The Montgomery County Lands Trust (MCLT), which has been preserving
land in Montgomery County, Pa since 1993, has agreed to become an
affiliate of the larger Natural Lands Trust which, since 1953, has protected more than 100,000 acres of land in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.

“Our paths and missions have been intertwined for many years as both
organizations have worked to protect Montgomery County’s natural and
agricultural lands,” said Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands
Trust. “We have partnered on many projects over the years; this
affiliation will formalize that partnership and allow us to use donor
and public support even more efficiently. Our combined resources will
make both organizations stronger.”

“MCLT has always excelled in making strong, local connections. That
work will continue, but we’ll now have the support and experience of the
region’s largest and oldest conservation organization,” added Dulcie
Flaharty, executive director of MCLT. “As a land trust, we have a
perpetual obligation to the land under our protection. This affiliation
will ensure we are using resources wisely and are well positioned to
meet that obligation.”
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Under the new arrangement, Flaharty will continue to serve as
Executive Director of MCLT.  Two representatives of MCLT—current Board
Member John Harris
and long-time Director of Land Protection Jake Lea—will join Natural
Lands Trust’s Board of Trustees, which will become the governing body
for both organizations. A new committee that includes Harris, Lea, and
others associated with MCLT will explore opportunities for land
protection in the county and advise the Board of Trustees. MCLT will
continue to hold conservation easements; staff from Natural Lands Trust
will monitor these easements annually.