A Critical Land Protection Opportunity
When you’re out on the land, admiring wide-open vistas, it’s easy to assume it will always look that way. Scenic beauty can feel permanent. But unless land is permanently protected, there’s no guarantee it won’t someday be subdivided, paved, or built upon. A conservation restriction doesn’t change how a hillside looks today — it simply ensures that it will remain intact tomorrow.
A map of the Nelson Highlands properties (outlined in red) and nearby conservation lands. (Click image for larger view.)
That is the case with 655 acres of privately owned upland forest, forming the northerly viewshed of Lake Nubanusit. For the past half-century, this land has remained unspoiled because it has been responsibly managed for forestry. But without permanent protection, its future is uncertain.
Situated at the very heart of the SuperSanctuary, this forest — encompassing the highlands of Holt Hill and Rollstone Mountain — has long been a top conservation priority. The property includes a significant portion of Lake Nubanusit’s watershed, and its conservation will help protect Nubanusit’s extraordinary water quality.
Under the proposed agreement, the Forest Society will own the land, keeping it open for careful timber harvesting and passive public recreation. The Harris Center will hold a conservation easement to ensure these protections remain in place forever.
The opportunity is real — but so is the deadline. The landowners have set a March 31 deadline for the Forest Society and the Harris Center to raise $1,750,000. If we cannot meet that goal, the property may be sold on the open market. The Harris Center’s share of this effort is $600,000, and we have $265,000 left to raise.
The forest above Lake Nubanusit still looks wild today. With your help, it will remain that way tomorrow.
Please support the Harris Center’s effort to protect this land for the benefit of the community and local wildlife by making a donation below. If you have questions, please contact Eric Masterson by emailing masterson (at) harriscenter (dot) org.
