The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization in good standing with the charitable division of the office of the Secretary of State of Maryland. ESLC has a full time staff of eighteen and a 33-member volunteer Board of Directors, which manages ESLC with the following standing committees: Development; Finance; Leadership; Land Protection; and Governance. In addition to the volunteer Board of Directors, 50 other volunteers strengthen ESLC through a Volunteer Land Steward program, and through other duties, such as administrative help, outreach, special events, and trail maintenance.
Our work is guided by a five-year strategic plan. Each year, staff and board members develop a work plan based on the goals of the strategic plan. You may read our strategic plan here.
ESLC’s IRS Form 990 and other financial information may be viewed on our Guidestar page.
ESLC was founded in 1990 as a result of widespread concern that the Eastern Shore’s important wildlife habitat and prime farmland were being consumed by sprawling development. The decision was made by the founders to preserve land on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in order to keep prime farmland in agriculture, to protect unique natural areas, and to perpetually monitor those lands to ensure that preservation is permanent. ESLC’s Land Protection Program, which helps private landowners explore and implement various preservation options, has been the core function of the Conservancy through its first decade. This toolbox of preservation options includes gift conservation easements, Maryland’s farmland preservation easement program, Maryland’s Rural Legacy easement program, county transferable development rights programs, the family farm preference from federal estate taxes, and other options and combinations.
As a result of the above efforts, ESLC has to date:
ESLC has many opportunities for volunteer activities! Man an information table at fairs and festivals, become a Volunteer Land Steward, help with office work, get out on the land and help with trail maintenance.
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