Tag: Compact

Compact annual meeting

Denny, with F.O.D. (friends and family of Denny)
Denny, with F.O.D. (friends and family of Denny)

The Compact of Cape Cod Land Trusts held its 31st anniversary meeting at the Orleans Yacht Club on Monday, August 28, 2017. It was hosted by the Orleans Conservation Trust.

Denny receiving the 2017 Ansel B. Chaplin award from Peter Johnson and Mark Robinson
Denny receiving the 2017 Ansel B. Chaplin award from Peter Johnson and Mark Robinson

Perfect weather, with a splendid view of Town Cove was further enhanced by delicious hors d’oeuvre’s. There were several excellent presentations on the Compact, the Orleans Trust, and the role of Americorps. Mark Robinson delivered the keynote speech in which he spoke of “what keeps me awake at night,” One issue was what he fears is a loss of fervor in the environmental movement. A second is the responsibility inherent in the word “perpetuity”: How can we ensure that conservation efforts have truly long-lasting effects?

Commendation delivered by Representative Sarah Peake and Senator Julian Cyr
Commendation delivered by Representative Sarah Peake and Senator Julian Cyr

However, the highlight for most of the audience from Wellfleet was that Dennis O’Connell, Wellfleet Conservation Trust President,  received the Ansel B. Chaplin Award for excellence in open space protection.

The award was presented by Peter Johnson of the Brewster Conservation Trust and Mark Robinson, Executive Director of The Compact. In addition, a commendation from the Massachusetts legislature was delivered by Representative Sarah Peake and Senator Julian Cyr

SE Mass Land Trust Convocation

Upper Cape Regional Technical School
Upper Cape Regional Technical School

On Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, six members of the Wellfleet Conservation Trust traveled to the Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School in Bourne to attend the Southeastern Massachusetts Land Trust Convocation.

The 16th annual Convocation brought together 110 members of the SE Mass. land conservation community for presentations and workshops.

One morning workshop discussed large land acquisition projects, which might appear at first too costly to pursue in terms of time, money, or other resources. This echoed a tribute at the convocation to Truro’s Ansel Burt Chaplin.

Chaplin had co-founded the Truro Conservation Trust, leading coalition efforts to preserve High Head and many scenic spots along the Pamet River. In 1984 he began convening local land trusts on the lower Cape to learn from one another. This led to the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts, the “oldest self-sustaining regional network of land trusts in the US.”

Another workshop focused on Cultural Respect Access Agreements. We learned about a pioneer agreement regarding 250 acres in Dennis, the first native-led land trust agreement in the Eastern US.

Jack Clarke
Jack Clarke

In the afternoon, a workshop centered on effective communication to attract volunteers, build partnerships, or raise funds.

Finally, one workshop used case studies to illustrate about how trees are not always the answer for land conservation. But creating open habitats, meadows, and shrublands and keeping them from maturing into dense woods is not as easy as it may appear.

In the middle of the day, participants heard an inspiring talk by Jack Clarke, Director of Advocacy for MassAudubon: Where Do We Go From Here? The Environmental Challenges Ahead. He outlined the new challenges facing environmental protection efforts, nationally and internationally, while emphasizing the impact that local conservation can make.