A successful catch on Dear Meadow Pond in Chichester, NH.
A Tradition of Land Conservation
Did
you know that Yellowstone National Park was signed into law by
President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872 as our first national park?
If you have not found the time to watch the acclaimed
documentary “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” plan to
find the time while the winter days are still upon us! I
learned from this 6-hour video series that the idea of
permanently conserving land and its natural resources as a
shared public treasure was a true American invention. The
wisdom and willingness to act on such a bold legacy makes me
proud to be an American. Conservation land in our country
is a special gift from people of diverse backgrounds,
ethnicities, and political affiliations, and they all had the
common objective to set aside a valuable portion of land that
may have brought them private wealth otherwise. This
reminds us of the deeper meaning of democracy and sharing the
land as a “common wealth” for all.
Thanks to the foresight of many private landowners and
thoughtful residents managing public funds, Chichester has set
aside over 350 acres of high value natural space in town.
Like Yellowstone, this represents a legacy to our future
residents. Much of this land is classified as permanent
green space by New Hampshire State Law through an established
conservation easement. The designation of conservation
easement ensures protection from major development, yet allows
the landowner to pursue agricultural, forestry, and recreational
activities.
The
Chichester Conservation Commission annually monitors town
parcels, while privately-owned easements are managed by
qualified organizations in our region, such as the Five Rivers
Conservation Trust. In fact, when it comes to managing
conservation land, each of us has a part to play in continued
stewardship. Any contribution we make to land protection
positively impacts our community and benefits our natural
environment.
Chichester residents interested in learning more about public
conservation land in town or exploring the possibility of
establishing a conservation easement of their property are
invited to a special meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 30 at
7 pm at the Town Grange in the conference room on the lower
level.