2024
Held Wednesday, October 16 in-person at Harvard Forest, Petersham, MA, and Thursday, October 17 in-person at Harvard Forest and via Zoom.
Wednesday's presentations
Prescribed burns / Caren Caljouw, Prescribed Fire Manager, DFW and Janet Milkman, Executive Director, Barnstable Land Trust
Forest reserve designation / Ken MacKenzie, Director of Natural Resources, DCR Division of Water Supply Protection
Landscape-scale forest management / Thomas Brulé, Lead, Management Forestry Program, DCR Bureau of Forestry
Invasives management / Julia Flanary, Conservation Agent, Town of Maynard
Wetlands restoration / Russell Hopping, Lead Ecologist, Coastal Ecology, The Trustees
Trail usage / Kristen Sykes, Northeast Regional Director for the National Parks Conservation Association
Habitat management / Tom Wansleben, Habitat Biologist, DFW
Deer management / Susan McCarthy, Wildlife Biologist, DFW / For deer management collab and info graphics, email Sue.
Conservation Finance Coalition’s proposed campaign / Rand Wentworth, Harvard Kennedy School
Thursday's presentations
Chat (cleaned, txt format)
Possible CR alternatives to ensure perpetuity
Deed Restrictions, Elizabeth Wroblicka
CPA options, Stuart Saginor
Overlay CRs to Add Protection to Land Trust Properties, Mark Robinson (General link includes variety of resources. He specifically spoke about Charitable Trusts at the Retreat).
Issues in accessing State funding
DER – Carrie Banks
NRCS – Rita Thibodeau
MDAR – David Viale
2023
Held Thursday, October 5 in-person at Harvard Forest, Petersham, MA with optional social hour to celebrate Bob O'Connor, and Friday, October 6 in-person at Harvard Forest and via Zoom
Schedule | Celebrate Bob O'Connor (invitation)
Thursday presentations
Creating Community through Conservation: Pawtucket Farm / Jane Calvin, Executive Director, Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust
Revitalizing Parks – Reconnecting Neighborhoods / Mark Wamsely, Conservation Director, Kestrel Land Trust
Farmland Protection Funding / David Viale, Agricultural Lands Programs Supervisor, MDAR APR program
Forests as Climate Solutions: Overview & Current Status / Stephanie Cooper, Undersecretary for Environment and Kurt Gaertner, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Policy
Talking Trees: Community Engagement in Environmental Justice Neighborhoods / Mathew Cahill, DCR Community Action Forester
For further information about getting fishing or boating access in your community, email Doug Cameron, Chief Engineer, Dept. of Fish & Game
Notes from Forests as Climate Solutions Initiative
Conservation of Forest Land and Expansion of Forest Reserves
Provision of Landowner Incentives and Business Assistance
Notes from Friday's discussions
Increasing the Pace of Conservation: A Harwich Success Story / Mike Lach, Executive Director, Harwich Conservation Trust
How can we increase the pool of willing sellers?
How can we increase project management capacity?
How to meet the moment of increased funding for farmland preservation? (unedited)