The Monadnock Conservancy

TO WORK WITH COMMUNITIES AND LANDOWNERS TO CONSERVE THE NATURAL RESOURCES, WILD AND WORKING LANDS, RURAL CHARACTER, AND SCENIC BEAUTY OF THE MONADNOCK REGION.

LAND PROTECTION THE ORGANIZATION ACQUIRED THE 132-ACRE GERTRUDE RUSSELL FOREST FROM THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE GREEN AND WHITE MOUNTAINS. THE PUBLIC WILL BENEFIT FROM THE PROTECTION OF A PORTION OF THE REGIONAL MONADNOCK-SUNAPEE GREENWAY TRAIL, GUARANTEEING CONTINUED PUBLIC ACCESS, AND THE PROTECTION OF IMPORTANT WILDLIFE HABITAT AND SHORELINES ON TWO WATER BODIES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO COMPLETED AN AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO ADD 5.6 ACRES TO THE EASEMENT, AND IT INITIATED AN AMENDMENT TO ANOTHER CONSERVATION EASEMENT THAT WILL RESULT IN THE ADDITION OF FIVE PARCELS TOTALING 98 ACRES. THE ORGANIZATION INITIATED EIGHT NEW CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROJECTS TOTALING 783 ACRES, AND IT CONTINUED WORK ON NUMEROUS PREVIOUSLY INITIATED EASEMENT PROJECTS, INCLUDING FIVE EASEMENTS TOTALLING 808 ACRES THAT ARE EXPECTED TO CLOSE IN 2022. WHEN COMPLETED, THESE EASEMENTS WILL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC BENEFITS PROTECTION OF SIGNIFICANT WILDLIFE HABITAT AS IDENTIFIED BY OUR STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN EXPANSION OF EXISTING CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O

CONSERVATION EASEMENT STEWARDSHIP THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED AND COORDINATED 17 VOLUNTEERS AND FIVE STAFF MEMBERS TO MONITOR 225 CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROPERTIES TOTALING MORE THAN 19,000 ACRES. THE STAFF CONTINUED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR DIGITAL RECORD-KEEPING PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND SUPPORTED VOLUNTEERS IN TRANSITIONING TO DIGITAL REPORTING FOR ANNUAL EASEMENT MONITORING. STAFF UPDATED BASELINE DOCUMENTATION REPORTS FOR TWO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT WERE AMENDED TO ADD MORE THAN 100 ACRES. STAFF CONTINUED WORK TO RESOLVE A SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION EASEMENT VIOLATION AND WORKED TO AMEND A CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO EXTINGUISH A RESERVED RIGHT TO WITHDRAW ACREAGE FROM THE EASEMENT. STAFF WORKED WITH LANDOWNERS TO RESOLVE ONE NEW CONSERVATION EASEMENT VIOLATION RELATED TO LARGE EQUIPMENT AND BUILDING MATERIALS ACCUMULATING ON THE PROTECTED LAND AND AT LEAST SIX MINOR ISSUES, INCLUDING MINOR ENCROACHMENTS AND LESSER INSTANCES OF PROHIBITED EQUIPMENT STORAGE. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH THE ORGANIZATION PUBLISHED AN ANNUAL REPORT, TWO SEMIANNUAL PRINT NEWSLETTERS, AND MONTHLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS ABOUT LAND CONSERVATION IN SOUTHWESTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS ENGAGED MORE THAN 1,500 FOLLOWERS ON SUCH TOPICS AS THE REGIONS NATURAL HISTORY, STAFF ACTIVITIES ON THE LAND, AND UPCOMING EVENTS. FREE, PUBLIC OUTREACH EVENTS INCLUDED ONE VIRTUAL HIKE, ONE IN-PERSON HIKE, A BICYCLE TOUR, AN INTRODUCTION TO ICE FISHING, A VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB, A VIRTUAL STORYTELLING EVENT, AND THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION FEATURING AN ABENAKI CHIEF AS GUEST SPEAKER.