Mission Statement:

The Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) works cooperatively with landowners and communities to conserve the forests, lakes, streams, wetlands, fields, and wildlife that help define central Maine. KLT protects and stewards land permanently, offers access to conserved properties, provides opportunities for people to learn about and enjoy the natural world, and works with partners to support sustainable forestry and farming.

Established by citizens in 1988, KLT has partnered with landowners in 21 communities to conserve our landscape through land donations, fee purchases, and conservation easements. In addition to ongoing monitoring and land management, we have constructed many miles of trails on KLT land. We have developed informative brochures and maps of our properties, and interpretive signs, that encourage visitors to learn about and enjoy our region.

We offer public education programs and field trips for schools and other interested organizations, on relevant natural history, land stewardship, and conservation themes.

KLT is also a founding partner, along with the Maine Forest Service, of the Kennebec Woodland Partnership and Local Wood WORKS which promotes private and public woodland stewardship.

For more details of the organization, please view: KLT Bylaws or KLT Strategic Plan

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice

Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) encourages diversity and equity in our public service and in our workplace. The Trust prohibits any discrimination in carrying on its mission on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, or marital status. This includes all programs, projects, events, and any other related activity sponsored by KLT. KLT's commitment to diversity extends to all levels of our organization and is endorsed by our Board of Directors and Staff.

April 2023

KLT Board of Directors

KLT Statement on Wabanaki Access and Stewardship of Land 

Maine is the homeland of the Wabanaki People. Since the Laurentide ice sheet retreated over 11,000 years ago, the Wabanaki have hunted, fished, traveled through, and lived on the land that we now call Maine. Wabanaki means the people of the dawn, a term referring to the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, and Abenaki people. Despite the devastating impacts of colonization in recent centuries, the Wabanaki culture and communities remain vibrant and strong in Maine today.

The Kennebec Land Trust’s (KLT) service area in Maine is within the Abenaki homeland. “Kennebec,” from the Abenaki word kinepk or kinepkw, translates to “deep river.” KLT has a deep appreciation for the complex relationships between people and the land and the natural world itself. We recognize the Wabanaki’s long relationship with the lands that we call Maine and the ongoing and important role they have in shaping the future. We are committed to continuing to learn about tribal priorities and considering future land trust and tribal conservation projects.

 Approved April 10, 2024 KLT Board of Directors

Conservation Values:

In 2022 KLT completed an update of the Trust’s strategic conservation plan. This plan is a science-based conservation assessment of our service area that provides guidance for our future conservation projects. The assessment is based on KLT's mission and the ten values below. It also takes into account the goals in our communities’ comprehensive plans. 

Our values are:

• Significant undeveloped shore land, including especially the shores of undeveloped ponds

• Large unfragmented areas of valuable plant and wildlife habitat

• Properties that serve to connect or expand existing conservation properties

• Lands with unique or fragile ecosystems including land with rare or uncommon plants and wildlife

• Lake Islands

• Lands with strong visual qualities including unique geological features

• Lands that protect aquifers and drinking water

• Working forest land (forest land managed for timber products as well as for ecological values)

• Agricultural land

• Lands that are historically significant or have prehistoric sites

Added in 2022:

• Lands that would increase proximity to KLT trail access for local communities

• Lands that are resilient to climate change - i.e. lands that help preserve biodiversity and ecological function as the climate changes

• Lands in watersheds with high connectivity