Massland eNews
The Newsletter of the Massachusetts Land Conservation Community

March 16, 2023, Volume 21, Number 3

Member Spotlight

71-Acres Win for Biodiversity in Royalston

Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust recently protected 71 acres of forest in Royalston bordering the Millers River Wildlife Management Area, thereby expanding areas of significant unfragmented and high-quality habitat. Owned and enjoyed by the Magee family for over 50 years, Mount Grace worked with owner Rosemary Magee to ensure the land remains undeveloped wildlife habitat. Significantly, the majority of this land's ecosystem has been identified as "most likely to retain its biodiversity as the climate changes" by the UMass Conservation Assessment and Prioritization System (CAPS). Most of the land has also been identified as a wildlife corridor that connects core habitats. Thanks to the generosity of Rosemary Magee and the support of Mount Grace members, this landscape will remain intact, and will provide not only valuable habitat for wildlife, but also many benefits and inspiration for future generations. Read more.

Consider supporting MLTC's efforts to inform, connect, and advocate for the Massachusetts land conservation community. Your monthly or one-time tax-deductible donation of any amount is appreciated. Thank you! Donate here.

Donate

MLTC News and Programs

A beautiful late-winter view of the Nashua River from Groton Conservation Trust's Lawrence Woods. #OurMassLandTrusts

Register for the 2023 Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference

Saturday, March 25, in person at Worcester Technical High School, with field trips around the state on Friday, April 28,. Featuring 25 sessions, a keynote panel on the synergies between housing and conservation interests, and eight field trips taking place across the state, the conference offers something for the beginner through to the advanced practitioner. Join us! Conference portal. Schedule. Register.

Pre-Conference Sponsor Talks March 21 & March 22

Even if you’re not attending the conference, you’re welcome to attend online presentations from our lead sponsors. Remaining talks are:

Tuesday, March 21 | 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Help Design Mass Audubon's Conservation Assist Program: An Open Discussion and Conversation | Mass Audubon. Free registration here.

Wednesday, March 22 | 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. | 50 Years of CRs – Lessons Learned | The Trustees. Free registration here.

A huge Thank You to the generous sponsors who are supporting the conference!

Lead

Patron

Policy

MLTC Sets Policy Priorities

With a new state legislative session underway, MLTC’s policy committee has agreed upon a limited list of legislative priorities driven by two strategic objectives:

Increase state investment in land conservation and in the work of land trusts, and
Maximize the integrity and natural resource value of protected lands as well as unprotected lands of significant conservation value.

A top priority from last session remains at the top of our list this year: An Act increasing the conservation land tax credit (H.2839, S.1940). This bill would raise the annual cap under the Conservation Land Tax Credit (CLTC) for donations of conservation land from $2 million to $5 million per year. It would also amend the definition of a "public or private conservation agency" that can receive qualifying donations to include land trusts. Read more about this bill here. While we await a hearing on the bill, we encourage you to reach out to your state legislators to encourage them to sign on as a co-sponsor. Read more about our other priorities here at Policy | MassLand.

Healy Administration Fills Key Positions

EEA Secretary Rebecca L. Tepper announced a newly created position to elevate environmental justice as a part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s agenda. María Belén Power of GreenRoots will join the administration as the Undersecretary of Environmental Justice & Equity. Read more. Meanwhile, Stephanie Cooper has been named as Undersecretary for the Environment. She is a former Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and most recently served as Acting Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). While appointments for Commissioner of the DCR and Department of Fish and Game were still pending as of March 14, Ashley Randle has been named Commissioner of the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), and Bonnie Heiple has been appointed Commissioner of DEP. Randle, who grew up on her family’s dairy farm in South Deerfield, has been Deputy Commissioner of MDAR for the past four years. Heiple joins DEP from the law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, where she practiced environmental and energy law nationally.

