Protect what you love

Why conserve land?

There are several important “large” reasons to conserve land; to protect habitat for birds and wildlife, to preserve trees and other plants that trap carbon dioxide and create oxygen, helping us fight climate change, and to pass on protected, undeveloped land to future generations.

Peaks Island is about 720 acres. Since buying Battery Steele in 1995, the Peaks Island Land Preserve has brought about 150 acres, nearly 20% of the island, under its protection. One other property, the Ice Pond, was purchased by the island community with donated funds. The City of Portland gave PILP a conservation easement over the Hundred Acre Wood. The 13 other Land Preserve parcels were the gifts of Island individuals or families who wanted to protect the character of Peaks and pass it on to their children and future generations. It is the “small”, personal reasons that may be the most important to, and require the most consideration by a property owner.

Walk along a woodsy stretch of street on Peaks and imagine the woods replaced with a row of houses. Imagine that happening on several streets, and soon you can imagine Peaks Island turning into Anywhere.
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Peaks Island is a unique “neighborhood” of Portland. Reached by ferry, 3 miles out in Casco Bay, it is home to approximately 900 people year-round. Its easy access from Portland makes it a popular place; a country village only 20 minutes from Maine’s largest city. But it is a small island, about a mile by a mile and a half, and is bearing the dual pressures of popularity and development.