MLTC and its Conservation Advisory Council is pleased to announce that the inaugural Excellence in Conservation Award was presented to the Harwich Conservation Trust in recognition of their Cold Brook Eco-Restoration Project at the Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve in Harwich Port.
See press coverage of the Award in the Cape Cod Chronicle here.
Here is the press release with before and after images of the restoration.
This multiyear restoration project was undertaken in partnership with the Town of Harwich Community Preservation Committee, the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
The project successfully restored retired cranberry bogs to improve public access to the land and enhance nearly a mile of stream and over 44 acres of adjacent wetland habitat. The restoration included the addition of ponds, a salt marsh, and native plant species.
More information on the project can be found on Harwich Conservation Trust’s website.
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 completed within the past two years which 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.
Goals of the Award Program
- Lift up outstanding work of Massachusetts land trusts and their partners
- Build pride within the Massachusetts land conservation community
- Draw attention and publicity to the vital work of land trusts and their partners
- 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 the cause of land conservation in a creative and substantive way. In addition, they may serve as a replicable model for other conservation organizations in Massachusetts. 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 or partnership/collaboration involving one or more land trusts, allied non-profit organizations, and/or local, state, federal or tribal agencies.
- Nominations can be made by anyone; 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.
Stay tuned for an announcement about the 2026 Award application, coming later this summer.