photo by Midge Eliassen

Conservation equals survival. Wallace Stegner December 8, 2000 Dear Friends, Every time I leave town on increasingly clogged roads and fight my way down Route 2 or 128, I count my blessings that I live in Carlisle where the most raucous sound may be the tap, tap, tapping of a Pileated Woodpecker. Yes, conservation does equal survival, and if we want this oasis of tranquility to survive, we need to permanently protect more of our remaining open space.

The rural quality of life we all enjoy here owes much to the almost 4,800 acres of undeveloped land in town — of which almost 2,800 is permanently protected. However, that leaves 2,000 acres open to development. In the last five years alone new housing has gone up on more than 300 acres. To ensure the pastoral vistas and natural beauty of Carlisle, we must have as a goal the permanent protection of at least 1,000 additional acres.

At present land prices it would be difficult forThe town to accomplish this goal. Thus it falls to organizations like ours and other like-minded groups and individuals to encourage landowners to donate land to conservation or to place conservation restrictions on their property. Recognizing the competing needs for land, we will continue to promote creative solutions that include responsible development and the acquisition of property for municipal purposes along with the protection of open space. You’ll find more about our education and outreach programs, financial assistance to landowners working on conservation restrictions, and other CCF highlights of the year in the rest of this newsletter.

This is the one annual appeal we make to our fellow Carlisleans. So far this year CCF has spent nearly $120,000 to protect the town’s rural character (see the financial report in this newsletter for more details). To permanently conserve 1,000 additional acres will take an extraordinary effort from all of us.

We are most grateful for your past support. Would you consider doubling last year’s tax- deductible donation? Or if you have never contributed, please join us this year. It’s one of the best investments you can make! If we all work together, we can continue to enjoy the sounds of woodpeckers and count our blessings that we live in Carlisle. Thank you.

Sincerely,