Meet the Trust | Matt Swain

Senior Stewardship Manager

How did you become interested in land conservation?

Having grown up on the North Fork, I am well aware of the changes that have taken place over the years. This was a place where farms thrived and woodlands were plentiful. I could walk down the road to the creek and eat the shellfish right out of the water. Over the years it’s become more and more developed and I worry about losing our open spaces to parking lots, shopping centers and stop-and-go traffic.

What does the stewardship department do to help?

Each year, we visit thousands of acres. We walk the land to monitor its health, and we fight legal battles when conservation easements are violated, sometimes lasting years.

What does a GIS technician do?

I help facilitate long-term conservation planning by providing key data to the Trust. I create maps and datasets to collect, manage, and analyze geographic data, to help better understand trends on Long Island, often in collaboration with townships, counties and other organizations.

Have a question for Matt? Contact him at: MSwain@PeconicLandTrust.org.