Vashon Maury Island Land Trust

The mission of the Land Trust is to preserve natural ecosystems and the rural character of Vashon Maury Island. In a sense, that includes most of the island. But, in the reality of limited funding resources, the Land Trust has focused on the most critical habitat areas and unique ecosystems. The Land Trust was founded to organize the purchase of the Whispering Firs Bog near the Episcopal Church. It is a fragile and special place, unlike any other on the island. From that beginning, the Land Trust has continued to protect the island’s major ponds, salmon-bearing streams, shoreline areas, and diverse forests. While maintaining undeveloped open space is an important goal, the highest marks in the Land Trust’s ranking system are given for habitat areas that are unique on the island and help maintain biological diversity.

We work with landowners and the community to conserve land by accepting donations of land, purchasing land, negotiating private, voluntary conservation agreements on land, and stewarding and restoring land that has been preserved. Stewardship includes planting and maintaining native flora in riparian and upland areas, removal of invasive species, and building and maintaining trails.