Resources For Land Trusts
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Last Reviewed by MLTC: 12/11/2025
This resource provides clear definitions of the land conservation terms, agencies, programs, and legal frameworks most commonly used in Massachusetts. Conservation p...
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How to keep your land trust legal and responsible, starting out and planning for the future.
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The Land Trust Alliance works to secure public policies on a national scale that support land trusts' efforts and their conservation goals. See discussions of Tax Policy, Land Conservation Funding, Lo...
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Thank the Superhero in Our Midst: An OpEd in the Cape Cod Times describes the many benefits of conserved land for all.
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Ethical and Technical Guidelines for the Responsible Operation of a Land Trust. Revised in 2017.
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Last Reviewed by MLTC: 01/07/2026.
This publication provides an overview of how municipalities and conservation organizations have used Chapter 61, 61A, and 61B in land use planning and conservation d...
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This report uses data and methodologies to study the impact of the decline of forest cover and the increase of agriculture or urban land cover in a drinking water source drainage areas (2008)
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This Legislative Primer will serve to demystify the steps that lead to the passage of new laws and funding measures.
Strong conservation laws and programs are adopted largely as a result of broad publ...
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Last Reviewed by MLTC: 12/11/2025
A free legal referral service connecting farmers, food entrepreneurs, and food system organizations with attorneys for assistance on land access, business, and transa...
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Meet 8 organizations leading the way for a more just and whole environmental movement building climate resilience in and for their LGBTQ+ communities and beyond. Link to the article here: https://wil...
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Last Reviewed by MLTC: 3/17/2026.
Laws and case-based guidance on liability related to trees in Massachusetts, including abutter rights, encroaching branches and roots, boundary trees, and responsibil...
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About Advocacy: Guidelines for nonprofit advocacy.
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Understanding the new Massachusetts Lobbying Rules that went into effect January 1, 2010
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Frequently Asked Questions on local property tax on lands owned by land trusts for conservation purposes. Updated February 6, 2010
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Since 1991, Mass Audubon has been using the most up-to-date technology and methods available to analyze changes to land use patterns in Massachusetts every five years. The results are published in our...
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This presentation provides information on the economic benefits of land conservation and resources. Given at the 2018 Mass Land Conservation Conference
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The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup tracks the progress of legislative priorities of Mass Audubon, focusing on the protection of the nature of Massachusetts.
View Current Weekly Roundup
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Last reviewed by MLTC 11/20/2024.
This DOR response to a question on the valuation of conservation restrictions gives the reason why no set formula for reduction in taxes can be arrived at, but does ...
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The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network's Position Statement on payment in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) describes why nonprofit organizations should not be required to these. View testimony here
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The Massachusetts Attorney General documents the requirements of Directors of Public Charities for Books, Records and Reporting.
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