Great Bay Partner organizations collaborate on stewardship activities such as resource management, public access and restoration on protected lands. Specific management decisions for properties protected by the Great Bay Partnership are guided by both a landscape-scale management plan for the Conservation Project Area (prepared by the Partnership’s Stewardship Ecologist) and by the individual property management plans prepared by the organization owning the land or holding the easement.  The Great Bay Partnership promotes communication and collaboration among conservation landowners on stewardship and management issues, plans and actions. 

Several of the Great Bay Partnership’s Principal, Associate and Community Partners are qualified to accept land and conservation easements. These organizations and agencies take on the responsibility to be stewards of the conserved land.  Easement properties are regularly monitored to determine that the restrictions have not been violated and the natural resources remain protected.  Properties that are owned by a conservation entity are regularly monitored and managed according to acceptable resource practices.

Management Plans that guide resource management decisions are developed for lands owned by Partner organizations and agencies, and in collaboration with landowners for certain conservation easement lands. Depending on factors such as the type of ownership (ownership or easement), resource characteristics, and location, lands may be managed for multiple conservation benefits including wildlife habitat, wetland protection and restoration, woodland management, rare and endangered community protection, open space, recreation and education opportunities.

Photo by Eric Aldrich