Conserve Your Land with Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust
Protect the places you love forever!
As your local land trust, we take the time to understand the unique history, values, and needs you and your family have tied to your land. We are deeply rooted in the community and familiar with the diverse landscapes that make our region special. Together, we can ensure your land is cared for, now and for generations to come, and are here to help you explore the best path forward.
Ways to Protect or Gift Your Land
1. Land Suitable for Permanent Protection
If your property meets our conservation priorities, we can place appropriate and permanent conservation restrictions on it. This ensures the land you love will remain protected beyond your lifetime. We can even work with you to design protective measures that will take effect in the future.
2. Real Estate Not Suited for Conservation
If your property is already developed or doesn’t meet our conservation criteria, it can still help protect land elsewhere. We can potentially sell such properties to use the proceeds to support conservation projects in our community.
Our Conservation Criteria
We prioritize land that:
Protects ecologically significant areas;
Preserves community access and recreational opportunities (when compatible with ecological values) and;
Fits within our feasibility and stewardship capacity.
Every project is evaluated based on ecological, community, and practical considerations to ensure lasting protection.
Conservation Options
Fee Simple Donation or Sale: With this simplest option, we buy or accept a donation of your land and own it outright. We may then grant a conservation easement to another conservation group, municipality, or government agency to ensure its permanent protection.
Conservation Easement: A conservation easement allows you to keep ownership of your land while voluntarily limiting certain development rights, typically the ones you never intended to use, like building a subdivision or large commercial project. You keep title and can sell, lease, or keep the public off your land if you choose. Easements are voluntary and tailored to your wishes and the unique qualities of your property. Easements can be donated (tax-deductible) or, in some cases, bought by BTLT if funding is available.
“I grew up in a family where being part of the natural world was a way to learn and help understand the cycle of life. I am forever grateful for those lessons – that have helped provide a path toward a life that feels connected and amazed.”
– Tom Settlemire member, volunteer, and former Board President
Why Work with BTLT?
Local Expertise: We know our community’s needs and landscapes inside and out.
Personalized Approach: We take time to understand your goals and craft a solution that works for you.
Lasting Commitment: We steward conserved lands forever, ensuring your wishes are honored for generations.
Planning for the Future
Whether you wish to conserve your land now or through your will, we encourage flexibility in your gift so we can decide how best to protect it in line with your intent and our conservation mission.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
We welcome a conversation with no obligations, just a chance to connect and learn more. Please email Margaret Gerber, Director of Conservation, here if you are interested in learning more about conservation options for your land or Kristi Hatrick, Executive Director, here if you would like to explore including your property in your estate planning, or call 207-729-7694 and ask for either Margaret or Kristi.