Picture this: Northeast Wilderness Trust has just closed another easement on more acreage in our beloved Northeast—you might imagine land in Vermont, or perhaps Maine. This deal officially squares away more land with that precious Forever-wild status. You bask in the moment to appreciate all the months of meetings and fundraising and negotiations leading up to this success. It’s time to celebrate.
But the work is not over. In many ways, it’s just begun.
Say hello to our land stewardship team: Stewardship Manager Hannah Epstein, Northern New England Land Steward Becky Clough, and Southern New England Land Steward Joe Falconeiri, with research and reportage from Wildlands Ecologist Shelby Perry and collaboration from Seasonal Maine Land Steward George Bakajza.
While our passionate crew is quick to tell you that they have dream jobs, the projects they take on are no easy feats. The regular land care and monitoring they provide across six states is vital to each Preserve’s health and unique personality. If you’re not familiar with their duties, our land stewards mark boundaries on our Preserves and Sanctuaries, remove trash, discourage and prevent illegal vehicle trespass, advocate for land conservation at town hall meetings, foster relationships with locals, and more. The list goes on and on.