Worthington, Colrain Awarded Landscape Partnership Grants
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| Wildlife Cam Photos from Jackson Brook Conservation Project in Worthington Photo Credit: Hilltown Land Trust |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced over $2.2 million to protect forests, drinking water supplies, and critical natural landscapes across Massachusetts.
Through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs' Landscape Partnership Grant Program, three projects in Franklin, Hampshire and Plymouth counties will conserve more than 1,600 acres of land, improve access to outdoor recreation, strengthen climate resilience
Hilltown Land Trust, Department of Fish and Game (DFG) – Jackson Brook Conservation Project was awarded $314,430 to protect 483 acres within the Jackson Brook watershed in Worthington. This largely intact forest and wetland system provides critical habitat for species including moose, bobcat, and sandhill crane, as well as water filtration and flood storage in extreme rain events. The project will
Franklin Land Trust, DFG, The Trustees of Reservations, Department of Conservation & Recreation, Massachusetts Audubon Society and Kestrel Land Trust – Stone Mountain Conservation Project was awarded $730,815 to conserve 800 acres of natural and working landscapes integral to Massachusetts' rural economy, including unfragmented forest on Stone Mountain in Colrain, and
"The projects in Worthington, Colrain and Heath are a great investment in the communities and natural resources that make Western Massachusetts such a special place to live," said State Senator Paul Mark. "By protecting forests, clean water, and public open space today, we're ensuring future generations can enjoy them while strengthening our environment and local economy."
The program also supports the Healey-Driscoll Administration's "Forests as Climate Solutions Initiative", which aims to protect critically important
"Conserving our natural lands and forests promotes clean air and healthier communities for generations to come," said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "These thriving ecosystems are also beautiful places to get outside and enjoy all our state has to offer. This funding will ensure that counties in Western and Southeastern Massachusetts have the resources they need to continue to protect waterways and forests into the future."
Established in 2011, the Landscape Partnership Grant Program supports large-scale, multi-partner projects that sustain ecological integrity, promote local economies that depend upon natural resources, and expand public outdoor recreational opportunities. This year's awards will conserve over 1,631 acres and are part of the administration's efforts to build climate change resilience and protect critical natural landscapes.