News

Federal Grants Aim to Reknit Neighborhoods

Boston's Chinatown neighborhood and the city of North Adams were recently awarded U.S. Department of Transportation grants designed to help communities overcome adverse impacts of highways and rail tracks. Extension of I-90 in the early 1960s displaced hundreds of Chinese American families through land seizure and demolition. Boston will receive $1.8 million to develop plans for constructing an open space across the open-cut highway and prepare design guidelines to link the surrounding streets and facilities. North Adams received $750,000 to study the removal of a Route 2 overpass that constitutes a significant barrier to community connectivity. The study will examine potential alternatives including redesign and elimination of the overpass, returning Route 2 to grade level. Read more.

Terrfirma Participants: File by Sunday, April 30

Every year Terrafirma is forced to deny claims because an insured land trust missed the deadline (April 30 each year) to notify Terrafirma. Terrafirma is a nonprofit organization, and needs to break even to be able to continue to pay covered land trust claims. For Terrafirma to predict what claims are likely coming, policy holders must file a placeholder claim immediately when the first sign of a possible problem surfaces. Even if the first indication of a possible problem is trivial or uncertain or something is just barely amiss, policy holders are required to file a placeholder claim immediately. It takes mere minutes and has no adverse consequences for your land trust.

Webinars and eLearning

Land Trust Alliance Networking Group for New Executive Directors

The Alliance is convening a peer group for about 50 leaders in the Eastern US who will connect virtually the first Thursday of each month. Designed for EDs who have been in their roles for three years or fewer, the goal is to build relationships and problem solve around your biggest challenges. Learn more.

Land Trust Alliance Webinars

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 21 | Orienting New Landowners to Their Easements

Thursday, March 23 | Managing the Transition from Acquisition to Stewardship

$70 each for Alliance members. See a preview of more upcoming webinars.

Protecting Your Legacy: Moving from Planning to Action

Wednesdays, March 22 & March 29, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

This webinar series for landowners is sponsored by UMass Amherst’s Mass Woods program in partnership with Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust. The broad topic for these last two sessions of a 5-part series will be Choosing a Conservation Tool. The webinars will help landowners decide the future of their land and take steps to formalize a plan to achieve their personal and financial goals. Sign up for one or both. Learn more, view past recordings, and register.

American Trails Presents: Advancing Trails Webinar Series

Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Upcoming topics:

March 23 | Activating the Trail Community in Conservation Issues

April 6 | Helping Wheelchair Hikers Find Hiking Trails: Developing a Wheelchair-Friendly Filter

LTA Acquisition and Stewardship Peer Program for Eastern U.S. Land Trusts

Apply by Friday, March 31

Beginning in June 2023 and running for 15 months, this program will provide multiple ways to connect and learn with others, from training to network building to roundtable discussions focusing on various aspects of acquisition and stewardship. Open to Land Trust Alliance members. Learn more and apply.

Conservation Finance Learning Lab

Tuesday, April 11

The last session of this five-part series hosted by Highstead and The Conservation Finance Network features discussions and case studies into tangible, innovative approaches to conservation funding and financing. Learn more, watch previous sessions, and register.

LTA's Ninth Symposium on Advanced Legal Topics in Land Conservation

June 8 & 9 (Thursday & Friday)

Experts will cover the latest conservation law developments, and offer practical solutions. Ideal for attorneys, senior conservation practitioners, and law school faculty. Learn more. Registration opens in April.

In Person Events and Outings

Annual Conference of the Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (CPTC)

Saturday, March 18, 8:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Hogan Campus Center, Holy Cross College, Worcester, MA

CPTC is a collaboration of citizens, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies that provides training to citizen and professional planners involved in municipal planning and land use in Massachusetts. All workshops focus on Massachusetts land use issues such as zoning, planning for solar, affordable housing, transportation, and more. Learn more and register.

The Land Loss, Reparations, and Housing Policy Conference

March 23 & 24 (Thursday & Friday), Boston College Law School

As a result of systemic racism in real estate practices, Black farm families are estimated to have lost at least $326 billion in generational wealth, while urban families lost stable housing. Learn about potential solutions. Learn more and register.

2023 Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference

Saturday, March 25, in person at Worcester Technical High School and Friday, April 28, field trips around the state. Register. For details, see above under MLTC News and Programs.

