During a visit to the Vineyard this summer, Trustees of Reservations head Katie Theoharides said the nonprofit plans to accelerate the pace of conservation in the face of federal funding cuts.
Two years ago, Katie Theoharides was brought in to provide a steady hand to the Trustees of Reservations after the nonprofit’s previous CEO stepped down after only eight months. Now, two years later, Ms. Theoharides is ready to tackle one of her first major projects for the nonprofit, which has seven properties on the Vineyard.
The Trustees, one of the largest private conservation groups in the state, is preparing for the launch of a new five-year plan that will accelerate the pace of conservation in the face of federal funding cuts. Entitled For Everyone, Forever, the project aims to acquire 12,000 more acres of conservation land statewide.
“It really is an existential moment for environmental protection,” Ms. Theoharides said during an interview earlier this month on the porch of the Trustees Long Point cottage in West Tisbury. “There’s some significant hits, but I think what this does is make work at the local and state level even more important.”
The Trustees own seven properties on the Island, including Long Point.
The Trustees own seven properties on the Island, including Long Point.
Ms. Theoharides had been visiting the Vineyard to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the FARM Institute in Katama. With her children off at camp, she sat down with the Gazette to talk about her goals and discuss some of the issues and legal wranglings over Trustees properties that have taken place in recent years, in particular the Chappaquiddick beaches and oversand vehicle trails managed by the nonprofit.
Ms. Theoharides has a long history with the Trustees, long before leading the nonprofit. Growing up in Western Massachusetts, she previously worked for the Hilltown Land Trust, a Trustees-affiliated organization with properties at the foot of the Berkshires.
“The town I grew up in was like 3,000 people, so pretty small town,” she said. “I think that experience of being outside, being in a pretty heavily farmed community, being near agriculture and having a lot of time to play in the woods and streams behind my house, really connected me to this kind of work.”
She’s had a varied career, starting out as a field scientist before falling in love with land conservation and policy. She leveraged that love while working at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, where she advocated for federal farming bills, and at the Defenders of Wildlife, a national environmental conservation group.
She also served as the former state secretary of energy and environmental affairs during the Baker administration. During her time in the state government, she was focused on the transition into renewable energy, while also making the outdoors accessible to people who sought refuge outside in the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ms. Theoharides decided to come back to the Trustees, after a stint in the offshore wind industry, in part because of its mission to preserve properties at the statewide level.
“We’re statewide, but we’re very locally focused,” she said. “We protect these special places that are so meaningful to the public.”
On the Island, the Trustees own the Long Point Wildlife Refuge, the Brickyard in Chilmark, Menemsha Hills, the FARM Institute and the Chappaquiddick properties of Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge, Mytoi Garden and Wasque.
The Chappaquiddick Trustees' beaches have been a contentious topic on the Vineyard.
The Chappaquiddick Trustees' beaches have been a contentious topic on the Vineyard.
The Chappy properties have been subject to intense scrutiny from neighbors, fishermen and beachgoers, and have resulted in several lawsuits and other challenges with the state. Some have criticized the Trustees management of the fragile ecosystem, and have said that long-term relationships with residents have broken down in recent years.
“I think anywhere where people are passionate about the land and the use of that land, there are bound to be conflicts,” Ms. Theoharides said. “I think these ones are particularly complex in some ways, and perhaps just a bit more fraught.”
The Trustees, which currently has an application before Edgartown officials for its Cape Pogue activities, has been meeting with representatives and attorneys with the planning board and conservation commission in closed-door session to come up with a potential agreement to move forward.
“We’re just very grateful for the town working with us, and coming to the table even when the issues are tough,” Ms. Theoharides said.
As that plays out, the Trustees is undertaking other changes at its properties. The nonprofit now offers Wampanoag tribe members free access to all of its properties, and has hired a structural engineer to size up the teetering 45-foot chimney at the Brickyard that serves as a reminder of the Island’s brickmaking legacy.
Its places such as these make the job worth it, Ms. Theoharides said.
“I think actually the Vineyard really encapsulates a lot of what we try to do statewide,” she said. “We protect these iconic, beautiful and ecologically rich places where we can provide amazing experiences to people.”
Comments
It’s deeply disappointing
Aquinnah Martha’s VineyardIt’s deeply disappointing that this article ignores the critical role of Alexis Morris, of the Chappaquiddick Wampanoag Tribe, who’s spent years consulting with the Trustees to make access for both Aquinnah and Chappaquiddick Wampanoags possible. Erasing her consulting work and leaving out Chappaquiddick access in this article is unacceptable. The Trustees didn’t make this choice on their own, and they certainly didn’t do it quickly… please give credit where it’s due, and stop erasing history in real time.
