Residents and visitors treasure the Vineyard's open spaces - beautiful vistas of ocean meadow and woods; scenic roadsides and rural atmosphere. Since the 1970s; the enormous popularity of the Vineyard has crowded roads and public beaches. Rapid and in many cases uncontrolled development has encroached on, these peaceflul landscapes. A shift in the quality of life on the Vineyard is occurring. Our organizations are committed to working together to preserve the very essence of the Island we all love and its open natural spaces.

Martha's Vineyard has a long tradition of land conservation efforts. As the population has doubled over a period of less than 25 years, efforts to preserve the natural landscape have been shared among towns, the Commonwealth, organizations and private citizens. The Conservation Partnership of Martha's Vineyard was formed in the summer of 1997 to bring together conservation organizations on the Island for añ accelerated effort to save more land while the opportunity still exists.

The five organizations that make up the Conservation Partnership are:

• Vineyard Conservation Society
• The Trustees of Reservations
• Sheriff's Meadow Foundation
• The Nature Conservancy
• Martha's Vineyard Land Bank

As a Partnership, we are working together to preserve suitable parcels of every kind, size and description. Parcels that expand and connect existing conservation land, parcels that protect and expand important natural communities, parcels that safeguard drinking water supplies, agricultural soils, and recreatlonal opportunities are especially valuable. Partnership organizations regularly consult on how to manage our conservation lands in a responsible way to preserve natural attributes, habitat and beauty.

Everyone concerned about land conservation on the Vineyard has options for contributing to this important effort.

• Citizens of Vineyard towns can let their town officials and state legislators know they care about the future of the land and should support preservation of open space by writing letters or speaking out at Town Meetings and other town forums, and electing officials who share their conservation concerns.

• Landowners may donate land to a conservation group or grant Conservation Restrictions (also cailed Conservation Easements) to permanently conserve land which then remains in private ownership. A conservation restriction allows the landowner to continue to live on the land and to pass it along to heirs while restricting certain rights, such as future development. Other conservation actions can include a sale of land to a conservation organization at less than market price, which results in a tax benefit to the seller. Other options are a retained life estate, gift of land by will, and a spectrum of other land-saving arrangements.

  Donations of land, money or Conservation Restrictions may all have favorable tax implications for donors. Most impOrtantly, all of these arrangements can be individually tailored to suit the donor's needs and desires. More details on landowners' conservation options are provided in an information sheet available through the Conservation Partnership.

• Businesses may support conservation efforts through the choices they make about running their business and through active support of the conservation organizations on the Vineyard. Open space pays for business as well as residents and visitors.

• Visitors may contribute to the conservation effort on the Vineyard by using fewer resources, "living lightly on the land" by, for example, using public transit, and by donating to any of the conservation organizations.
  

• Everyone who cares about the future of this special place can speak out in favor of conservation actions and support the Conservation Partnership, its membèr organizations and their activities. We stánd ready to answer your questions and provide, details, if you are interested. For more information about the Conservation Partnership and conservatiOn efforts On the Vineyard, and how you might help in these efforts, please call 508-693-9588.

The member organizations of the Conservation Partnership, and a brief description of their interests, are given below:

Vineyard Conservation Society is dedicated to protecting the environment of Martha's Vineyard. VCS has made possible conservation of land in all the Island towns, although it generally does not hold and manage land once it is preserved. Founded in 1965, VCS is active in land conservation, education and advocacy. VCS is a member-supported organization working with landowners, other environmental groups, and public officials to permanently conserve land, guide growth, promote educational awareness, and encourage public participation. Over the course of four decades, VCS has played a vigorous leadership role in establishing cooperative conservation efforts across the Island, opposing ill-conceived development proposals, preserving working farms and safeguarding the Vineyard's rural character. Phone: 5O8-693~9588.

The Trustees of Reservations, a Massachusetts-wide organization founded in 1891, preserves for public use and enjoyment properties of exceptional scenic, ecological and historic interest and works with landowners, towns and other organizations to protect special places across the state. It currently owns and manages over 1,800 acres on the Vineyard. The Trustees also protects 1,700 acres of Vineyard land under Conservation Restrictions. Phone: 508-693-7662.

Sheriff's Meadow Foundation was founded in 1959 to conserve, administer and manage natural habitats for wildlife and all other lands that represent the beautiful, rural, natural character of Martha's Vineyard. The Foundation owns and manages a total of 1,734 acres and holds conservation restrictions on an additional 364 acres. Phone: 508-693-5207.

The Nature Conservancy was founded in 1951 and operates worldwide. Its purpose is to preserve the plants animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on earth by protecting lands and waters they neèd to survive. The Conservancy works proactively with landowners to provide conservation, tax and estate planning. On the Vineyard, the Conservancy manages 1,784 acres of land and uses scientific research to set priorities for land protection, to manage land and to assist partner organizations. Phone: 508-693-6287.

The Martha's Vineyard Land Bank Commission, established in 1986, acquires land for a variety of community purposes, ranging from low-impact passive public recreation to aesthetics and wildlife conservation. A two percent fee levied on most Vineyard land transactions funds it. The Land Bank has preserved over 1200 acres since its inception. The Martha's Vineyard Land Bank publishes a large map identifying all the publicly accessible conservation lands on the Vineyard. It is avaiIablein all Town Halls, Town Libraries and the Wakeman Conservation Center. Phone: 508-627-7141.

Several other organizations on Martha's Vineyard contribute to conservation in their individual and various ways.

The organizations that make up the Conservation Partnership are dedicated to preserving the future of this Island through the preservation of our natural assets: our wildlife habitats, farms and scenic vistas.

If you wish to make a tax-deductible contribution, please send a check to the ConservatiOn Partnership of Martha's Vineyard at this address:

The Conservation Partnership of Martha's Vineyard
Wakeman Conservation Center
RR1 Box 319X
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

Telephone: 508-693-9558
Fax: 508-693-0683