Highstead Regional Conservation
What's New
Regional Conservation > What's New
Laura Hammett and Jen Rowland, Highstead's Regional Conservation Interns (Fall 2009)
Updated Protected Lands Map for Somers, Connecticut
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Intact Forest Blocks by Size Class in the Region of the North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership by Brian Hall, Harvard Forest
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Highstead's Regional Conservation Program
Highstead helps people start-up and sustain conservation collaborations across the Northeast.
What we do changes year to year based on the needs of an expanding network of partners and collaborators. Come here regularly to learn about Highstead's new and exciting conservation initiatives.
Applications to Highstead’s 2011 Regional Conservation Internship Program are now being accepted
Highstead is now accepting applications to this year’s Regional Conservation Internship Program. For twelve weeks, from later September through mid-December, two college students, or recent graduates, will work closely with the coordinators of regional partnerships across the Northeast on land conservation planning, mapping, and outreach projects.
Interns will be responsible for managing two to four projects each that serve to build the capacity of regional conservation partnerships or other collaborative initiatives. Interns will have the opportunity to work on projects alone, together with another intern, and with Highstead’s Regional Conservationist.
Click here for descriptions of past years’ projects: 2009 , 2008
Highstead’s Research on Regional Conservation Partnerships in New England
Bold conservation visions like Wildlands and Woodlands help us think big about the ends for which we are striving. They help us honor the fact that bigger blocks of woodlands, wildlands and farmlands are significantly better ecologically and economically than having many small areas surrounded by development. And, they encourage us to take stock of where we are and the tools in our tool box. Do we have the means for protecting these blocks? We know we have to protect more land and much faster than before to get ahead of development’s nibbling.
Like many of its partners in the Wildlands and Woodlands Partnership, Highstead believes that increasing the levels of collaboration between groups and individuals can help build our capacity to achieve this increase.
Highstead’s Regional Conservationist, Bill Labich, has years of first-hand experience with a model of collaboration called the regional conservation partnership, or RCP. Bill’s regional planning Master’s Thesis (1999) focused on the factors that led to the formation of two of these types of groups in Massachusetts including the North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership (NQRLP), which is highlighted in the Wildlands and Woodlands Vision (2005). In addition, Bill serves on the steering committees of the NQRLP (since 2002) and the Mass-Conn Sustainable Forest Partnership, and he coordinates the Fairfield County Regional Conservation Partnership.
Beginning in early 2008, Bill was being asked to help emerging RCPs think through their choices. Bill wanted a deeper understanding as to why certain partnerships were more successful than others in achieving their conservation goals. He began to look into the kinds of RCPs that existed in New England when he began developing content for the Wildlands and Woodlands website. Bill developed a set of questions that he wanted to ask the coordinators of existing RCPs in the New England area. In the fall of 2008, Emily Silver, then a Highstead Regional Conservation Intern, developed a survey form that people could fill out to populate a database. In the spring of 2009, Bill enrolled the coordinators of 23 regional-scaled conservation partnerships to take the on-line survey. Here are some of the results of that survey:
Partnership Membership
Organizational Capacity
Funding
Achievements
Lessons learned
In the fall and winter of 2009 and 2010, Bill interviewed each of the coordinators of these RCPs. The questions were the same for each and the interview took anywhere from 90 minutes to 120 minutes. Currently, Bill is finishing up the interviews and will next be assessing the results using a qualitative research technique called constant comparative analysis to identify and compare different categories of like responses. Bill hopes to learn more about how these partnerships develop over time, what are the most important lessons we can learn from them, and which of these groups’ attributes correlate most with success.
