MassWildlife Conservation Restriction stewardship information for landowners

A Conservation Restriction (sometimes called a Wildlife Conservation Restriction or Wildlife Conservation Easement) is a legal agreement that protects natural resources on private property. Landowners can find resources for managing their property and conserving important resources.

MassWildlife manages over 220,000 acres of land to benefit the public and protect wildlife and wildlife habitat. These lands also provide a public benefit since they are free and open to enjoy for walking, hiking, hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife viewing. MassWildlife is committed to the stewardship responsibilities that come with conserving land. We look forward to working with landowners like you on the careful management of your property to protect valued, diverse resources for the benefit of current and future generations. Use the resources on this page to learn about options for managing your land.

Contact MassWildlife’s Stewardship staff

MassWildlife Stewardship biologists are available to discuss your protected land. Please contact us with your questions or concerns.
District Stewardship Specialists:

• Central District, West Boylston—Scott Kemp, 508-835-3607
• Connecticut Valley District, Belchertown—Jennifer Jones, 413-323-7632
• Northeast District, Ayer—Travis Drudi, 978-772-2145
• Southeast District, Buzzards Bay—Aaron Best, 508-759-3406
• Western District, Dalton—Jacob Morris-Siegel, 413-684-1646

Find your district

Forest management

The majority of MassWildlife Conservation Restriction lands contain a wealth of forest resources. Often, a landowner’s goals and objectives for forest management can be coupled with techniques that improve or enhance wildlife habitat values.

• Forest Regeneration Handbook
  This handbook was developed to provide an appreciation of how our forests developed and an understanding of forest regeneration concepts, including the importance of disturbance.
• Forest Stewardship - Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
  This educational non-regulatory program is designed to help private and public landowners protect the inherent ecosystem values of their forest. Recognizing the public benefits of good stewardship on private forestlands, the Massachusetts Forest Stewardship Program (MFSP) supports and encourages private forest landowners' efforts to manage, enjoy, and care for their land using a long-term approach.
• Managing Grasslands, Shrublands, and Young Forest Habitats for Wildlife: A Guide for the Northeast
  This guide contains chapters on using management tools like prescribed fire and herbicides along with habitat management case studies.
• Forest Tax Program Chapter 61
  Current use programs give preferential tax treatment to landowners who maintain their property as open space for timber production, agriculture, or recreation.

Managing land for wildlife

Decisions landowners make about managing their land has a direct influence on wildlife and wildlife habitat. Learn more about land management practices that benefit a variety of wildlife.

• MassWildlife's Habitat Management Grant Program
  This program provides assistance to private and municipal owners of protected lands to enhance wildlife habitat, while promoting public access for outdoor recreation.

Promoting biological diversity

Many lands placed under a Conservation Restriction are vital to the protection of plants and animals that, due to their declining populations, are of conservation concern. This includes rare and endangered species that are protected by state law.

• Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan
  This Plan presents the 570 Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Commonwealth, the 24 types of habitat that support these species, and the actions necessary to conserve them.
• Forestry Conservation Management Practices for Rare Species
  Find specific, science-based guidelines for conservation of rare species during forest harvesting.
• MassWildlife's Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program
  Contact NHESP with questions about whether your property contains rare or endangered species.
• Landowner's Guide to New England Cottontail Habitat Management

Grassland management

Wide expanses of grassland habitat are rare in Massachusetts, and so are the wildlife species that depend on them. Learn more about how to manage and even restore this important component of our natural heritage.

• Mowing Advisory Guidelines for Turtle Habitat: Pastures, Successional Fields, and Hayfields
• Managing Grasslands, Shrublands, and Young Forest Habitats for Wildlife: A Guide for the Northeast
  This guide contains chapters on using management tools like prescribed fire and herbicides along with habitat management case studies.

Climate resilience

The protections afforded by a Conservation Restriction lend resiliency to a changing climate.

• Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool

Best management practices

Various state agencies have developed Best Management Practices for land management activities that are required and/or recommended in order to protect wildlife, wetlands, and other important natural resources. 

• Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Best Management Practices for Controlling Invasive Plants
• American Woodcock: Habitat Best Management Practices for the Northeast
• Trustees of Reservations: Ecological Management of Grasslands - Guidelines for Managers

Historic resource protection

From stone walls and historic foundations to ancient or more recent artifacts, features of our cultural past can be found throughout the Massachusetts landscape. Their protection is also an important element of the Conservation Restriction properties.

• Massachusetts Historical Commission
  The Massachusetts Historical Commission is responsible for reviewing projects for impacts to historic and archaeological properties.