MLTN Infoline – March 20, 2023
Registration is Open for the Maine Land Conservation Conference In-Person Gathering! | |
Please join Maine Coast Heritage Trust on May 3rd at the Samoset Resort in Rockport for an afternoon and evening with a variety of speakers, plenty of time for catching up with peers, and a healthy dose of celebration. Registration is now open! With support from our generous sponsors, including Leading Sponsors LLBean, Norway Savings Bank, and The Nature Conservancy, we can offer this exciting, information-packed program for just $75 per person, which includes a full dinner. The in-person gathering will feature speakers on a variety of topics including climate change, the Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik, the future of land stewardship, and more. Plus the 2023 Espy Land Heritage Award will be presented. This gathering will be limited to 300 participants. Register early! We can’t wait to finally be together with you this year! Whit, Jeff, and Donna | |
Support the Maine Trail Bond | |
New bills continue to surface in the Maine Legislature, including LD 1156. Sponsored by Representative Fay (Raymond) and co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of other lawmakers, this legislative proposal calls for a $30 million bond issue that would provide funds to the Bureau of Parks and Lands for the design, development, and maintenance of nonmotorized, motorized, and multi-use trails statewide. MCHT and a growing coalition of organizations are adding their names in support of the bill. If you want your organization to be listed as a supporter of the Maine Trail Bond sign up here. | |
MNRCP Updates for the 2023 Funding Round | |
Wednesday, April 5th, 2023 12:00–1:00pm Cost: FREE but must register in advance At this MLTN Lunch & Learn Zoom meeting, Bryan Emerson from The Nature Conservancy will provide an update on the Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program (MNRCP) and expectations for the upcoming 2023 funding round. Bryan will discuss program changes to encourage more restoration projects, as well as updates to the scoring criteria, funds available by region, and the expected timeline for the proposal submission and review process. Plenty of time will be allotted for questions. If you have questions you would like Bryan to answer during the webinar, please email him ahead of time (). Click here to register for this Zoom meeting. | |
Time to Renew Conservation Land Registry Accounts | |
Conservation Lands Registry accounts must be renewed annually between January 1st and March 30th. Cost: $80 per organization/account holder It’s that time of year! As per 33 MRS §479C, a holder of a conservation easement or a fee owner of land held for conservation purposes that is organized or doing business in the State shall annually report to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Renewing your account will allow you to update the Registry with newly acquired easements and fee holdings and confirm the monitoring status of your easement(s) records. You will need your organization’s Registry account username and password available to initiate and complete the renewal of your organization’s account. For online access to your account, click here. If you have questions about your organization or agency’s account or about the registration renewal process, please call (207) 287-3200. | |
Acquisition and Stewardship Peer Program | |
Applications Due: March 31, 2023 Do you find yourself asking, “How do other land trusts handle this?” You don’t have to go it alone! Join your acquisition and stewardship peers across the Eastern U.S. to expand your knowledge and skills and find a place for support — sharing your successes and seeking solutions to your challenges. The Acquisition and Stewardship Peer Program is a peer learning experience for land trust professionals and volunteers working on acquisition, stewardship and management of land and conservation easements. Eligible participants are permanent, year-round staff and volunteers who work at least 25 hours per week on acquisition or stewardship. Beginning in April 2023 and running for 15 months, this program will provide multiple ways to connect and learn with others, from training to network building to roundtable discussions focusing on various aspects of acquisition and stewardship. | |
Queerly ME Seeks Collaborators | |
Queerly ME is reaching out to Maine Land Trust Network land trusts in search of partners who would be interested in collaborating with them for their third annual summer of camping weekends servicing Maine’s LGBTQ+ community. They are already working with several MLTN organizations but are looking to expand. Queerly ME was established in 2022 as a Maine-based non-profit corporation, and prior to that, existed as a social club and photo documentary starting in May of 2020. Their mission is to support Queer visibility through ongoing photo documentary, resource accessibility through their website’s directory, and LGBTQ+ community building and connection, primarily in the outdoors, through their events programming. Queerly ME is reaching out to land trusts and campgrounds whose values align with their mission to uplift and connect the community to each other and to the outdoors. They are asking for land trusts and campgrounds to donate the use of land or lodge for two nights and three days of camping over the summer to help strengthen the LGBTQ+ community here in Maine, promote the future use of your sites, and support their organization’s early development. In addition, over that same period of time, they are interested in setting up collaborative workshops that incorporate environmental education and experiences to provide to campers, all of whom will be 21+ in age, per their camper policy. If you are interested in collaborating, sharing resources, or supporting Queerly ME’s mission, please reach out to Executive Director and Founder Kyle Warnock at the earliest convenience. | |
Considerations & Strategies for Leading Inclusive Experiences for the Blind & LV | |