21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge with Food Solutions New England

April 3 – April 23 (21 days, Monday – Sunday)

During this free challenge, participants commit to deepening their understanding of, and willingness to confront, racism for 21 days. The desired result is that they become more aware of inequities, change their understanding, shift their behavior, and be inspired to act to dismantle negative systems. Learn more and register.

2023 Rhode Island Land & Water Conservation Mini-Summit

Saturday, April 8, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., at the University of Rhode Island

This half-day mini-summit will feature keynote speaker Ian McSweeney of the Agrarian Trust, as well as a panel discussion on engaging and retaining volunteers, a marketplace and sponsor showcase, three break out sessions, and various networking opportunities. Learn more and register here.

Attend Ag Day

Wednesday, April 12, starting 11:15 a.m.

Support Massachusetts agriculture by joining stakeholder groups and advocates at Ag Day at the State House. Register here. Free.

Northeast Farm to Institution Summit

April 18 & 19 (Tuesday & Wednesday, online) and April 27 & 28 (Thursday & Friday, in person at Farm Fresh Rhode Island, Providence)

This year's summit theme is CommUNITY Powers the Food System. Topics range from healthy farm foods in schools and other institutions to engagement and reporting tools, and climate change, wealth inequality, and racism in the food system. Learn more and register.

Stone Living Lab Conference

April 26 – 28 (Wednesday – Friday)

UMass Boston Campus Center

Meet and network with researchers, students, adaptation professionals, and other leaders in climate resilience at this conference focused on nature-based coastal resilience in urban settings. Learn more and register.

Watershed Scale Climate Collaboration Conference
Wednesday, May 3 at Clark University, Worcester, MA

Sponsored by the Massachusetts Ecosystem Climate Adaptation Network (Mass ECAN). Learn more and register.

2023 Local Solutions: Climate Migration

May 16 & 17 (Tuesday & Wednesday)

Presented by the Antioch University Center for Climate Preparedness and Community Resilience. Registration opens soon. Learn more.

Grants

Massachusetts Coastal Resilience Grants

Info session: Thursday, March 16, 11:00 a.m.

These grants provide funding to reduce risks associated with coastal storms, flooding, erosion, and sea level rise through innovative and transferable local projects. Learn more. Contact Patricia Bowie to register for the info session and / or to receive an email when the RFR is posted.

Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund (MPPF) Grants

Application deadline: Friday, March 17

Administered by the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC), the MPPF is a state-funded 50% matching grant reimbursement program to support the preservation of properties, landscapes, and sites listed in the State Register of Historic Places. Applicants must be a municipality or nonprofit organization. Learn more and apply.

Forest Legacy Program Funding

Info session: Tuesday, March 21, 2 p.m.

During this call the Forest Service will share the latest plans for implementation of the $700 million in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding for the Forest Legacy Program and seek partner feedback to inform the planning process. Register.

EPA Grants Available for Wetlands Protection

Application deadline: Monday, March 27

National Wetland Program Development Grants help recipients increase the quantity and quality of wetlands in the United States by conserving and restoring wetland acreage and improving wetland conditions. Eligible projects include those that develop or refine state, tribal, territory, or local government wetland programs as a whole, or individual components of those programs. Applications must address the National Priority Area listed in the announcement. Learn more.

U.S. Forest Service Community Forest & Open Space Conservation Program

Application deadline: Friday, March 31

These grants help recipients establish community forests through the fee acquisition of private forest land from a willing seller. Interested local government and nonprofit applicants must submit applications to the State Forester. Tribal applicants must submit applications to the appropriate Tribal government officials. Learn more. For questions about the application process, or to discuss a potential project, contact Neal Bungard.

Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grants

Application deadline: Friday, March 31

For Massachusetts local government units interested in replacing an undersized, perched, and/or degraded culvert located in an area of high ecological value. Funding is to encourage applicants to replace aging culverts with better designed crossings that meet improved structural and environmental design standards and flood resiliency criteria. Learn more.