Partnership Membership:
- The average number of members in the RCPs is 14
- 75% of the partners are private, 25% public
- Most common public partner is a state agency (2 to 1 over federal or municipal agencies)
- Most common private partner is a regional land trust
- Conservation groups represent 90% of all private partners, of which nearly 80% are land trusts
- Of the private groups that are not conservation groups, 40% represent business interests
Organizational Capacity:
- Most partnerships (83%) have coordinators, and if you take away the informal, ad hoc groups (13% of total), then 95% of the "organized" ones have designated coordinators
- Of these, only about 5% volunteer, while most of the rest are paid through their employer to serve in the capacity as a part-time coordinator
- Overall, 75% of partnerships either have a steering committee (55%) or a more formal board (20%)
- Less than half of all partnerships (40%) have working groups
- Only 15% have Memorandums of Agreement
Funding:
- 52% of the 23 partnerships studied are currently funded
- In 70% of the partnerships, one partner group provides staff support for the coordinator position
- In 22% of the partnerships, outside funding supports the coordinator's position and of these 100% received private funds and 80% received public funds
- As partnerships age, they report on different kinds of achievements:
Achievements:
- A majority of reported achievements could be placed in a category called, “Creating a forum where many stakeholders in a region can collaborate on projects they learn about in meetings that include identifying shared priorities”
- 52% of the partnerships reported that they protected more land or raised more money because of the partnership and of these, 64% reported success in producing educational and outreach activities and programs
- 61% of all partnerships reported achievements that fell into the category, “stronger partnership relationships”
- As partnerships age, they report on different kinds of achievements:
- Strengthening partnership relationships (average age of partnerships reporting this achievement: 3.5 yrs)
- Increasing organizational capacity (5.8 yrs)
- Outreach and Education (6.2 yrs) and
- More Funding, More Land (7.4 years)
Lessons learned by Partnerships:
These are the most commonly reported lessons about Being Good Partners/Collaborators or, in other words, Playing Nice
- Consistent, open communication between partners is key but coordinators should limit email requests of partners
- Establish and stay focused on common, clear, specific goals, mission, strategies
- Know that collaboration among partners on land protection and fundraising is challenging for a reason
- Value and encourage the contributions of all partners; share the spotlight
- Be accountable to, and transparent with, each other
- Get agreement on a clear decision-making process
- Success hinges on relationships between partners: mutual respect & trust is needed
Lesson on why working together beats working by yourself:
- Collaboration/Regional Identity attracts more resources, more success
Lessons on how to create a better, stronger more successful regional conservation partnership aka best practices, strategies
- Go slow and engage & educate more people early and often with consistent messages
- Reach consensus on conservation priorities based on science & resources availability but be aware of limits to information, partners' varying priorities, and limits of state agencies to participate
- Independent coordinator serving all equally is critical
February 2010 Wildlands and Woodlands Partnership Meeting attracted groups from PA to ME
Highstead is a partner in the Wildlands and Woodlands (W&W) Partnership. The W&W Partnership is an informal coalition of groups working collaboratively to realize the W&W vision wherever they live and or work. Highstead’s Regional Conservationist, Bill Labich, has served as the Partnership’s Coordinator since October 2007.
In February 2010, the Wildlands and Woodlands Partnership held its quarterly meeting at Harvard Forest in Petersham, MA. Robert Pirani with the Regional Plan Association spoke about a 3-year initiative that will help landscape conservation partnerships implement habitat conservation through land use planning. In addition to the 30 people in attendance, 10 more participated on-line including state foresters from Pennsylvania, program managers with the US Forest Service in NYC, planners from Vermont, and conservationists from the Adirondacks, Fairfield County, Western Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Highstead will be making it possible for all W&WP members to be able to use the on-line meeting space as a benefit of membership.
Woodland Councils awarded a 3-year $200,000 grant from the US Forest Service
A group of woodland councils that Highstead helped convene starting in 2008 was awarded a grant from the US Forest Service to provide coordinated outreach and training programs for landowners, town officials, and foresters on conservation restrictions or easements. Highstead is providing a local match in the form of Bill Labich’s time assisting the group in its efforts. One way that Bill has assisted the group is by facilitating their participation in a special training program offered by the Sustaining Family Forests Initiative. The training, Engaging Landowners, helped members of five woodland council’s better design communication tools to speak to specific audiences.
Highstead helps two Regional Conservation Partnerships take solid first steps
Beginning in 2008, Highstead has provided support to several emerging regional conservation partnerships across the Northeast. Our interns have provided written a grant for the Pioneer Valley Land Trust Group, digitized assessors’ maps for the Borderlands Project, developed a GIS-based woodland study for the Fairfield County Regional Conservation Partnership and updated protected lands maps for the Mass-Conn Sustainable Forest Partnership. Highstead’s Regional Conservationist, Bill Labich, has convened RCPs from CT, RI and MA in the past and is planning other opportunities for this spring and fall. Bill has met with 21 RCPs across the Northeast as part of his research on models of collaboration. In particular, Highstead has taken on two important, though very different, roles with two RCPs:
Mass-Conn Sustainable Forest Partnership
Highstead is a strong partner in this RCP. In the fall of 2007, Bill enrolled and supported Jennifer Ohop with the Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary to be the partnership’s first part-time coordinator. Bill helped the Partnership navigate its first year by:
- attending meetings
- supporting Jen “behind the scenes”
- administering an on-line survey to highlight group intentions and interest in a dedicated coordinator
- encouraging the inclusion of this CT/MA RCP in the Woodland Council USFS grant proposal
- encouraging the formation of a steering committee and then when the USFS grant came
- through helped form and serve on the hiring committee then recently selected the groups first paid, dedicated coordinator, Claire Dacey
Check out Mass-Conn’s most excellent website and the group’s logo (see above) both developed by their coordinator, Claire.
