How We Conserve: Strategic Conservation for a Changing Landscape

For 40 years, the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust (BTLT) has been working to protect the lands and waters that make our communities special like ecologically rich habitats, fertile farmland, and places that provide cultural, recreational, and educational value. Because our service area spans Brunswick, Bowdoin, and Topsham, and our resources are limited, we rely on a Strategic Conservation Plan to guide our decisions and make the greatest impact. 

What is a Strategic Conservation Plan? 

Think of it as a roadmap. A strategic conservation plan sets out the priorities, goals, and strategies for protecting land and water in our region. BTLT’s plan is a living document, shaped by both scientific data and local knowledge. It draws from state and regional studies while reflecting the unique conditions of our own landscape. 

One key feature of the plan is identifying Focus Areas—specific places with the highest conservation value aligned with BTLT’s priorities and mission where the most impact can be achieved through conservation. These Focus Areas are where our work can do the most good for wildlife, people, and future generations.

BTLT’s plan outlines five main conservation priorities: 

  • Along our rivers in the Merrymeeting Bay watershed, including the Cathance, Androscoggin, and Muddy Rivers, as well as buffering of those resources with anticipated marsh migration and higher sea levels;
  • Along coastal bays, including Maquoit and Middle Bay, as well as buffering of those resources with anticipated marsh migration and higher sea levels;
  • Protection of sandplain habitat and unfragmented forest blocks;
  • Protection of farmland, particularly those containing greater than 50% of prime farmland and those supporting active farming; and
  • Connections for recreational trails and parcels that provide cultural and economic significance, as well as historic landscapes and scenic areas that contribute to our shared sense of place.

 

Why It Matters 

Our corner of midcoast Maine holds some of the state’s most ecologically important lands, while also supporting traditional farming, forestry, and marine industries. By working strategically, and in partnership with landowners and other organizations, we can conserve entire landscapes that keep ecosystems functioning, support local economies, and enrich our lives. Together we’ve protected:
  • Crystal Spring and Dionne Farms (356 acres): Prime farmland and rare sandplain grasslands;
  • Cathance River Corridor (1,200 acres): Vital wildlife habitat and protection for Merrymeeting Bay; and
  • Maquoit Bay headwaters (300 acres): Salt marshes and water quality for one of Maine’s most productive shellfish areas.

Planning for the Future 

Climate change makes this work even more urgent. Rising seas, stronger storms, invasive species, and shifting habitats all threaten the resilience of our landscape. Tidal marshes, for example, store three to five times more carbon per acre than upland forests and buffer coastal flooding. Protecting these places, and the land that allows them to move inland, means protecting the services they provide for people and nature alike. 

How You Can Help 

Strategic conservation doesn’t stop at land protection. Stewardship and caring for the land over time is equally important. You can get involved by joining an invasive plant workshop, volunteering at a preserve, or exploring ways your own land might fit into BTLT’s conservation vision. Learn more on our website or reach out to us anytime!