WORKFLOWS
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.
WORKFLOWS
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.
WORKFLOWS
Easements & Fee Lands
By purchasing land or using a conservation easement tool, RLHT ensures that those lands will remain undeveloped.
The benefits are innumerable. In conserving land, RLHT strengthens:
- A thriving forestry community;
- The economic viability of the Rangeley Lakes Region;
- A robust trail system provides year-round recreational opportunities;
Healthy habitat for more Western Maine’s diverse species of wildlife; - and climate-resilient, unfragmented landscapes.
WORKFLOWS
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.
WORKFLOWS
Climate Change Resiliance
Maine grows trees! Managing forests responsibly for timber provides jobs in rural areas and products we all use in our daily lives, regardless of where we live. With a changing climate locally and globally, 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 large trees on the landscape, among other management changes, to mitigate climate change and improve biodiversity while 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
