Years ago, while Cia Devan was living out-of-state, she realized she needed to take care of the hundreds of acres of land she still owned in the Monadnock region. Others in the community hoped that Cia might decide to forever protect the land.
More Space for Wildlife, Healthy Forests, Clean Water
In 2011, she conserved some land, donating 400 acres in Marlborough to the Monadnock Conservancy to create the Devan Preserve. This year, she gave the Conservancy her last large parcel (123 acres), enlarging the preserve to 523 acres and completing her vision of helping to maintain the wildness of this corner of the world.
Connectivity
Perhaps the most important feature of the Devan Preserve is how it connects with nearly 10,000 acres of other conservation land. “This connectivity is critical for wildlife, and increases the chance for the animals to fare better in the face of a changing climate compared to other areas,” said Land Protection Director Anne McBride. It is important to protect this land for the wildlife who call it home, which includes weasels, porcupines, otters, deer, coyotes, and more.