Fairfield County Regional Conservation Partnership
Highstead is this RCP’s host partner. Back in the fall and winter of 2007/2008, Highstead’s Regional Conservationist met with people in Redding and in surrounding communities to learn about their activities and challenges, and their interests in collaboration. What followed was a June 2008 meeting at Highstead where a dozen people from six towns came together to share their experiences, lessons, concerns, and hopes for conservation in and around northern Fairfield County, CT. From that point forward, Highstead has continued to serve as a host partner to the Fairfield County Regional Conservation Partnership. Bill Labich serves as the group’s coordinator but each member group takes turn hosting meetings, which happen every two months. Members identify potential speakers, take minutes and help plan events. In the fall of 2009, the FCRCP held a landowner workshop in which over 70 people attended (see image of the event’s post card). The partnership has 18 groups as members that include municipal commissions, task forces, environmental groups, watershed associations and land conservation trusts. The group is currently planning for a fall workshop on conservation options for real estate attorneys and financial planners.
Highstead's Conservation Interns Support Regional Conservation at many scales in 2010
Ali Lones and Kari Amick were our 2010 Regional Conservation Interns. Ali, who grew up in Oxford, CT, had recently graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BS in Biological Sciences with interests in water quality and even management. Kari, from Lanesboro, MA, graduated from Wheaton College also with a degree in biology and loves working with animals. Kari is seeking a research assistantship at the University of Wisconsin while Ali is pursuing a career in environmental management. While at Highstead, both were able to apply their interests and skills to projects that benefitted many regional conservation partnerships and conservation partners:
- Mapping and water quality analysis for the Ridgefield Neighborwoods Initiative
- Regional conservation mapping for the Fairfield County Regional Conservation Partnership
- November 15 Regional Conservation Partnership Gathering
- Dec. 8 Wildlands and Woodlands Partnership Meeting
- Next phase of the Shutesbury Zoning study
- Estate Professionals Conservation Workshop Support
Ridgefield Neighborwoods Initiative
Kari Amick developed GIS maps showing subwatersheds and heritage forests enabling landowners of this suburban landscape to see their land in a new, meaningful way. Ali used her knowledge and connections with the Housatonic Valley Association to facilitate water quality testing for the one brook residents were most concerned.
Regional Conservation Mapping
Kari Amick developed a series of regional conservation maps helping members of the Fairfield County Regional Conservation Partnership advance their collaborative efforts. One result of the mapping work was the members’ decision to meet together to go over conservation opportunities along their borders. Highstead has enlisted the help of Harvard Forest biologist, Brian Hall, to build upon Kari’s efforts to produce an updated protected lands map for the 10-town region.
November 15 Regional Conservation Partnership Gathering
Ali Lones helped to plan and facilitate the logistics for this first gathering of 21 regional conservation partnerships at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve in Wells, Maine. Over 45 people attended to share best practices and find potential mentors for doing collaborative regional conservation. Please see below for more information on this very successful event.
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Tim Abbott, Litchfield Hills Greenprint Collaborative: Handouts (.pdf), Summary (.pdf)
- Jay Rasku, North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership (.ppt)
- Tin Smith, Mount Agamenticus to the Sea Initiative (.ppt)
- Chris Wells, Quabbin to Cardigan Partnership (.ppt)
December 8 - Wildlands and Woodlands Partnership Meeting
Ali Lones helped organize all the details for this very successful W&W Partnership meeting focused on large landscape conservation. Ali also managed and recorded the concurrent on-line meeting. Click here to see the presentations.
Shutesbury Zoning Study
Using the results of 2009 Highstead intern, Laura M. Hammett, Kari Amick worked with Harvard Forest ecologist, Brian Hall, and Highstead’s Bill Labich to identify a multi-town landscape in Massachusetts with ten, 1,000-acre forest blocks with and without conservation lands. This landscape and Kari’s efforts will form the basis for a scenario build-out study to be developed by Highstead, Harvard Forest and the Smithsonian Institution.
Estate Professionals Conservation Workshop
Members of the Fairfield County Regional Conservation Partnership are interested in building working relations with a variety of professionals providing landowners with legal and financial services. They are planning a conservation workshop in order to educate attorneys and CPAs about the benefits of conservation easements to their customers.
Ali Lones worked with Bill Labich to develop a script and system for reaching out and identifying professionals who would be interested in attending this workshop. Through dogged persistence, Ali identified 30 people interested in attending out of 100 potentials. We would not be having this workshop on Oct. 5 without her effort.