Tuesday March 21st 12-2pm via Zoom Thursday March 30th 1-2:30pm via Zoom Wednesday April 5th 10-11:30am via Zoom Cost: FREE NaviTour has partnered with the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Rehab Services’ Division for the Blind & Visually Impaired to bring you free training to make your experiences accessible to who are blind and those with low vision (LV). You would be surprised at the activities they enjoy – birding, fishing, boating, hiking, skiing, rowing, fine dining, music, art, urban experiences and so much more. Come and learn how to best support people with blindness and vision loss so they can engage in your programming and experiences. We will provide an overview about visual impairments, services available in Maine, and best practices for inclusive and assistive strategies. Learn more and register here. | |
Managing the Transition from Acquisition to Stewardship | |
Thursday, March 23, 2023 2:00–3:30pm Cost: $70 for LTA members, $100 for non-members We all know that conservation is not finished when the easement is signed and recorded. No, it is an ongoing partnership between landowner and land trust that works best when it is structured as a holistic process that begins at the first conversation and carries on through annual monitoring and landowner engagement. Join stewardship experts Jesica Blake, Coastal Land Trust, and Erin Van Waus, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, as they discuss how to make the transition from project to stewardship as seamless as possible. They will cover:
Visit LTA’s website for more information. | |
Dealing with Requests for Approval and Amendment | |
Tuesday, March 28, 2023 2:00-3:30pm Cost: $70 for LTA members, $100 for non-members Instructor: Karin Marchetti, MCHT General Counsel Perpetuity is a long time, so land trusts need to be prepared when a landowner seeks to change a restriction on their conservation easement. Preparation begins with drafting a solid easement and continues through annual stewardship. Join long-time conservation attorney Karin Marchetti, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, as she lays out legal considerations for drafting amendment clauses and policies and what to do when faced with an amendment request to stay within the law and your conservation goals for the property. Here’s a look at what will be covered:
Learn more and register at LTA’s website. | |
Understanding Climate Change: A Tools and Resources Round-Up | |
Thursday, March 30, 2023 2:00–3:30pm Cost: $70 for LTA members, $100 for non-members It can be challenging for land trusts to know where to start and how to focus their efforts to help mitigate climate change. In this webinar, Kelly Watkinson, the Alliance’s Land and Climate program manager, will be joined by climate planning experts Joel Houser, Southeastfield coordinator for the Open Space Institute and Kelly Pohl, associate director of Headwaters Economics, to share resources we believe will be helpful and relevant to land trusts on their journey. Learn more and register at LTA’s website. | |
Financial Leadership for Board Members | |
Two-part series on April 20 and 27, 2023 2:00-3:15pm Cost: MANP members $45*, nonmembers $75 This course is built for board members that want a foundation in nonprofit finance in order to better serve their mission and fiduciary obligations. Whether you are a first-time board member or seasoned treasurer, this two-part series offers clarity and guidance for how to focus on what matters. Visit MANP’s website for breakdown of what’s covered in each session and registration link. Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact Donna to check on your MLTN membership status. | |
Jobs in the Conservation Sector | |
Land trusts are staffing up for the summer season and filling vacant positions. Check out recent postings below or view the full list here. Wild Acadia Coordinator – Friends of Acadia Summer Preserve Steward – Kennebec Estuary Land Trust Education & Outreach Summer Internship – Frenchman Bay Conservancy Washington County Assistant Steward (Seasonal Full Time) – Maine Coast Heritage Trust Seasonal Farm Hand and Equipment Operator, Aldermere Farm – Maine Coast Heritage Trust Director, Hidden Valley Nature Center – Midcoast Conservancy Executive Director – Friends of Cobbossee Watershed Seasonal Education and Communications Specialist – Scarborough Land Trust Development Director – Woodie Wheaton Land Trust Ten New Positions – New England Forestry Foundation Wildlands Ecology Intern, Bethel – Northeast Wilderness Trust Land Steward – Frenchman Bay Conservancy Multiple Positions – Maine Conservation Corps Executive Director – Portland Trails Seasonal Stewardship Assistant – Downeast Coastal Conservancy | |
Summer 2023 Forestry Stewardship & Career Pathways Request for Applications | |
Applications Due: 11:59pm, April 7, 2023 Through this application, the State of Maine Department of Education (Department) will provide funding to nonprofit organizations specializing in forest ecology and sustainability, wildlife habitat protection, and/or associated career experiences for Maine youth as year two of the Governor’s Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative. This statewide effort is intended to increase Maine’s Middle and High School student access to hands-on, outdoor learning experiences. The funding must be used for programs that provide opportunities for grades 6-12 students during summer 2023 and be at no cost to students and families (including transportation to and from program site(s)). Programming must provide students with opportunities to engage in authentic, interdisciplinary wildlife/forest ecology experiences in the Maine woods and be held outside as much as practical. Incorporating innovative design processes, leadership opportunities, and career development are strongly encouraged. An important component of the Department’s Whole Student framework is increasing opportunities for nature-based, experiential education while helping students recover from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding should be used to increase participation of students who have limited access to wildlife/forest ecology experiences due to geographic, financial, or other barriers. The Department anticipates making five (5) to ten (10) awards as a result of this RFA process, potentially including partial grants. The total estimated grant funds available are $1,000,000, with individual grants not exceeding $100,000. Programming must be completed by September 1, 2023. For details and instructions, visit State of Maine’s Grant RFPs and RFAs webpage and scroll to RFA# 202302033. | |