Advocacy

Islesboro Islands Trust acts as an environmental advocate for Islesboro and the surrounding Penobscot Bay region. As a Trustee once said, IIT is "the environmental conscience of the community." This is most often evident in a variety of island partnerships and watershed connections. IIT does occasionally engage in local and regional environmental issues of considerable controversy and importance.

Island Partnerships

IIT has supported Islesboro municipal efforts that have a conservation or environmental component since 1985, beginning that year with a grant to the Town of Islesboro for help with its comprehensive plan. Since then, IIT has helped fund or otherwise supported shellfish, groundwater protection, GIS and additional municipal planning. Working with the Islesboro Harbor Committee, IIT purchased Warren's Landing for public access to the shore. IIT continues to explore opportunities for working with island organizations and government.

Watershed Partnerships

The Penobscot Bay Land Trust Alliance, a very loose coalition of eleven land trusts in the region, began in 1991 when IIT and the Island Heritage Trust of Deer Isle called these like-minded groups together. In 1992 IIT joined with several governmental and nongovernmental organizations to form the Penobscot Bay Network, which went on to sponsor three regional conferences and other regional initiatives. In that same year, IIT began a local marine water quality monitoring effort in partnership with the state Coastal Program and the Maine Department of Marine Resources. The Penobscot Bay Alliance, an avowed grassroots regional advocacy group distinct from the Network, was created in 2003 with considerable assistance from IIT.

Island Engagement

Consistent with IIT's mission and its history of championing local planning and thoughtful land use regulation, we have actively opposed the environmentally suspect components of a Northeast Point development plan in the community. Chief concerns revolve around adverse impacts to wetlands, significant wildlife habitat, public scenic value and most especially groundwater.

Regional Engagement

IIT spearheaded a successful partnership with the Sierra Club of Maine, the Conservation Law Foundation and other Maine environmental organizations and stopped the construction of a major cargo port on Sears Island between 1989 and 1996. In 2004, IIT learned of secret state negotiations to use Sears Island for a LNG terminal and energized efforts to expose and then eliminate that threat. Subsequently, IIT has been involved in a process to permanently protect at least 600 acres of Sears Island for education, recreation and public access uses.