Success Thanks to City of Portsmouth, LCHIP and 300+ Donors Who Rallied to Protect the Largest Privately Owned, Undeveloped Land in Portsmouth
SELT, working in conjunction with the City of Portsmouth and the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), and bolstered by more than 300 private donations, completed the protection of the 100-Acre Woods in Portsmouth through the purchase of a conservation easement on December 18, 2025.
This conservation outcome was also made possible by landowner Joe Cavaretta, whose family traces their Portsmouth roots several generations back. Mr. Cavaretta generously agreed to a below-market sale price, accepting $345,000 less than the conservation easement’s appraised fair market value. The property is located off Elwyn Road in Portsmouth, across from the Urban Forestry Center.
“This is a special moment,” said Brian Hart, Executive Director of SELT. “The conservation easement on the 100-Acre Woods represents the culmination of a decade-plus process and now, thanks to the City’s leadership and support from LCHIP, as well as hundreds of like-minded neighbors, this remarkable land is safeguarded forever. We are grateful to Joe Cavaretta for choosing conservation and having the patience as we raised the necessary public and private funds.”
“Preserving this 100-acre wood, which is the largest contiguous undeveloped land in the City, is an investment in our future,” said Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern. “By protecting woods and wildlife habitat, we help safeguard clean air and water, create space for passive outdoor recreation, and protects essential open space. Through our commitment to stewardship as the City grows, we continue to ensure that generations to come can enjoy the beauty and benefits of this natural space. We’re proud to work alongside the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire, whose expertise and commitment make these conservation efforts possible.”
The 100-Acre Woods includes diverse habitat and corridors for common and threatened wildlife like deer, turtles, fox, and bobcat, which can use the acreage to travel from the Berry’s Brook area to the Urban Forestry Center on Sagamore Creek. The land’s proximity to Berry’s Brook safeguards water quality and the many wetlands found on the property store flooding and capture pollutants, providing critical protection of the coastal watershed. The sheer size of the 100-Acre Woods is unusual in densely developed Portsmouth, highlighting its conservation significance as well.
SELT’s agreement includes a “right of first offer and refusal” that gives SELT (and the City, should SELT decline) the opportunity to acquire full ownership of the 100-Acre Woods. Should this opportunity arise at a future time, SELT would gather public input to gauge interest in future community uses for the property like trails or nature-based education for area youth.
“Large, undeveloped natural areas within city limits are increasingly rare, which is why LCHIP is proud to support the conservation of the 100-Acre Woods,” said Paula Bellemore, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program. “This project will give residents the opportunity to experience an intact, truly natural environment close to home —one that will offer quiet, unstructured, nature-based experiences for generations to come.”
Credit: Jerry Monkman – EcoPhotography
About SELT
SELT, the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire, is a nonprofit land trust with a mission to protect and sustain the significant lands in our communities for clean water, fresh food, outdoor recreation, healthy forests, and wildlife. Since 1980, SELT has worked in 52 communities of southeastern New Hampshire to conserve nearly 30,000 acres of land through conservation agreements and ownerships. SELT is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, confirming its commitment to meeting the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence. For more information, visit seltnh.org.
About New Hampshire’s Land and Community Heritage Investment Program
The New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) is an independent state authority providing matching grants to New Hampshire’s municipalities and non-profits, helping to preserve the state’s most important natural, cultural, and historic resources and ensure their contribution to the economy, environment, and quality of life in New Hampshire. LCHIP grants are funded by a $25 fee assessed when deeds, mortgages, and plans are recorded at the state’s ten registries of deeds.
Since 2001, LCHIP has awarded 646 grants, totaling over $68 million to nearly 350 communities and nonprofits across 210 NH communities. As of July 2025, the Program’s investment has helped to conserve more than 247,000 acres of land and rehabilitate 192 historic structures. Learn more about how LCHIP is helping to preserve and protect New Hampshire’s heritage at LCHIP.org, by following LCHIP_NH on Instagram, or LCHIPNH on Facebook.