Our Mission & Philosophy

Focus

The core strength of Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust is our focus on completing significant land protection projects and actively stewarding the conservation areas we own. Our effectiveness is a function of our “just do it,” no-frills approach and responsiveness to the diverse conservation ethics held by the landowners of our region.

Adaptability

Mount Grace’s track record demonstrates our adaptability in efficiently matching the goals of landowners and the natural resources of their land with appropriate funding sources. Solution-oriented thinking is applied to the particulars of each potential project in the confidence that an appropriate conservation option exists for each situation. Staff members strategically evaluate, then educate, advise, and make referrals in response to requests for conservation assistance.

Collaboration

Respecting organizational differences while recognizing common interests, Mount Grace effectively collaborates with a wide range of conservation agencies, organizations, and individuals. Increasing the capacity of less experienced groups helps protect more land in our region. Concentrating on the benefits of reciprocally sharing resources and knowledge, Mount Grace makes good use of opportunities that arise. Collaboration similarly characterizes staff and board interactions.

Stewardship

Mount Grace’s status as a landowner and property taxpayer gives us land stewardship options. We encourage land stewardship by demonstrating site-appropriate management of all our land, including ecologically sound forest management practices on portions of our conservation areas. We invite members and the public to experience forest stewardship firsthand through guided tours of our conservation areas before, during, and after logging operations. Our conservation areas, many of which have maintained trail systems, are open to the public for non-motorized uses.

Neighborhood land trust

Most important is that the organizational culture of the Mount Grace is compatible with the rural character of our 23-town service area. We are the neighborhood land trust, approachable by people of the region. That we are part of the local landscape, in the fabric and tradition of its social and natural communities, shows in the projects that comprise our organizational history. Bequeathed to Mount Grace in 1999, Skyfields is the farmhouse and forty acres of forests and fields that are our organizational headquarters. It is a place that exemplifies our mission, our work, and the trust of our supporters.