EEA has posted draft regulations to govern implementation of An Act Preserving Open Space in the Commonwealth (often referred to as the Public Lands Protection Act, or PLPA). There is a short comment period, with comments due by 5:00 pm Wednesday, January 22. Comments will also be accepted at a hybrid in-person and virtual public hearing at 1:00 pm Tuesday, December 17. Click the title of this summary to register for the hearing and see the draft regs and additional information.
To help those considering submitting comments, MLTC is hosting a discussion about the draft regs on Monday, December 16 at 2:00 pm. Click the title of this summary to get the registration link.
Each year, The Trustees presents the Charles Eliot Award to recognize an individual or organization that has made a profound and lasting impact on conservation in Massachusetts. MLTC is deeply honored to be named the 2024 recipient of this prestigious award on behalf of our dedicated staff, Board, and Advisory Council, both past and present. We look forward to continuing our work alongside land trusts and our partners to protect the natural landscapes across Massachusetts. Thank you again to The Trustees for this distinguished recognition.
via Zoom
3-part series: Jan. 16, 23, 30, 4 - 5 p.m. EXCEPT Jan. 23 is 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
This three-part series will provide information, tools, and peer support to help land trusts understand how they could manage lands under their direct stewardship in ways that mitigate and/or adapt to current and projected climate change impacts. The goal is to provide examples and manageable, actionable suggestions that may already be in their toolboxes to build confidence to tackle the challenge.
The focus for the second meeting of this popular Land Protection networking group will be "How land conservation departments onboard and train new land conservation staff". This call is a forum for Land Protection staff and Board to learn from each other, so bring your questions and share your experiences. Conversation is fluid, so other topics of mutual interest may also be discussed. Part of MLTC's Stronger Together networking series. This call will not be recorded.
The focus of this quarter's call will be a look back on 2024 fundraising successes & challenges, and to share plans for 2025. We'll also confirm interest in meeting in person over lunch at the Land Conservation Conference on Friday, March 21 at UMass Amherst.
This is a crash course on the basics of insurance coverage, including policy must-haves and coverage considerations. The session will include ample Q&A time. This free webinar for all New England land trusts is made possible by a partnership of Land Trust Alliance and MLTC, and generous funders of the Land Trust Alliance including an anonymous foundation. To register for the event, you'll need to log in or make a free account. Please reach out to Mariah at mfogg@lta.org for any support or questions.
The topic this quarter will be "Database Tools & Management - What Are Organizations Using? / How Happy are You". Be ready to share your experiences and ask questions, so we can learn from each other. As the conversation is often fluid, other topics of mutual interest may be discussed. Part of MLTC's Stronger Together networking program. This call will not be recorded.
Join this inaugural networking session for Land Protection staff, where the focus will be: Landowner Outreach, Including Landowner Workshops. This call is a forum for Land Protection staff to learn from each other, so bring your questions and share your experiences. Conversation in similar affinity groups is fluid, so other topics of mutual interest may also be discussed. Part of MLTC's Stronger Together networking series for staff and Board members. This call will not be recorded.
A strong volunteer program is a backbone of small-staffed land trusts. What makes a successful program? How to build it, and equally, how to maintain it? Insights, experiences, and questions from attending Zoomers are welcome. Conversation is fluid, so other topics of mutual interest may also be discussed. Part of MLTC's Stronger Together networking series for staff and Board members. This call will not be recorded.