Stewardship Assistance and Restoration on APRs (SARA) Grants

Application deadline: Friday, April 7, 2:00 p.m.

SARA grants provide funding to help address stewardship issues and restore active commercial farming on APR (Agricultural Preservation Restriction) land. Up to $35,000 is available on a cost reimbursement basis with a 15% match of total project costs required by the farm participant. Learn more.

National Coastal Resilience Fund Grants

Application deadline: Wednesday, April 12

These grants provide funding to create and restore natural systems to increase protection for communities from current and future coastal hazards, and improve habitats for fish and wildlife species. Learn more.

Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program
Application deadline: Friday, April 14
These grants provide financial assistance to help recipients build collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders (e.g., local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, academia, etc.) to develop solutions to environmental or public health issue(s) at the community level. Non-profit organizations are eligible. Learn more.

Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program

Application deadline: Friday, April 14
These grants provide funding at the state, local, territorial, and tribal level to support government activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms. Learn more.

Landscape Partnership Grants

Application deadline: Monday, April 17, 3:00 p.m.

These grants provide financial assistance to protect large blocks of conservation lands that promote ecological integrity and connectivity, and promote local farm and forest economies. Funding for park or playground development is also available to towns of less than 7,000 residents. Applications must be submitted jointly by partners representing a minimum of two eligible categories of applicant and must achieve protection for the minimum contiguous acreage identified in the bid document. Note the FY23 grant program includes a change to the minimum contiguous acreage required of eligible projects; minimum acreage ranges from 100-500 acres, depending upon the County in which the project is located. Learn more.

America the Beautiful Challenge Grants

Pre-proposal deadline: Thursday, April 20

These grants support landscape-level proposals that address conservation and public access needs such as cumulative benefits to fish and wildlife; enhanced carbon sequestration and storage; benefits to and engagement with underserved communities; and protection of ecosystems through resilience-focused and nature-based solutions. Learn more.

Construction Loans for Dam and Seawall Repair or Removal

Application deadline: Friday, April 28

This program provides loans for projects that repair or remove dams, levees, seawalls, and other forms of inland and coastal flood control. Projects that maximize restoration of natural systems are encouraged. Projects that minimize or eliminate the use of hard infrastructure are eligible for a zero-percent interest rate. Learn more.

MVP 2.0 Pilot Program

This program will provide communities with guaranteed upfront funding to: include a more diverse array of community members in climate resilience planning and action; receive virtual training on climate resilience best practices, equity, and environmental justice; reset priorities in their current MVP plans based on this new knowledge and engagement; and receive technical assistance and guaranteed funding to develop and implement an action project. Any community that has gone through the original MVP planning process is eligible to apply. Applications are expected to be released in April 2023. To discuss interest in the program, contact your MVP Regional Coordinator.

LAND and PARC Grant Programs

In-person info session: Thursday, May 4, 11:00 a.m., MassWildlife Headquarters, Westborough

Remote info session: Tuesday, May 9, 2:00 p.m.

Application deadline: Thursday, July 13

The LAND grant program is for municipal conservation commissions looking to protect conservation land. The PARC grant program is for municipalities looking to acquire parkland, renovate an existing park, and develop a new park. Contact Vanessa Farny to register for either LAND info session. Contact Melissa Cryan to register for either PARC info session. Learn more.

Conservation Assistance for Small Communities Grants

Application deadline: Friday, May 5
These grants provide funding for towns with 7,000 people or fewer for the preparation of real property appraisals, Open Space & Recreation Plans (OSRPs), and other planning in support of land conservation and recreation. Learn more and apply.

Conservation Partnership Grants

Application deadline: Monday, July 17

These grants are for 501(c)(3) organizations looking for assistance in acquiring land in fee or a conservation restriction, as well as assistance with due diligence costs associated with gifts. Learn more. Contact Melissa Cryan with questions.

