Joe Taft

Conservation Easement Steward, MDI Region

Department: Stewardship
Region: Mount Desert Island
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Joe comes to MCHT with a variety of experiences in the environmental field and a love of Maine’s diverse landscapes. He received a BS in Wildlife Biology from the University of Vermont and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law and Graduate School. Prior to joining MCHT, Joe’s professional experiences ranged from conducting shorebird surveys to representing state agency programs focused on aquatic invasive species management and coastal water quality as it relates to public health.

Joe has worked at MCHT since 2022.

On land conservation: To me, land conservation is about balancing human activity with sustainability. Land development may seem inevitable, but I believe land conservation has a great capacity to protect the natural systems that are so important to humans, wildlife, and water quality. I am most thankful for land conservation while birding on conservation lands in Maine or accessing Maine’s waters.  

On the job: Joe is responsible for monitoring conservation easements held by MCHT in the Mount Desert Island Region. Joe monitors conservation easements and provides guidance to island and mainland landowners from the Penobscot Bay to Gouldsboro.