Attending the awards ceremony were: David Trahan, President of the Lincoln County Fish and Game Association and Liz Petruska, Edward Fisher, and Caren Clark from MVLT.

MVLT Named Landowner of the Year

MVLT was recognized in October for its generosity in opening up its lands to outdoor enthusiasts.  The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife named MVLT as one of six recipients of the Landowner of the Year Award.

The land trust was nominated by the Lincoln County Fish and Game Association for providing local residents with space for outdoor recreation that will continue to be available in perpetuity.  “The support of the Fish and Game Association means a lot to us,” said Liz Petruska, Executive Director.  “Our partnership with them has been extremely rewarding – from our Hooked on Fishing event, to survival workshops, to counting alewives, we have enjoyed working together to promote a common stewardship ethic and to encourage people to use the wonderful recreational resources that are in their backyards.“

Land trusts are often thought of just in terms of land conservation, but our efforts are not designed just to protect natural resources, but also to provide opportunities to connect people to their local landscape.  “More than 90 percent of Maine’s land is privately owned, and the generosity of landowners to allow access to hunters, anglers, snowmobilers and ATV riders, as well as other enthusiasts, is something to be applauded,” said Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.  MVLT is proud to support a wide range of land uses on our preserves – from hiking and hunting, to snowmobiling and horseback riding, to birding and even geocaching more recently.  It is an honor to be recognized for this award and we will work hard to make sure that the land trust lives up to what it represents.