Resources and Opportunities

Become a TerraCorps Service Site

Application deadline: Friday, April 7

TerraCorps is an AmeriCorps-affiliated environmental nonprofit that recruits up to 60 AmeriCorps members per year and places them with partner organizations (Service Sites) in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Members manage community programs and projects at the Service Sites during their 11-month service term. Learn more and sign up for the application notice.

Mass ECAN Peer Learning Program

Application deadline: Friday, April 14

The Massachusetts Ecosystem Climate Adaptation Network (ECAN) is launching a Peer Learning Program, which brings together a small cohort of climate adaptation practitioners over an 8-month period to learn from each other and foster collaboration. Learn more and apply.

Your Natural Resources Priorities: A Listening Session

Friday, April 21, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. via Zoom

This session is being hosted by the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Districts for the state conservationist and NRCS to find out organizations' natural resources priorities. Agricultural producers, owners/operators of nonindustrial private forest land, professionals representing agricultural and natural resource interests, and individuals representing a variety of disciplines in the soil, water, wetland, plant, forestry, and wildlife sciences are welcome. Learn more.

An Introduction to Forest Carbon

For a balanced, understandable description of forest carbon, including timber management or non-management, check out this article by Alexandra Kosiba in Northern Woodlands' Spring 2023 Newsletter.

AFT Seeking Input
American Farmland Trust is conducting a needs assessment, is organizing a webinar series for Outcomes Estimation Tools Training, and is looking for input from farm conservation project managers who are interested in ways to quantify the water quality, climate, social, or economic outcomes associated with adopting farm conservation practices. All managers of farm conservation projects (corporate, NGO, government, academic, etc.) initiated by any funding source are encouraged to participate. Share this opportunity with colleagues who are involved in outcome quantification efforts.  

A Suite of Massachusetts Environmental Films

By local film company Trillium Studios, these films are free to view and share.

Earth Night 2023

Thursday, May 18, 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Fenway Park

Help kick off Environmental League of Massachusetts' 125th anniversary. With over 300 attendees, the event includes lots of networking time. The 2023 Commonwealth Environmental Leadership Awards will also be presented. Learn more.

Bears Emerging: Take Action

Help keep bears wild by taking down bird feeders, feeding pets indoors, and securing garbage and compost. If you own backyard chickens or bees, an electric fence can help keep them safe. Learn more.

Jobs

Post your job openings on the MLTC self-serve Job Board anytime!

View more jobs on our Job Board.

Executive Director – Sudbury Valley Trustees

Executive Director - Boston Cyclists Union

Chief Advancement Officer - North County Land Trust

Development Officer - Manchester Essex Conservation Trust

Development Manager - Kestrel Land Trust

Development Associate - New England Forestry Foundation

Policy Program Co-Director - UNH Sustainability Institute

HR & Operations Manager - Growald Climate Fund

Senior Staff Accountant - Boston MA - The Trustees

Managing Director of Land Conservation - The Trustees

Ecological Restoration Program Manager – Dam Removal - MA Division of Ecological Restoration

Ecological Restoration Program Manager – Cranberry Bogs - MA Division of Ecological Restoration

Ecological Restoration Specialist – Coastal Wetlands Restoration - MA Division of Ecological Restoration

Ecological Restoration Technical Services Branch Manager - MA Division of Ecological Restoration

Land Conservation Specialist - Franklin Land Trust

Land Stewardship Coordinator - Brewster Conservation Trust

Land Steward - Berkshire Natural Resources Council

Land Steward - Essex County Greenbelt Association

Property Steward - Mass Audubon

Multiple Steward Positions - The Trustees

Trail Specialist - East - The Trustees

Administrative Assistant - Hoosic River Revival, Inc.

Ipswich Open Space Program Summer Intern - Town of Ipswich Planning Department

Seasonal Steward - Mary Cummings Park - The Trustees

Land Stewardship Summer Internship - Orleans Conservation Trust

Several seasonal positions - Society for the Protection of NH Forests

Our Contact Information
*{{Organization Name}}*
*{{Organization Address}}*
*{{Organization Phone}}*
*{{Organization Website}}*

*{{Unsubscribe}}*