Rangeley Lakes Region
- Trail systems which provide year-round recreational opportunities
- Climate-resilient, unfragmented landscapes
Advancing Sustainable Forestry Management
Each RLHT owned property has a Forest Ecosystem Management Plan (FEMP), a guide designed for ten years of sustainable land management practices with pre-determined goals and objectives.
We utilize high-resolution aerial photography technologies like LiDAR (light detection, and ranging) to meet those goals, which produce highly accurate forest metrics. We can create 3D models of forested stands inventories, tree height, basal area, percent of softwood cover, trees per acre, and cords per acre. Gap dynamics, such as forest canopy openings and sizes, can also be determined. All this information is spatially referenced to manage wildlife habitats.
Climate Change Resilience
Maine is the most forested state in the United States. Sustainable forestry practices provide thousands of jobs and wood products that we all use in our daily lives. With a changing climate, we need to consistently assess how our forest management practices contribute to or detract from the planet’s health. As science advances, it is clear we need to achieve an appropriate mix of forest age classes to mitigate climate change and improve habitat for biodiversity while also supporting our local economy.
The most important action we can take is to conserve land – and build or restore a resilient landscape to anchor the health of our diverse and complex ecosystems.
Current Projects
CONTACT
For Land Conservation Inquiries
Shelby Rousseau
Deputy Director | Director of Stewardship
