Fast Facts Introduction to Ausbon Sargent

Our Mission:
Our mission is to preserve and protect the rural character of the Mt. Kearsarge/Lake Sunapee region for public benefit through:

  • Conservation agreements that protect the farms, forest, streams and wetlands – the special undeveloped “open” spaces;
     
  • Stewardship of our conserved land, now and forever;
     
  • Partnerships with private individuals, local governments and like-minded organizations sharing expertise and efforts in protecting land;
     
  • Education of the people of our communities about the importance to them of protecting our environment and its ecosystems through land conservation.

We accomplish our mission by:

  • Encouraging sound management and stewardship of land;
     
  • Easing the burden of local government by encouraging land preservation through non-regulatory means;
     
  • Promoting partnerships with government and conservation organizations to protect land for the public's benefit;
     
  • Working with individual landowners to protect land.

Land protection methods:

  • Conservation easements;
     
  • Land donations;
     
  • Acquire land for resale with restrictions added;
     
  • Purchase or bargain sale;
     
  • Life estates;
     
  • Donations of land or conservation easements by will.

What is a conservation easement?

  • Permanent restrictions on land use as a result of a legal agreement between landowner and Ausbon Sargent;
     
  • The landowner retains ownership to property;
     
  • The landowner can sell or bequeath property;
     
  • Terms of the easement are flexible & tailored to the property and landowner’s particular situation;
     
  • Restrictions become part of the deed and bind all future owners;
     
  • Easements must provide a public benefit (not necessarily public access);
     
  • The Ausbon Sargent is the enforcement agency.

Profile of the Organization:

  • Total acres protected =  6,491 acres, 106 properties including over 4,000 feet frontage on Lake Sunapee;
     
  • Area of operation = Mt. Kearsarge/Lake Sunapee region including Andover, Bradford, Danbury, Grantham, Goshen, Newbury, New London, Springfield, Sunapee, Sutton, Wilmot, and Warner;
     
  • Founded in 1987;
     
  • 1000 memberships;
     
  • Operated by a volunteer board of trustees;
  • Full-time executive director, 2 full-time land protection specialists and four supporting staff members;
     
  • 100+ volunteers provide year round support for easement monitoring and committee work;
     
  • Funded through membership, special events & grants;
     
  • Private, non-profit, 501(C)(3) organization.