Strategic Plan

STRATEGIC PLAN 2026-2030

VISION

Maine’s land conservation^[1] community is made up of resilient, collaborative organizations working together to support healthy lands, waters, and people. Land conservation organizations are valued for their work conserving and caring for land and water, cultivating a culture of care and relationship with the land, and working in partnership with others to address community priorities. 

Maine benefits from a diversity of conserved lands that provide clean water, working lands, habitat for plants and animals, cultural access, recreation, and connection with nature. These lands bolster local economies, enrich community well-being, and foster adaptation to climate disruption.

MISSION

MLTN strengthens and connects Maine’s land conservation organizations so that they can support healthy, resilient communities.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES 

The following five guiding principles are a framework to help clarify MLTN’s core commitments and ways of working.

1. Leadership

• MLTN defines leadership as the capacity to influence and inspire action, both as individuals and as organizations.
• MLTN strives to invite, support, and practice leadership in all that we do. 

2. Service 

• We define service as a steadfast commitment to respond to the needs of the people, places, and organizations that make land conservation possible. 
• Service requires that we listen deeply, welcome diverse perspectives, learn from the past and each other, and are responsive to what we hear and learn.

3. Collaboration 

• Land conservation organizations can accomplish more together than alone, and MLTN demonstrates this by working cooperatively and encouraging collaboration among members.
• MLTN looks for opportunities to work with others, fostering partnerships across organizations, sectors, and communities to build alignment, reduce duplication, and increase effectiveness.

4. Integrity

• MLTN anchors our work in transparency, trust, and accountability.
• Trust and accountability require an honest acknowledgment of the past and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

5. Sustainability

• Sustainability is critical, both in our environment and in our organizations, to ensure relevance, adaptability and meaningful impact in perpetuity.
• MLTN aims to balance ambition with achievability, prioritizing long-term health and evolution of both the Network and its member organizations.

STRATEGIC GOALS 

The purpose of the strategic goals is to elevate the impact of land conservation by positioning MLTN as both a leader and capacity builder for Maine’s land conservation community.

Goal One: Serve with Relevance

Deliver high-value services, tools, and resources that respond to member needs while raising sector-wide capacity and helping to develop strong leaders and organizations.

Objective 1.1
Continue to deliver existing programs and services, ensuring they are regularly refined based on member feedback and needs, current trends, and shifting context and priorities. 

Objective 1.2
Ensure that MLTN information resources are current, easy to access, and responsive to member needs, and that they enhance MLTN’s strategic direction.

Objective 1.3
Increase focus on land trust organizational sustainability and resilience through new programming, board support, and help with workforce development and retention.

Objective 1.4
Increase the amount of and accessibility to funds flowing to land conservation organizations through MCHT (L.L. Bean Grants, Climate Resilience Conservation Fund, MCHT Revolving Loan Fund, etc.).

Goal Two: Lead with Innovation

Demonstrate and amplify forward-thinking land conservation strategies, offering clear examples of how Maine’s land conservation organizations can adapt and thrive. 

Objective 2.1
Advocate for and secure expanded public and philanthropic investment in Maine’s land conservation sector outside of funding programs administered by MCHT.

Objective 2.2
Compile and share a broad range of stories and approaches that inspire and generate new thinking and ideas to advance conservation and meet broader community goals.

Objective 2.3
Create opportunities for member organizations to explore critical questions in conservation and challenge the sector to experiment with and incorporate new approaches.

Objective 2.4
Collaborate to respond to community needs where there are geographic gaps in conservation coverage and develop strategic action to address them.

Goal Three: Connect to Build Community

Strengthen relationships, collaboration, and shared vision across the Network to ensure Maine’s land conservation movement achieves more together than any one group could.

Objective 3.1 
Strengthen opportunities for shared learning across the network and between conservation groups.

Objective 3.2 
Convene and facilitate the creation of a shared vision for the land conservation sector in Maine.

Objective 3.3 
Help land trusts see their work as part of a bigger whole and enhance their ability to effectively tell that story. 

Objective 3.4 
Enhance skills and facilitation processes that maximize relationship building across all gatherings.

Goal Four: Influence for Impact 

Raise the profile of land conservation in both public and private sectors, increasing recognition of the value of a strong, healthy natural environment for Maine.

Objective 4.1
Continue public policy and advocacy work in partnership with key allies.

Objective 4.2
Raise the profile of land conservation organizations with the media and general public within and outside Maine.

Objective 4.3
Build skills for effective communications and policy efforts in the conservation sector.

Objective 4.4
Increase opportunities for land conservation organizations to engage in government relations and public policy work.

Goal Five: Operate with Intention

Ensure that MLTN has the resources and capacity to achieve its mission.

Objective 5.1
Ensure that MLTN has adequate financial and human resources to carry out its work.

Objective 5.2 
Foster a culture for an engaged, connected, and impactful MLTN Steering Committee.

Objective 5.3 
Prioritize practices and ways of working that nurture a healthy work environment for MLTN staff to feel connected, supported, and inspired to facilitate effective implementation of the MLTN mission.

Objective 5.4
Incorporate practices that support continued learning and adaptation through responsive, multidirectional feedback channels.

[1] When we refer to conservation in this document, we use an expansive definition inclusive of activities that: protect & preserve, take care of & sustain, and connect people to Maine’s land, water, wildlife, & natural resources.