Our Story

Five Rivers Conservation Trust, headquartered in Concord, New Hampshire, is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving open space across the greater Capital Region of New Hampshire. This beautiful rolling landscape is drained by five waterways that converge in the Concord area – the Merrimack, Contoocook, Blackwater, Warner, and Soucook Rivers. It is a region of picturesque country villages and a delightful mix of fields and forests, farms and wetlands, and other special places. Through conservation easements and land ownership, Five Rivers is doing its part as an active land trust to help keep those places intact for future generations.

History

Founded in 1988 as Concord Conservation Trust, Five Rivers Conservation Trust adopted its present name in 2001 as a reflection of an expanded service area that today accommodates the conservation needs of seventeen communities. Working closely with a growing number of property owners who care deeply about conserving their land, Five Rivers has been pleased to experience a tremendous surge of activity in recent years. Conservation easements, which keep the land in private ownership, have proven to be a particularly popular and effective tool for ensuring that land is conserved over the long term. Our organization now serves as the legal holder of conservation easements on more than 80 properties, totaling over 5,700 acres. We also own three properties; one of 73 acres in Hopkinton; one of 24 acres in Concord; and another in Webster/Hopkinton of 477 acres. These represent a significant conservation asset for nearby residents and wildlife.

Five Rivers is committed to conserving a landscape that adds richness to the lives of both residents and visitors. We welcome your support for Five Rivers’ important mission.

Our Mission, Vision, and Values

Mission

The mission of Five Rivers Conservation Trust is to sustain healthy communities by connecting people to nature and conserving land forever.

Vision

We envision productive farms and forests, clean water, thriving wildlife habitats, and climate-resilient landscapes throughout our region. We envision communities where people access the outdoors near home, feel connected to nature, and understand and advocate for the benefits of land conservation.

Organizational Values

• Connections between Land and People – We recognize that the inter-dependence between humans and the natural world is essential to sustain healthy lives and communities.
• Collaboration – We seek partnerships with a robust network of volunteers, landowners, community members, public agencies, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions.
• Inclusion and Access – We strive to expand equitable access to the outdoors. We value the inclusion of all community members and diverse partner organizations.
• Lasting Commitment – We conserve land in service to future generations. We commit to caring for conserved lands now and forever.
• Integrity – We maintain the highest ethical standards for governance, financial management, land transactions, and responsible stewardship.

Our Towns and Rivers

The towns in our region include Belmont, Boscawen, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, Concord, Dunbarton, Gilmanton, Hillsborough, Henniker, Hopkinton, Loudon, Northfield, Pembroke, Salisbury, Warner, and Webster.

The five rivers that come together and are covered by Five Rivers Conservation Trust are the Blackwater, Contoocook, Merrimack, Soucook, and Warner.