A place of refuge
By Brendan O'Neill, Executive Director, Vineyard Conservation Society, Inc. - October 25, 2007
Visitors to Martha’s Vineyard are sure to take home happy memories of the Island’s beautiful beaches, scenic roadsides, and open space. And they’ll likely assume that these picturesque places will remain as they are today when their children and grandchildren are grown. But the Island’s special character isn’t the result of accident: to the extent that it’s been protected, it’s because of the hard work of many people committed to conserving land for the benefit of all.
Photo by Susan Safford
Development pressure on the Vineyard is intense. Our population is growing seven times faster than that of the rest of the state, and less than a third of our 60,000-acre Island is permanently conserved, so the threat to the Vineyard’s rural landscapes is very real.
Growth stresses the Vineyard’s natural resources, and the fabric of the community as well. So it’s critical that we all do our part to protect open space, and concentrate growth in already settled areas, where existing structures and modest new construction can minimize environmental harm.
And that’s where the Vineyard Conservation Society comes in. As the Island’s only environmental advocacy organization, VCS works to support responsible land-use planning and fights against uncontrolled growth and development. We’re a non-profit membership organization dedicated to preserving the environment, character, and quality of life of Martha’s Vineyard through advocacy, education, and the protection of the Island’s land and waters. Won’t you join us? We want your grandchildren to experience a beautiful, rural Martha’s Vineyard, just as we do today. For more information, go to http://www.vcsmv.org.
