2024 Annual Report
Russ Island in Stonington, a new MCHT preserve
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It’s going to take all of us
Maine is defined by remarkable lands and waters and people’s deep connections to place. Here, nature is still big and bold enough to remind us that we are part of it.
At Maine Coast Heritage Trust, we’re working to ensure this remains true by accelerating the pace and scale of conservation to sustain life, livelihoods, and these unique connections.
This requires us to think big. Not just in terms of acres—and this year you contributed to the conservation of more than 11,000 acres, a remarkable feat—but also in terms of collaboration.
If conservation efforts include more people who love and care about this place, we can accomplish so much more, and it’s vital that we do.
The 2024 annual report includes many stories that reflect the ways we’re working with individuals, communities, organizations, towns, state partners, and Wabanaki Nations to support lands, waters, people, and wildlife.
The many challenges we face—not least of which is a changing climate—require us to work together to increase Maine’s resilience.
The conservation movement has always been in a steady state of evolution and change. The road ahead will be no different. It will take all of us to ensure that the lands and waters that make Maine so special are resilient, held sacred, and remain a cherished source of connection for generations to come.
With love for this coast, gratitude for all you made possible in 2024, and excitement for all the good work to come,
Together we conserved 32 new places, totaling 11,709 acres, and monitored and cared for 46,965 acres of land.
More places conserved
The 32 new places conserved in 2024 comprise a total of 11,709 acres (that’s around twice the size of Camden Hills State Park) and include nearly 33 miles of shoreline (that’s more than the distance from Ellsworth to Milbridge).
More lands cared for
Our stewardship staff monitored and cared for a total of 46,965 acres and maintained over 106 miles of trail (that’s about the distance from Portland to Belfast) and 50 campsites.
On Mount Desert Island, we’re building on decades of conservation efforts to further protect Fresh Meadow surrounding Northeast Creek, one of the largest marsh systems on the island (and accessible via Stone Barn Farm Preserve in Bar Harbor). In 2024, we helped advance a project with partners to assess Northeast Creek’s water quality to help inform land use decisions within the watershed moving forward. P
MCHT acquired and will be transferring to Northeast Wilderness Trust more than 2,000 acres just inland from the Bold Coast, contributing to over 30,000 contiguous acres of conserved land and adding to significant habitat connectivity efforts in Washington County. PC: Ryan Malagara
With thanks to the First Baptist Church of Brooklin and donors, we acquired permanent access into Harriman Point Preserve—a 138-acre scenic peninsula in Brooklin. This addition will allow stewards to design and build a trail that can hold up better to foot traffic and weather conditions. PC: Josh Ingraham
We joined the Town of Penobscot and Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries in organizing an annual May community event at Pierce Pond to celebrate alewives and the restoration of the Bagaduce Watershed for fish passage, a multi-year, highly collaborative effort gaining national attention. Here, attendees take a look at pond life under a microscope. PC: Rooted in Light Media, Ryan Smith
In 2022, we completed a project in Trescott to secure access for commercial marine harvesting and recreation, and this year we added an accessible trail, picnic area, and parking lot. From this put in, boaters wind down a narrow, cliff-lined waterway to Haycock Harbor and Grand Manan Channel. PC: MCHT
Woodward Point Preserve, a Brunswick preserve co-managed by MCHT and Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, was the site of numerous gatherings and collaborations, including a four-season walk series hosted by Wild Seed Project (pictured here). In the fall, Brunswick high school students helped stewards plant native shrubs to improve habitat and better protect soil and the shoreline. PC: MCHT
Cathy Lookabaugh, community outreach manager for Washington County (pictured far left), teamed up with the Maine Outdoor School to offer a week-long camp for kids ages 10-13 from the Whiting area. Campers connected to the Orange River watershed through a variety of activities, including hiking, canoeing, and journaling—and the free camp will be offered in 2025 as well! PC: Hazel Stark
Over 100 people gathered at Erickson Fields Preserve in Rockport for the third annual Fall Harvest Celebration. This year’s event featured a special dedication for an art installation featuring work by Passamaquoddy artist Norma Randi and words by Penobscot and other Wabanaki citizens sharing information about Wabanaki people and connections to this region. PC: Rooted in Light Media
In Hancock County, we contributed to the Forest Society of Maine’s project to protect over 5,300 acres of forest, expanding existing conservation land to maintain a larger, unbroken region of wild and ecologically vital habitat in the headwaters of the Narraguagus River, a focus of MCHT’s Rivers Initiative. PC: Jerry Monkman of Ecophotography, courtesy of Forest Society of Maine
Darrell Newell (left), former vice chief of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk, and MCHT Associate Director of Land Protection Jacob van de Sande (right) traveled together to attend the 12th World Wilderness Congress in South Dakota in August, where Jacob presented about MCHT’s Rivers Initiative. PC: MCHT
Your support made so much possible!
