Stay this way

Some historians believe those stones were placed there centuries ago by Wampanoag fishermen, who assembled them into a wall to form a fish weir. To this day, the barrier stays underwater part of the time, and resurfaces when the tide goes out, trapping fish inside the small creek until high tide returns.

That old stone wall, and the salt marshes and coastal forest surrounding it, are part of a newly created nature preserve in East Wareham. Located at the end of the peninsula known as Great Neck, the 300-acre swath is the newest - and one of the biggest - coastal conservation areas in the region. And much of this preserve is being opened to the public for the first time.

Nature lovers and tree huggers are hailing this as a major victory: It’s not often that such a large chunk of undeveloped oceanfront property is set aside for conservation in perpetuity. And it’s just the latest in a number of land deals that have been brokered in recent months in the name of preserving nature in Massachusetts.

Today’s real estate market may be tough for realtors and builders, but for conservationists this is prime time. Bolstered by tax incentives, government funding, and increased public awareness of conservation efforts, they are racing to secure as much property as they can before land-hungry developers return in better economic times.

“Selling to developers has been less feasible in recent years, due to the banks’ tightening credit and the collapse of the real estate market,’’ said Scott MacFaden, land protection specialist for the Wildlands Trust, a nonprofit based in Duxbury.

“Conservation groups have been able to position themselves as a pretty good alternative to landowners who are looking to sell.’’

Several other parcels in Southeastern Massachusetts have also come under protection in recent months. They include 230 acres along the Taunton River in Bridgewater (acquired through a partnership between the Wildlands Trust and the state Department of Fish and Game); 158 acres in Plymouth and Wareham (purchased by the state from A.D. Makepeace Co. for $3.4 million); and 22 acres in Mattapoisett, 34.5 acres in Rochester, and 70 acres in Plymouth and Wareham (all acquired by the state from various owners).

The 300 acres at Great Neck aside, John H. Browning, president of the Wareham Land Trust, sees more opportunities to protect land in his hometown.

“I think we’re busier now and have more possible conservation projects on our table than ever before. It’s hard to keep up with them,’’ he said. “To some extent, it’s because of the economic situation. People have land and need money. That clearly increases the opportunities.’’

Since it was established in 2001, the Wareham Land Trust, one of four partners in the Great Neck initiative, has been trying to drum up support for land conservation. Its efforts appear to be working: In 2000, only 3.6 percent of the town’s open space was protected from development; today, 11 percent of Wareham’s land is preserved.

The group engages in “public information campaigns, newsletters, constant activity with the town and government organizations,’’ said Browning.

Once people learn about the issue, he said, “rarely do you find anybody in town opposed to it. It’s a matter of getting the information out there and putting it in front of the town.’’

A significant tool that has helped increase Wareham’s open space is the Community Preservation Act, which the town adopted in April 2002. It allows the town to collect a 3 percent property tax surcharge to fund preservation projects that, in turn, receive matching funds from the state.

Wareham has used CPA funds to finance a number of acquisitions. Most recently, Wareham Town Meeting voted on Oct. 27 to allocate $320,000 in such funds to help pay for the property at Great Neck, a piece of the town’s shoreline that has been on the radar of local preservationists for years, according to Browning.

“We all looked upon that as the one last great big place on the coast that exists in its natural condition,’’ he said.

The initiative to turn the area into a nature preserve was a team effort led by the Wareham Land Trust, the town, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

The preserve is made up of a patchwork of properties; Mass Audubon, which owns two parcels totaling 92 of the 300 acres, will create and maintain a network of trails to be open next year.

The development rights to the 300 acres were estimated to be worth more than $10 million. Securing those rights involved a number of benefactors. The town of Wareham allotted $400,000 to place conservation restrictions on a 20-acre parcel owned by the Barker family, and $320,000 to acquire development rights on land owned by Mass Audubon.

In addition to the town funding, more than $1 million was raised by Mass Audubon, and the project was awarded a $1.98 million federal grant this fall. Private landowners agreed to give away development rights on more than 60 acres for free.

The biggest piece - totaling about 100 acres - is owned by the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, based in Fairhaven.

Known as “the seminary’’ to locals, the Catholic order has owned about 119 acres on Great Neck since 1941, and for decades has operated a retreat facility at the site. After it turned down several offers for its land from real estate developers, local conservation groups stepped in and negotiated a permanent conservation restriction in which the congregation agreed to preserve most of the parcel, for $3.6 million.

“I’m thrilled,’’ said the Rev. Stan Kolasa, who started his career at the retreat 46 years ago. “We never wanted the property to be anything but holy ground. For many of us in the order, this has been an extraordinary place of nature, so we’re delighted that this is formalized.’’

The congregation will continue to own the land and run the retreat on about 19 acres, but the rest will become part of the preserve.

“The property can be bought and sold, but it can never be further developed, regardless of who owns it,’’ said Bob Wilber, director of land acquisition and protection for Mass Audubon.

Over the next year, the nonprofit plans to create and maintain 2.75 miles of walking trails through the property. Until those trails are created, public access is mostly limited to a trail that runs along the Barker property.

A parking area will soon be built off Stockton Shortcut, and signs will be installed to guide visitors along the trails through undisturbed habitats.

“This is one of the largest coastal land protection projects in Massachusetts history,’’ said Wilber. “This is probably the last time that we’ll see something of this size, fronting the ocean, being protected.’’

Emily Sweeney can be reached at esweeney@globe.com.