Why isn’t it listed that
Island residentWhy isn’t it listed that Chappaquiddick tribal members also get access when the trustees properties mentioned are on their lands..???
Who made it possible for
K. JenningsWho made it possible for local Wampanoag community to get this free access? ( It’s wonderful) but I have a hard time believing it was trustees who made this decision on their own..? Editors… can you elaborate on this?
It’s known to myself and
B.W. EdgartownIt’s known to myself and other chappy residents that Mrs. Alexis of chappy tribe has been working on this for quite some time and really disappointed not to see her listed here and thanked for her work in achieving this milestone for her community!
I would like to see an edit
S. Garvin MVI would like to see an edit made to this artice based on not including Chappaquiddick tribal members as recipients of the access that the trustees have granted. Leaving them out is active erasure. Please edit this article immediately to properly reflect the peoples whos land we are on... Tired of this erasure and the lack of local news properly covering the Wampanoag community's success accurately.
We are writing to make sure
R. williams EdgartownWe are writing to make sure Mrs. Alexis Moreis of Chacppaquidick tribe is cited for her efforts on this land access success that she ensured for both tribal nations on this island. The trustees most certainly did not mak this decision themselves, and we would like an honest edit of who helped make this possible. I will follow up with an email to the editor.
Thank you.
To the Editor,
Rory MoreisTo the Editor,
I am writing to correct an inaccuracy in your recent article regarding access to ancestral lands. The Wampanoag Tribe of Chappaquiddick (https://www.chappaquiddickwampanoagtribe.org) continues to be the ancestral stewards of Chappaquiddick and present day Edgartown for 12,000 years and has advocated for the 67 years of Trustees management for protection of the ecosystem and access to our coastal beaches. Wampanoag Tribe of Chappaquiddick has had a verbal agreement with The Trustees for complimentary access to Island properties at the time including Norton, which has not always been seamless. We would like to thank Islands Directors Darci Schofield, Sam Hart and Chris Kennedy for their advocacy.
It is important to clarify that properties such as Wasque, East Beach, part of Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge, and Long Point are all Chappaquiddick Wampanoag ancestral homelands. After significant leadership changes within The Trustees organization, our Tribal Council Member & THPO, Alexis Moreis, actively pushed in consultation meetings including with Trustees CEO Theoharides for a written agreement to protect our Indigenous rights and sustenance rights, for free membership access to properties, and request for land to be returned by the Trustees of Reservations. Her continuous advocacy for the Wampanoag Tribe of Chappaquiddick and inclusion of the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, urging all conservation groups to consult with both Tribes has been ongoing. Beyond receiving marine wildlife stranding aid from the Aquinnah Tribe's Natural Resource Dept, the Trustees' response to not having previously consulted with the Federal Tribe around access was due to the organization not holding properties in Aquinnah. Ms. Moreis again pushed for the Trustees to develop community relations with both Tribes and acknowledge the entire Island as Wampanoag lands and advocated against the privatization of Island beaches and common lands. Thereafter the Trustees hired a private Tribal planning consultant.
The Trustees did not initiate consultation with either Wampanoag Tribe in regards to land access or land returns. To truly build honorable relations with First Nations, it is crucial to credit the diligent work of our Wampanoag people rather than taking credit for efforts that were not their own for publicity. The Island Wampanoag community expects more than beach passes from "The Trustees, one of the largest private conservation groups in the state" (Genter). Let's start with including the Wampanoag Tribe of Chappaquiddick in all land management meetings between the Town, the Trustees and all MV land organizations.
Sincerely,
Rory Moreis, Island Born Wampanoag
Thank you for this truth and
MargThank you for this truth and insight. I think many Islander and tourists alike will benefit deeply from this info you shared.
Blessings!
The Wampanoag Tribe of
Malaika EdgartownThe Wampanoag Tribe of Chappaquiddick has worked for decades building relationships with organizations that hold access to their ancestral lands, maintaining unwritten agreements with The Trustees. Alexis Moreis (THPO and Council Member) has been instrumental in spearheading these efforts, advocating for all Wampanoag people on the vineyard—this includes both the Wampanoag Tribe of Chappaquiddick and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)—to secure their rightful access.
Let’s not only ensure that proper credit is given to the original stewards of this Island, but that we collectively and continuously challenge the very definition of “Island Conservation” by asking one critical question: How does this benefit the Island Wampanoag community?
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