Скачать или смотреть Mark Robinson on The Natural Heritage of the Cape & Islands and Tourism

At the Center for Responsible's 2025 World Tourism Forum on Cape Cod, featured speaker Mark Robinson, Executive Director of the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts, provided an overview of Cape Cod’s natural heritage, conservation history, and land-use challenges as part of the event's them 'Sustainable Transformation'.

Drawing on nearly 40 years of professional experience in land conservation and a lifetime connection to Cape Cod, Robinson dives into:

The ecological systems that define Cape Cod
The region’s historical trajectory from Wampanoag stewardship through colonization, agricultural and maritime economies, economic decline, and its later emergence as a car-dependent tourist destination.
The impacts of suburban sprawl, septic-based development, and short-term rentals on water quality, housing distribution, and community well-being.
The evolution of local and regional conservation efforts
Emerging approaches in eco-restoration and “conservation plus” models, such as cranberry bog restoration, tidal flow restoration projects (e.g., the Herring River), and projects that combine land protection with affordable housing in partnership with organizations like Habitat for Humanity.

The presentation concludes with reflections on how local governance, civic engagement, and visitor behavior shape the long-term sustainability of Cape Cod as both a place to live and a place to visit.