About the Award
The Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition Excellence in Conservation Award is presented by MLTC’s Conservation Advisory Council to a land trust or collaboration of conservation partners in recognition of a specific project that demonstrates excellence in any aspect of land conservation work, advances the cause of land conservation in a creative and substantive way, and/or serves as an inspiration for other conservation organizations in Massachusetts.
The award is presented during the plenary session of the annual Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference.
Application deadline for the 2026 Award: Sunday, November 30, 2025
Application form
Goals of the Award Program
- Lift up and draw publicity to the vital work of land trusts and their partners
- Build pride within the Massachusetts land conservation community
- Highlight potentially replicable models for future land conservation efforts
Nominated projects should demonstrate excellence in one or more aspects of land conservation work (including land protection, stewardship, community programs or public policy) and advance conservation in a creative and substantive way. Ways that a project may be defined as meeting these criteria include, but are not limited to:
- Exhibiting significant size, scope or complexity
- Demonstrating substantial and lasting impact
- Addressing timely opportunities or threats facing the cause of land conservation
- Involving creative or innovative approaches or partnerships
- Having the potential to inspire other conservation efforts in Massachusetts
Nomination Guidelines
- Nomination forms will be available online or by contacting admin@massland.org.
- Nominees can be a land trust or a partnership/collaboration involving at least one land trust working with allied non-profit organizations, and/or local, state, federal or tribal agencies.
- Organizations that have been recognized with this Award in the previous five years (whether singly or as part of a collaboration) are kindly requested to refrain from submitting a nomination.
- Nominations can be made by anyone and self-nominations are allowed.
- Nominated projects must have been substantially completed in the two-year period preceding the nomination deadline.
- MLTC staff, Board or CAC members who are affiliated with a nominated organization will recuse themselves from the Award evaluation process.
- The Award Committee reserves the right to conduct due diligence to ensure that nominees meet MLTC’s high standards of ethical conduct.