MCHT Stewardship Policies and Practices – Table of Contents with Links

Maine Coast Heritage Trust staff uses this document in its land conservation efforts.

This MCHT document is designed for internal MCHT use and is provided here as a reference or guide. Each land trust has its own mission, priorities, and organizational characteristics that should direct how it does its work and what documents it uses.

Please feel free to use the ideas, processes, and even specific text contained in this document, but be sure to tailor them for your organization. Land trusts should always consult a lawyer and exercise due diligence in cases of legal significance. MCHT does not guarantee or provide advice as to the tax consequences of any project or action.

• Download the most recent version of the full document here.
• The sections in bold, below, are available as separate downloads, and will be updated as needed.

Full Table of Contents

• Background
• Stewardship Philosophy
• Stewardship at MCHT
• Stewardship Finances
• Conservation Easements 
  • Practices
• Conservation Easement Policies
  • MCHT Conservation Easement Violations Policy (PDF)
  • MCHT Discretionary Approvals & Notifications Policy (PDF)
  • MCHT Conservation Easement Amendment Policy (PDF)
  • Policy for Holding Easements on Land Trust Preserves
• Fee Properties
  • Introduction
  • Guiding Principles
  • Core Stewardship Tasks
  • Fee Property Management Planning Process
  • Process for Developing Carrying Capacity Evaluations on MCHT Lands
  • Practice for Payment of Property Taxes
  • Double Layers of Protection on MCHT Preserves
  • Trails on MCHT Preserves
  • Bog Bridging Standards at MCHT
  • ADA Trail Assessments
  • Boundary Line Marking
  • Equipment Use and Maintenance
  • Chainsaw Operating and Maintenance Procedures
  • Boat Procedures, Training, Safety and Maintenance
  • Stewardship Project Permitting
  • Wilderness First Aid
  • Environmental Hazards (Ticks, Browntail Moth, etc.)
  • Invasive Plant Species Control
  • Herbicide Use Practices
  • Process for Using Signs
• Policies Related to Fee Lands
  • MCHT Structures Policy (PDF)
  • MCHT Utility Pole Easement and Boundary Agreement Policy (PDF)
  • MCHT Policy on Historic Sites and Artifacts on MCHT Land (PDF)
• Programming and Outreach at MCHT
  • Assessment Process to Determine Program and Activity Suitability and Priority
• Staffing
  • Onboarding Seasonal Staff
• Appendices
  • Appendix a  Stewardship Budget Template – Preserve (Word)
  • Appendix b  Stewardship Budget Template – Conservation Easement (Word)
  • Appendix c  MCHT CE Monitoring Procedures (Word)
  • Appendix d  MCHT CE Monitoring Report (Word)
  • Appendix e  First Year Management Plan Template (Word)
  • Appendix f  MCHT Management Plan Outline (Word)
  • Appendix j  ADA Trail Assessment (Word)