Case Studies of Conservation

Landscapes dominated by private ownerships have pressing conservation needs. Stakes are high in many places as conservation options are lost due to land conversion and development. Massachusetts Audubon estimates that the Commonwealth loses as much as 40 acres of open space to development on a daily basis. One strategy is for the state or federal government to buy land in fee, and this has been done successfully, resulting in the creation of the White Mountain National Forest , various wildlife refuges, national seashores, and state and national parks. Alternatively, there are many examples of conservation and land protection which are not the result of federal or state fee simple acquisition. In many cases, towns, non-governmental organizations, partnerships, and individuals respond to need and act at a smaller spatial and financial scale but with significant conservation results. Indeed, these groups and individuals can often act with greater speed and local credibility than larger public entities.

The following brief case studies illustrate real-life situations where private individuals, local groups, and governments act together resulting in conservation success. Case studies are divided into the conservation tools used to protect the land. In some cases, multiple tools were used.