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For Immediate Release
October 1, 2003

Contact:
Cameron Gale
(207) 775-7555
E-mail: brandconservation@hotmail.com

Jason Wolfe
(207) 883-6083

Universal Symbol for Conservation Easements Unveiled by Maine Company

Unique signage system aimed at identifying, raising awareness and educating the public about conservation easements

PORTLAND, Maine (October 1, 2003) - A Maine company has developed a universal signage system to identify land in conservation, nature preserves and public greenways - an endeavor new to the conservation movement.

At the core of this effort is a unique symbol aimed at increasing the public's appreciation, acceptance and recognition of conservation easements. Presently, no commonly recognized symbol exists.

Conservation easements - permanent deed restrictions that prevent harmful land uses - often are either not posted as such, or are posted with antagonistic Keep Out or No Trespassing signs that overshadow the positive message of the conservation objective, said Cameron Gale, who authored both the concept and symbol.

Gale said he wanted to design a memorable symbol that would reach beyond the typical "nature" emblem to represent conservation easements in a more unique and meaningful way. The result is an intertwined infinity icon and Celtic knot, which stand for commitment, continuity and eternity.

"A uniform, universal signage system has never been attempted before," Gale said. "Members of land trusts and other conservation groups we've spoken to so far have told us that this is something that is long overdue."

BrandConservation, a Portland, Maine-based company, is behind the effort to institute a uniform signage system for conservation easements. Already, with limited exposure, new signs containing the symbol have been developed to mark conservation easements in Florida, Maine, Michigan, New York, and Virginia.

BrandConservation is expected to generate more widespread interest when the project is unveiled later this month in Sacramento, where more than 1,700 people associated with land conservation are gathering for the annual Land Trust Alliance Rally.

A conservation easement is a restriction placed on a piece of property to protect the resources associated with the parcel. The easement, voluntarily sold or donated by the landowner, is a legally binding agreement that prohibits certain types of development on the land. Since the easement is generally granted in perpetuity, most are held by an outside party to ensure monitoring and enforcement of the terms.

A universal signage system is viewed as a valuable tool to educate and inform the public about easements.

The individual signs are designed by BrandConservation and manufactured in Manlius, N.Y., by Voss Signs, L.L.C., one of the conservation industry's leading signage manufacturers whose accounts comprise a large variety of established national and private conservation organizations.

The signs are modular in design. A property's sign would include the universal conservation easement symbol and various remaining components customized to fit the needs of the user, thus communicating specific messages. For example, a sign could include the name of the conservation easement and/or its stewards, client-supplied or custom logos designed by BrandConservation, habitat designation icons, use rights and other restrictions in text or icon form.

"Communication through one universal symbol is simple, informative, direct, affordable and memorable," Gale said. "Once the public is conditioned to recognize the symbol for what it represents, whenever they see it, they will have more appreciation for the land it designates."

The basic system incorporates 7.5-inch square access point signs and 4-inch square repeaters for boundary posting. The signs are available in a variety of popular substrates and gauges, Gale said.

"Much of what we're trying to accomplish here has to do with education," he added. "There are a lot of misperceptions about the purpose and public value of conservation easements. We think a universal signage system will serve to help people better understand and recognize the breadth of the conservation effort and the underlying need to protect open space and natural settings, which are finite resources."

For more information, visit BrandConservation at www.brandconservation.com

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