The need . . .

Cape Cod, perhaps more than any other area in New England, is an area where development can outstrip resources. The Cape can lose not only that natural ambience from which visitors can sense our nation’s past, but also the very groundwater necessary to sustain its population.

Bourne, as the first town on the Cape, is particularly susceptible to over development, which could transform this scenic, seven-village town into a suburb of Providence, New Bedford, or Boston.

The element basic to mitigating the impact of developmental pressure is space—open space.

Who we are . . .

We are a group of local citizens who coalesced in May 1980 as the Bourne Conservation Trust (BCT). Our objective is to preserve the natural advantages of the town through private resources. The BCT is a private, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, broad-based in its support, town-wide in its effort, and staffed by volunteers.

The challenge . . .

Cape Cod represents a natural, as well as a national, heritage. Bourne, as its gateway community, is experiencing all the problems attendant to over-development. Open areas—the legacy of the land—are disappearing. We residents can measure that change from many aspects: the diminished sightings of once-plentiful wild life, the degradation of our ponds, and the many concerns about our finite water supply.

And our response . . .

Many complex remedies have been advanced to meet this challenge. Ours is a straight-line response: buy parcels of land, keep them in their natural state, and make most areas available for the pleasure of all.

We have a proven track record . . .

Since our inception, we have purchased or received as donations over 200 acres in the Town of Bourne. These lands include: a marshland, an island wildlife sanctuary with beach walking, areas fronting on ponds and cranberry bogs, woodlands, uplands and wetlands, scenic overlooks, a historic railroad depot, and working farm lands. Where feasible, we are linking together purchases to form a “greenway,” cutting networks of trails to be enjoyed by hikers and nature lovers. We have involved schoolchildren in our effort, publishing their contributions in our newsletters and making a wetland (Broad Swamp) available as an outdoor classroom. We agree with former Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas who suggests that “an unmolested pond may be worth more to the high school class in biology than any number of textbooks.”

The value of these sequestered lands to the community is immeasurable and will only increase over time.