LOVELL — The Greater Lovell Land Trust has expanded its Kezar River focus area with the conservation of an additional 1,411 acres, bringing the total conserved area to more than 2,700 contiguous acres in Lovell and Sweden.
This latest acquisition, made possible by the purchase of land from local families connected to the region’s forests, builds on the 1,315 acres the trust conserved along the Kezar River in 2022-23. Together, these protected lands conserve seven miles of the Kezar River, a mostly forested corridor that also features steep riverside bluffs, hilltop vistas, beaver ponds, and nearly 100 acres of wetlands, creating a vital, unbroken wildlife habitat, according to a news release from Lizzy Echard, the trust’s community engagement manager.
This conservation achievement marks the largest land purchase in the trust’s history. A $1,035,000 grant from the Land for Maine’s Future Program in the early stages of fundraising was instrumental in realizing this project.
Additional key support came from a $200,000 contribution by the Open Space Institute’s Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund. Further funding came from The Nature Conservancy in Maine, the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, the Maine Community Foundation, private foundations, and contributions from community members.
The newly conserved properties provide crucial wildlife connectivity and link key conservation focus areas, including the Upper Saco River/Kezar Pond region and Caribou and Speckled Mountains within the White Mountain National Forest.
The conserved properties also provide connectivity of recreational importance. By acquiring these lands, GLLT has protected essential segments of local snowmobile and ATV trail networks. These trails, maintained in partnership with local clubs, will continue to provide year-round recreation.
The new conservation property will be open to the public for a variety of outdoor activities. Starting this year, the trust will begin developing trailhead parking areas, hiking trails, and other access infrastructure to enhance public enjoyment. A snowshoe sneak peek is set for 1 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at Kezar River South.
For more information or to register for the showshoe, visit gllt.org.
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