Updates

Join the Nature for MA Coalition for a campaign launch event at the Massachusetts State House on May 8th! This event will include a speaking program with our lead sponsors on An Act Providing Nature for All (H.901/S.597) and coalition members, and an opportunity to directly advocate to legislators afterward with the coalition.
Thursday, May 8th / 1:30pm, with Lobby Day starting around 2:45pm with the coalition and advocates / Massachusetts State House, Room 428

In this period of uncertainty regarding federal funding, there are some resources to help federal grantees with steps they can take to protect themselves.

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Congressman Jim McGovern's keynote presentation is now online, which he presented to over 500 people from Massachusetts land trusts, conservation partners, students, and friends of conservation at the Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference on March 21.

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This award recognizes the Harwich Conservation Trust’s Cold Brook Eco-Restoration Project at the Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve in Harwich Port. This multiyear restoration project was undertaken in partnership with the Town of Harwich Community Preservation Committee, the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The project successfully restored retired cranberry bogs to improve public access to the land and enhance nearly a mile of stream and over 44 acres of adjacent wetland habitat. The restoration included the addition of ponds, a salt marsh, and native plant species.

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The 2025-2026 legislative session started on January 2, 2025. Over 6,500 bills were filed by the January 17th deadline. Committee assignments were announced on February 27, so committees will soon begin the process of setting up hearing schedules. Unlike in past years, legislators can sign on to co-sponsor a bill up until the date that a Committee acts on that bill....

Please reach out to your state legislators to ask them to co-sponsor MLTC's highest priority bills for the current legislative session.

Click the link for a message template that you can feel free to use or personalize with some information on why land conservation is important to you or your organization.

MLTC staff and a number of our contacts have recently received emails from multiple senders, offering to sell a list of Visitors/Attendees to the March 21 Mass. Land Conservation Conference being held at UMass Amherst. After consulting with the security departments of our CRM, events platform, and our computer consultant, we are confident that our systems have not been hacked, nor has information been leaked.

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Since January 20th, a series of executive orders and memos from the Trump administration have raised concerns for nonprofits, particularly regarding a freeze on federal grants and loans. The Office of Management and Budget issued a memo calling for a freeze on nearly all federal grants and loans, effectively pausing funds that had been appropriated by Congress. A judge temporarily blocked this freeze until February 3, citing the need for more time to evaluate the broad implications of the order. The situation has developed quickly, and as of January 29, the administration reversed the freeze with a brief two-sentence memo.....

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Are you interested in being a volunteer leader working to advance land conservation across Massachusetts? MLTC is seeking nominations for volunteers to serve on its Board of Trustees, or as non-governing members of its Public Policy, Finance, Development, or Governance Committees. We’re looking for folks with skills, experience, time and energy to help advance MLTC’s Strategic Plan. Board members are elected to 3-year terms at MLTC’s annual meeting each June.....

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Congress is currently debating an extension to the Farm Bill that may include disaster relief for producers affected by hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters, as well as economic assistance to farmers. There is bipartisan support for incorporating the remaining Farm Bill conservation title Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding into this extension. Totaling approximately $13 billion, this money would help protect funding while also increasing baseline funding going forward. MLTC encourages you to reach out to your Congressional Representatives ASAP and ask that they urge leadership to include the remaining conservation funding from the IRA in any extension of the Farm Bill....

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