Barnstable Land Trust, Inc.

CONTACT:

PO Box 224
Cotuit, MA 02635
508-771-2585
www.BLT.org

Jaci Barton, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

BLT was founded in 1983, at a time of development frenzy, to preserve open spaces and natural resources of the town of Barnstable—the largest of 15 townships on Cape Cod, with 60 square miles, seven distinct villages, a year-round population of 50,000 swelling to 150,000 in summers—all on only one aquifer, its source of drinking water of fresh water feeding into the ponds and streams flowing to the coast. Now at its 25th anniversary, BLT celebrates over 100 land preservation successes, of well over 500 acres. With a staff of 5 FTE, a 15-member Board, and 100 other volunteers, in the past two years they have completed eight projects preserving 70 acres of land costing $8.5 million—including $4 million to preserve forever from development a 10-acre farm and a single 23-acre parcel. One donor put up $1.6 million to hold land for over a year until the balance could be raised from over 900 contributors. Day–to-day, BLT counsels families wishing to reduce tax burdens on how to save their land, regulatory boards and developers on setting aside open space or sensitive areas. Educating the public on the advantages to Barnstable of land conservation is a major program. Please join them, or their equivalent nearest you.

(2008: NATURE: Environment: Land)