Highstead's Conservation Interns Aid Regional Partnerships in 2009
Jen Rowland and Laura M. Hammett were our 2009 Regional Conservation Interns. Jen, who grew up in New Milford, recently graduated from the University of New Hampshire with interests in organic farming and land conservation. Laura graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Urban Planning. Jen is currently working on a farm in Maine and Laura is serving as Peace Corps Volunteer in Albania. While at Highstead, both were able to apply their interests and skills to projects that benefitted three regional conservation partnerships:
- A Powerpoint Presentation on the results of the Study.
- The Shutesbury Model—A Comparative Landscape Pattern Analysis of Subdivision Zoning Patterns in Massachusetts
For a description of Intern activities from our first program in 2008, click here.
Land Use Trends and Farming Statistics help a Farmland Conservation Partnership
Jen Rowland researched land use trends and agricultural statistics for the Pioneer Valley region of Massachusetts (Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties) and developed a draft grant proposal. Jen met with Kristin DeBoer, Executive Director of the Kestrel Trust, who was leading an ad hoc group called the Pioneer Valley Land Trust Group. Kristin was interested in developing a grant proposal for a new initiative that if funded could serve to engage a number of new partners in promoting the protection of remaining farmland in the valley. Jen also compiled a list of foundations with the greatest potential to support a proposal of this type and developed an early draft grant proposal.
Helping Towns Learn How to Take Advantage of their Right of First Refusal
Landowners enrolled in Massachusetts’ Chapter 61 program pay reduced property taxes, and in exchange the city or town has a right of first refusal to purchase the property within a certain time frame if the landowner decides to develop the land. The process for exercising the city or town’s right of first refusal can be complicated, so the North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership (NQRLP) developed a procedure that can be adopted by Select Boards (or city councils) which clarifies the options and spells out the steps to take. Jen Rowland worked with NQ’s Jay Rasku to reach out to 53 individuals in 36 towns. Jen arranged for Jay to speak before the Select Board of 10 towns. This resulted in helping several towns choose to go forward and adopt the procedures. One town has voted to adopt the protocols already and 20 more are in line to do so during this year’s annual town meetings.
Comparing Ecological Values of Conventional Subdivisions with Those Using Natural Resource Protection Zoning
The North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership wants to promote the use of zoning measures in combination with land conservation to its 26 member communities. The North Quabbin region is rich in forest resources and due to its particular land use and conservation history still contains a large number of intact (not fragmented by roads or development) forest blocks. One of the towns, Shutesbury, recently adopted a natural resource protection zoning measure that would help to protect from development 60% - 90% of the original parcel while allowing dwellings to be clustered on smaller lots.
Before moving forward with outreach efforts, the Partnership wants to better understand the ecological values associated with natural resource protection zoning. This project assessed the ecological values of two build-out scenarios using 1) the aforementioned bylaw and 2) large lot zoning and conventional subdivision design.
Laura M. Hammett working closely with Bill Labich and Brian Hall with Harvard Forest, applied a methodology for the study that included using landscapes that were already built-out with conventional subdivisions and then re-imaging the areas using the natural resource protection zoning. Laura used several commonly used metrics including the size and distribution of intact forest blocks, relative proximity to other forest blocks, and the ratio of edge length to core forest area.
Click here for a Powerpoint Presentation on the results of the Study
Click here for a summary report on the Study.
Interns will work on Phase II of this study this fall, 2010. We will be applying the methodology that Laura M. Hammett developed to a town-wide build-out using the same two scenarios.
Digitizing Assessors Parcels for Borderlands Project Communities
The Borderlands Project is a regional conservation partnership of NGOs and municipalities in an area clustered along the CT-RI state line. This economic development initiative focused on building the capacity of towns to redevelop old village centers. Laura M. Hammett received assessor’s plans and converted these to digital data layers using her skills in geographic information systems (GIS). This mapping work enabled communities to choose which areas of their villages were ideal for future commercial and mixed-use zoning districts.
Highstead Contributes to Expanding the Wildlands and Woodlands Vision
Highstead's Board Chair, David R. Foster, who is also the Director of Harvard Forest and co-author of the Wildlands and Woodlands Vision report, and Highstead's Regional Conservationist, Bill Labich, together authored the chapter, A Wildland and Woodland Vision for the New England Landscape: Local Conservation, Biodiversity and the Global Environment in, Saving Biological Diversity Balancing Protection of Endangered Species and Ecosystems, 2008, editors Robert A. Askins et. al. The chapter expands the Wildlands and Woodlands vision geographically to beyond Massachusetts' boundaries. It also establishes Wildlands and Woodlands as both a context and a set of strategies for local community preservation. The chapter outlines the role temperate forests play in carbon sequestration and demonstrates that the implementation of bold forest conservation visions like Wildlands and Woodlands is of global environmental importance.
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