Orenda Wildlife Land Trust

CONTACT:

PO Box 669
West Barnstable, MA 02668
(508) 362-4798
www.orendalandtrust.org/

Elizabeth Lewis, Administrator

DESCRIPTION:

New England, historic home of the conservation movement, leads the nation in philanthropic, rather than governmental, land conservation. More than half of the private land trusts in America are located here, which bespeaks individuals and small groups assuming this public responsibility for environmental quality of life.

Orenda is an exemplary such program. Founded in 1986, it has protected over 700 acres of wildlife habitat, and today has about the same number of members. Orenda goes beyond the routine, however, in not just passively preserving its land, but in actively managing it for maximal biodiversity—the ideal of conservation. It is considered a leader in its field even beyond its own primary focus area, Cape Cod, and is frequently called upon to provide technical expertise and financial assistance to fellow conservators. Several times it has advanced emergency funds to help townspeople acquire crucial parcels when town meeting schedules impeded timely action. For a small organization, this level of excellence deserves strong support.

Orenda seeks donors of both dollars and of land, to conserve suitable habitat for wild animals.

(2000: NATURE: Biodiversity)