Barnstable Land Trust Inc.

The mission of the Barnstable Land Trust is to protect the special places people love for present and future generations. Our role in supporting our vision is as a leader in collaborative land conservation and stewardship, community engagement, and advocacy for our natural and cultural resources.

Our vision is of a Cape Cod that sustains and enhances its natural landscapes, waters, and character. Critical areas at risk are protected. There is significant and growing community access to natural lands and waterways that strengthens the conservation ethic among Cape Cod residents and visitors. Our community values and supports long-term land conservation efforts.

Goal One: To grow our network of protected lands to support healthy people, healthy communities, and a healthy environment.

Goal Two: To ensure that BLT’s conservation investments reflect the values and priorities of a strongly connected community.

Goal Three: To ensure that we have the financial resources we need to achieve our mission and sustain special protected places in our community.

Barnstable Land Trust pays for staff to attend professional development related to their work, including native plant studies, pesticide applicators license, wetlands delineation, and facilitating groups in times of change.

As a trailblazer in collaborative land preservation, stewardship, community engagement, and advocacy, BLT is not just an entity that protects land; we are a catalyst for positive change. Leveraging our expertise, we actively contribute to local decision-making processes, emphasizing the interconnectedness of ecosystems, community health, well-being, and overall quality of life. In addition to protecting land for conservation, BLT works to engage our community across multiple sectors. We partner with arts organizations, youth programs, local businesses, public schools, non-profit organizations and Town departments. We expect the list of multi-sector partners to grow and expand in 2024. BLT stands as a cornerstone for sustainable and systemic change, boasting a 40-year legacy of dedicated conservation efforts. Our work goes beyond preserving land; it catalyzes a ripple effect of positive impact on our environment and community. BLT's steadfast commitment has resulted in the preservation of over 25% of Barnstable's land area. This includes safeguarding fragile and vulnerable landscapes, securing vital ecosystems that contribute to water quality protection, flood control, air pollution removal, stormwater management, and the preservation of plant and animal habitats. Currently, BLT is at the forefront of a collaborative effort to redefine the treatment of recreational lands. This strategic initiative recognizes the importance of golf courses, ballfields, camps, and other open spaces in the broader context of conservation. We are also collaborating with other land trusts to host a conference to open conversations about indigenous populations and land. We want to make sure that the message of preserving Cape Cod's natural assets resonates widely, creating a shared understanding of the significance of our work connecting people on and with the land we conserve. BLT's mission is not just about preserving land; it's about catalyzing enduring change for generations to come.