Open Space/Land Conservation/Management

Since 1961, the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions has provided educational materials and other assistance to municipal Conservation Commissions.

The first powers given to Commissions in the Conservation Commission Act focused on "promotion and development of natural resources...and protection of watershed resources." Under these powers, Commissions could undertake planning, acquiring, and managing open space, and encouraging and monitoring conservation and agricultural preservation restrictions.

Today, the reality is that many Conservation Commissions spend the bulk of their time hearing and conditioning wetlands cases. MACC has been responsive to the needs of Conservation Commissions in their efforts to fulfill this vital responsibility. However, inadequate time is left for open space protection and land management. To allow Commissions to carry out their regulatory responsibilities without losing sight of their original mandate, many Commissions have set up open space, land management and other committees involving those members (and associate members) most interested in the Commission's original mandate.

LAND CONSERVATION OPTIONS

The following land conservation options are designed to assist with land acquisition and land protection planning. They are based on material from the document Partners for Cape Cod Pathways, 1996. (http://www.compact.cape.com/) Additional guidance from an attorney, tax advisor, and/or professionals familiar with these concepts is helpful and recommended. For example purposes only, Cape Cod land trusts have been referenced to illustrate many of the concepts. Municipal conservation commissions, open space committees, community preservation committees, and other conservation-minded agencies can implement these same land protection ideas.

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