BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $505,625 in funding for local land conservation projects across the Commonwealth. The grants are being provided to eight land trusts by the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs’ (EEA) Conservation Partnership Grant Program and will protect over 188 acres of land.
“In order to protect the Commonwealth’s land for future generations, it is vital that we support the great work local land trusts are doing to conserve land in their communities,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Through the Conservation Partnership Grant Program, we are able to provide the resources these groups need to ensure Massachusetts’ most important working lands and wildlife habitat remain open space.”
“Our administration is committed to investing in land conservation efforts for important habitats and native species,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “By investing in local conservation areas across the state, we will continue our commitment to protect access to open spaces and the opportunity to experience nature in neighborhoods across the Commonwealth.”
The Conservation Partnership Program provides funding to assist non-profit organizations in acquiring interests in lands suitable for conservation or recreation purposes.
“These grants will help ensure beautiful, diverse habitats across the state will remain preserved and undeveloped,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “Under the leadership of the Baker-Polito Administration, we have made it a priority to invest in open spaces in which residents can enjoy the outdoors.”
The following eight projects will receive Conservation Partnership grants:
| Grantee | Project Name | Project Description | Grant Award |
| Andover Village Improvement Society | Franciscan Parcel 2 | The project includes the acquisition of an 8-acre parcel that abuts 26.6 acres that were protected with a 2017 Conservation Partnership grant award. The parcel will permanently protect a section of the Bay Circuit Trail. | $44,000 |
| Buzzards Bay Coalition | