Conservation Lands
Arlington has approximately 30 acres of Conservation Land. Most of this land is in small parcels scattered throughout the town. Who takes care of this land? The resources of Town government are limited and the responsibility is spread throughout many departments. Many of these parcels are not visible from roadways and are never subject to police patrol. Under these conditions, a sustained involvement on the part of concerned Town residents is essential for proper care of the land.
For this reason, the Arlington Conservation Commission (ACC) is sponsoring the Arlington Conservation Land Stewards (ACLS) group to provide support and guidance for citizen volunteers who will take an active role in the protection of public land. By working with this group, the effectiveness of individual actions will be multiplied several fold and the long-term continuity of stewardship efforts will be assured.
What is Land Stewardship?
The primary thrust of the stewardship program is protection: soil from erosion, plants and animals from destruction, ponds and streams from pollution, and the beauty of the land from litter and vandalism. Stewards may contribute to this protection by reporting issues and problems to the appropriate Town officials and, when safe and appropriate, speaking directly to known offenders.
A second important objective of the program is education of the public concerning the value of the land and their responsibilities toward it. Unfortunately abuses of public land often occur through ignorance or thoughtlessness. This is especially true with regard to young people. Yet, typically, many offenders become enthusiastic and responsible users of conservation land when provided with proper guidance. However land stewards should not consider themselves as enforcers, but rather as educators. Finally, land stewards may undertake actions in order to correct a situation. Such action may involve erosion control projects, clean-up campaigns, posting of regulations, and similar efforts.
Resource Links
Becoming a Conservation Land Steward
For more information about the land stewards program: E-mail the administrator, Cory Beckwith, at CBeckwith@town.arlington.ma.us Or call the office at 781-316-3012.
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