Suburban sprawl, primarily due to new residential development, can destroy native habitats and displace native species. However, there are many ways in which developments can preserve or establish assemblages of native species that can at least partially compensate for the loss of habitat inflicted by the new development. Developments that do this successfully can be described as ecologically sustainable residential communities.

For the past 25 years, Spring Island has served as a model of an ecologically sustainable residential community. The Spring Island Trust is at the heart of this model. As the environmental steward of the island, the Spring Island Trust provides a check and balance ensuring a culture of conservation is perpetuated as the community matures and evolves. An important aspect of the conservation culture nurtured by the Spring Island Trust is the communitys responsibility to support regional conservation efforts that protect the landscape that surrounds Spring Island, in addition to participating in those that occur within the community. The presence of the Spring Island Trust as a force for conservation and education within and beyond Spring Island has served as a regional example in multiple case studies looking at sustainable and ecologically-friendly development plans.