New symbol for conservation designed Logo created to educate public about purposes, value of land easements

PORTLAND – A new company has created a symbol for conservation that it hopes will become as well-known as the circular arrow logo that has become the universal symbol for recycling.

BrandConservation has developed the symbol – an intertwined infinity icon and Celtic knot – to educate the public about the purpose and worth of land conservation easements.

Cameron Gale, founder of the 8-month-old company, said the symbol is already in use in Michigan and is being considered by the Maine Audubon Society.

“The hope is that over time, the public will see the symbol and they’ll know it’s for an easement,” Gale said. “This will not happen in the blink of an eye.”

Signs with the conservation symbol are now in use on 923 acres owned by the Nature Conservancy in Michigan, which has an easement owned by another land trust.

Tina Hall, with the Nature Conservancy in Michigan, said the signs are an educational tool, informing recreational users and neighboring landowners about land that is protected.

“It tells them that land is always going to look like that. They know in 100 years, that view is going to stay,” Hall said.

Maine Audubon is having some mock signs made by BrandConservation that may update its 3,000 or so boundary signs placed around the 3,000 acres it owns in Maine, according to Bob Savage, Maine Audubon director of property management.

“They’re worthwhile and I think they’ll catch on,” Savage said. “It’s important for people to recognize land is being conserved and [that they] identify who’s doing that.”

Gale said most conservation organizations have some sort of boundary sign, but they do not always explain why land is protected. He said his signs would provide an explanation on why land posted is protected.