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Mass Audubon Publishes Conservation Restriction Stewardship Manual

Download the Stewardship Manual

In March 2006, Mass Audubon published the first-ever guide to stewardship of conservation restrictions in Massachusetts. The "Massachusetts Conservation Restriction Stewardship Manual" is intended to enhance the protection of more than 75,000 acres of land permanently protected by conservation restrictions held by municipalities and private land conservation organizations across the Commonwealth. The Manual includes detailed "how to" information on developing a comprehensive conservation restriction stewardship program and addresses topics such as preparing baseline documentation reports, regular monitoring, researching land records, and funding stewardship programs. Also included are sample documents and a detailed technical appendix.

The Manual has been endorsed by the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) and called "an important and timely reference guide" by Bernie McHugh, Coordinator of the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition (MLTC).

Thanks to the financial support of Mass Audubon and the Lincoln Conservation Land Trust, a complimentary copy of this manual will be distributed to every municipal Conservation Commission and Land Trust in Massachusetts at the annual conference of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions and the Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference, both in March. In addition, the document will be available for free downloading at Mass Audubon's website www.massaudubon.org/land and the website of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (www.maccweb.org). Copies may also be purchased from either organization. To purchase a copy, contact the Audubon Shop at 781-259-2214 or audubonshop@massaudubon.org, or visit MACC's web site at www.maccweb.org.

For more information, please contact John Coolidge, Stewardship Specialist at 781-259-2156 or jcoolidge@massaudubon.org.

Mass Audubon offers assistance with conservation restriction baseline documentation and monitoring through our Ecological Extension Service. For more information, contact Jeff Collins at 781-259-2159 or jcollins@massaudubon.org.

Download the Massachusetts Conservation Restriction Stewardship Manual*

• Complete Manual (PDF 8M)
• Cover Page (PDF 2.5M)
• Chapters 1-2 (PDF 687K)
• Chapters 3-4 (PDF 1.5M)
• Chapter 5 (PDF 3M)
• Chapter 6 (PDF 255K)
• Appendix A (PDF 574K)
• Appendix B-1 (PDF 1.5M)
• Appendix B-2 (PDF 1.9 M)
• Appendix B-3 (PDF 2.9M)
• Appendix C-D (PDF 117K)

*Requires a PDF Reader. Download Adobe Reader.