The Conservancy’s purpose is to protect Block Island’s natural heritage, rural character, and access to its resources.  This is accomplished primarily by preserving land as open space through acquisition or via conservation easement.  In 1972, when Captain John R. Lewis and other Island residents founded Block Island Conservancy, local land trusts were a little known idea.  The efforts of this determined group generated such a strong grass-roots support that The Nature Conservancy, an international organization with similar goals, committed its talent and expertise to Block Island projects.    Although similar in name, there is no formal affiliation between the two organizations.  They have worked together for years as partners in land protection, each complementing the strength of the other, to secure common goals.