Our Mission

We protect and restore vital lands and waters on a scale that matters.

Our Vision

We envision a world where our lands and waters are healthy and protected and where nature occupies a place of central importance in every person’s life.

History

With a legacy dating back to the 1960’s, Midcoast Conservancy was created on January 1, 2016 as a result of a merger of four small conservation organizations in Midcoast Maine - Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association, Sheepscot Wellspring Land Alliance, Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association and Hidden Valley Nature Center. The founders envisioned a new organization that, through this merger, would enhance the capacity to implement proactive targeted land and water protection and expand activities to further our conservation goals and reach a broad and diverse audience in our region through our multifaceted, 1,000-acre Hidden Valley Nature Center. Three years later a second merger with Medomak Valley Land Trust increased the  benefits of specialization of staff and the synergy of conserving and managing properties and programs across a more extensive service area.

These mergers grew out of the 12 Rivers Conservation Initiative, and Midcoast Conservancy continues to work with neighboring land trusts to increase climate resilience and the pace and scale of land conservation. In addition, we focus on river restoration and water protection activities, outdoor education and recreation, sustainable forestry, and advocacy. Harnessing together this broad range of initiatives underscores the connectedness of the natural world and human communities, thus enhancing our ability to assemble individual and community support, catalyze others to conserve healthy lands and waters, and help build resilient and vibrant communities.