The L.M. Montgomery Land Trust wants government help to acquire land rights near the Cape Tryon lighthouse.

Farmers in the area are under pressure to sell to developers with deep pockets, said the group's chairperson Marion Reid.

"There's tremendous pressure on the farmers that own this land to sell it, because there's very little land left with those kinds of viewscapes," she said.

The trust would like to preserve 40 hectares around the Cape Tryon lighthouse, near French River. 
 
The land trust has been buying the development rights to pieces of property along the north shore for over 10 years. Landowners keep the title of their land, but agree that no development will ever occur on it — even if they sell.

Preserving the north shore will help attract tourists in the future, Reid said.
 
The cost will likely be in the hundred of thousands of dollars, Reid estimates.
 
"We have something priceless. Yes, it's going to cost some money. And we're going to need both levels of government to help us achieve our aims. But it's up to us to convince the levels of government and also convince people, Islanders, that if they value that then we have to preserve it."

The land trust has met with provincial government officials and are encouraged by what they've heard, said Reid.