Coalition for Buzzards Bay Receives National Award for Excellence in Land Conservation

October 5, 2007

CONTACT:

Michael Eadie, Communications Specialist

The Coalition for Buzzards Bay

(508) 999-6363, ext. 207

NEW BEDFORD, MA—The Coalition for Buzzards Bay today received a national conservation award for its success in preserving the unique landscape, clean water, and fisheries of Buzzards Bay from the sprawl that characterizes most of the Eastern Seaboard. The Coalition was selected from more than 1,700 land trusts across the country as the first recipient of the National Land Trust Excellence Award by The Land Trust Alliance of Washington, D.C.

“We were wonderfully surprised and flattered to have the work of our Bay Lands Center honored with this award. The Center which protected over 3,000 acres of critical land from the threat of development, really brought land conservation in our region to the forefront,” noted Coalition Executive Director, Mark Rasmussen. “What makes us especially proud, is the level of collaboration we have with our many watershed land trust partners.”

The Coalition’s Bay Lands Center serves to protect special places among the beaches, cranberry bogs, woods and streams that make the area special to local residents, including families, farmers and fishermen. The Coalition achieves this by bringing together private and public interests, and providing coordination and financial assistance to area land trust groups.

From 2001 to 2006 alone, the Coalition protected 3,092 acres of land vital to the protection of bay, river, and drinking water quality. Key parcels such as the Beaton Cranberry lands, the Viveiros Dairy Farm, and the Dike Creek Farm were all saved in partnership with local land trusts. These lands represent coastal wetlands, working farms, and forested wetlands. The Center has brought home the very clear message that the watershed must be protected if there is to be any hope for saving Buzzards Bay.

Rand Wentworth, President of the Land Trust Alliance, said in bestowing the award that “The Coalition for Buzzards Bay has accomplished so much, so quickly, and so collaboratively, that its program serves a model for other nonprofits around the country. The key to their fundraising and on-the-ground success was their willingness to partner with local municipalities, utilities, private interests and all-volunteer land trusts.” He added, “Together, they have preserved the quality of life and health of their community—now and forever."

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The Coalition for Buzzards Bay is a private, non-profit membership organization dedicated to the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of Buzzards Bay and its watershed. The organization works to improve the health of the Bay ecosystem for all through education, conservation, research and advocacy and is supported by more than 4,700 members.

The Land Trust Alliance promotes voluntary private land conservation to benefit communities and natural
systems and is the national convener, strategist and representative of land conservation groups across the US.