Protecting marsh habitats and communities
Completed 6 priority marsh projects totaling about 130 acres.
Connecting land conservationists across Maine
At the first fully in-person Maine Land Conservation Conference since 2019, around 350 people joined us for a full slate of events, including 25 workshops.
Supporting conservation across the state
Helped raise over $56 million toward collaborative conservation efforts, on top of over $20 million in commitments made directly to MCHT.
Protecting rivers
Completed 6 new priority rivers projects across five coastal watersheds totaling about 2,975 acres.
Growing fresh food
Distributed nearly 18,000 pounds of fresh produce from Erickson Fields and over 500 pounds of ground beef from Aldermere Farm to area food assistance sites.
Securing and maintaining public access
Added approximately 1 mile of trail and maintained over 106 miles of trail along the Maine coast, while improving and securing trail access for 3 existing preserves.
More islands conserved
Acquired 2 more coastal islands, now MCHT preserves.
Bringing people closer to conservation
Coordinated over 95 events and programs for community members and conservation colleagues reaching 3,775 people and held 25 events for 268 volunteers.
Acquiring and expanding preserves
Added 6 new MCHT preserves and expanded 1 existing preserve.
4,040 donors gave to MCHT in 2024, with 672 giving for the first time. Welcome to MCHT! We’re so happy to have you. 425 donors gave monthly, which helps us be more proactive and strategic in our conservation work. We’re grateful to have 770 donors giving at The President’s Circle level, and 186 donors with individuals age 50 and under supporting this work as members of MCHT’s Next Wave.
Ensuring Maine’s extraordinary lands and waters are healthy, working, and open to all for generations to come
Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s mission is to advance the conservation of lands and waters in Maine to ensure ecological wellbeing and foster thriving communities. We are committed to conserving Maine’s iconic coastline and natural areas, supporting human connection to the lands and waters that sustain us all, promoting biodiversity and increasing climate resilience in Maine, and working in partnership with others statewide to advance conservation outcomes.
192,500
Acres Conserved with Partners
339
Islands Protected with Partners
165
Preserves Open to the Public
106
Miles of Trails to Explore
Your impact in 2024!
View a detailed, printable map (1.9 MB PDF download) of places conserved and cared for on the coast in 2024, and stats on all that donor support made possible. Or see a version of the printed annual report (2.3 MB PDF download).
Generosity in Action, 2024
We value your gift to Maine Coast Heritage Trust, and we’re making sure it goes as far as possible for the Maine coast. For every $10 MCHT spent in 2024, $9 went directly to protecting and caring for coastal lands and islands and connecting people to the coast.
Where funds come from
- Private Restricted Contributions & Grants (48%)
- Investment Draw (24%)
- Annual Fund (18%)
- Public Restricted Grants (2%)
- Other Revenue (8%)
The above represents a summary of how your generous contributions were spent during 2024 and the sources of funds applied. Our 2024 audited financial statements and Form 990 will be available later in 2025. A complete set of MCHT’s 2023 audited financial statements are available at mcht.org/financials.
Thank you, donors!
Your gifts to Maine Coast Heritage Trust contribute to a Maine with coastlines, waters, and woods full of life, where all people and communities are engaged in the outdoors and actively protect and care for the lands and waters that sustain us all.
Thank you for your ongoing support and for all you made possible in 2024.