Stewardship Practices

Restoration – Recreation – Resilience

The guiding principles that shape how we manage and maintain the land in our care and connect it to our community

Restoration

Reviving habitats and supporting biodiversity

Restoration is the active, hands-on management that brings the land back to its natural state by improving ecological function and supporting native species. Restoration also ensures the land remains balanced and healthy for years to come.

Actively bringing back rare and threatened habitats:

  • Meadow Management: Maintain open habitat for pollinators and grassland birds.
  • Sandplain Grassland Management: Maintaining ROW spaces to promote rare species.
  • Coastal Dune Management: Stabilizing dunes, preventing excessive erosion, and planting native grasses to protect sensitive shorelines.

Invasive species removal and planting native species:

Enhancing habitat productivity and longevity:

Person wearing gloves and sunglasses pulls weeds in a sunny, overgrown grassy area.

Recreation

Connecting people to nature through welcoming, well-maintained conservation spaces while recognizing the history of the land

In addition to preservation and management, providing recreational opportunities for the public is also a part of our mission. BCT has identified Signature Properties that we have opened to the public and/or maintain for public enjoyment. Conservation land should be celebrated, appreciated, and explored. Recreation represents our commitment to creating safe, accessible opportunities for the public to experience Brewster’s natural landscapes while appreciating historical components of the land. When people feel connected to nature, they become partners in its protection.

Trail creation and maintenance:

keeping paths safe, navigable, educational, and enjoyable.

Pocket parks and nature nooks:

Clear signage and historic recognition:

Public access planning:

A group of people hiking on a wooded trail with walking sticks on a sunny day.

Resilience

Protecting conservation land for future generations.

Resiliency is the long-term promise behind every decision we make. It focuses on safeguarding land so it can withstand environmental pressures such as climate change and ensure the health of the land well into the future. Resiliency ensures that our conservation lands remain forever protected, enduring, and ecologically strong.

Land monitoring:

Ensuring protected properties remain healthy and undisturbed.

Rare species and vernal pool reporting:

“Leave-as-is” management:

Two girls examine the forest floor with tools, surrounded by leaves and trees.

Holding the 3 Rs together: Volunteers, Staff, and Community Contributions

Our stewardship program succeeds with community-based conservation. We rely on volunteers, partners, and supporters to help carry out management strategies, workdays, and land monitoring. Our volunteers even serve on our Land Stewardship Committee to help make the decisions behind it all.