Until recently, ASA has primarily used conservation easements as our strategy for protecting land, with almost all our land conserved through this method.
However, we recognize that innovation is crucial for effective conservation efforts, and we are actively exploring different land protection models. While we believe that easements will continue to be at the core of our conservation work, we have begun diversifying our strategy; most notably, through the acquisition of the Cambridge Community Forest (CCF).
A key part of the ASA mission is to connect people to the land. We believe this connection is essential to fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the working lands that families conserve. While people who live or work on farms have a natural connection to the land, many others who live in rural communities do not.
In fact, a study by the Nature of Americans, an initiative to understand and connect Americans to nature, revealed that as reliance on the natural world for livelihoods has declined, people have become increasingly distracted and disconnected from nature. The same study found that while disconnected, people long for a connection to nature but cite a lack of convenient and welcoming natural areas to explore and engage. This is where community conservation comes in.
ASA believes that community lands—working lands that are accessible to the public and meet the needs of the community—can help inspire more appreciation for and support of conservation work. By connecting people to the land, we hope to promote the benefits of nature to society and foster a greater understanding of the importance of conserving working lands.
Be sure to follow ASA on social media and visit our website for updates on new program offerings throughout the year!
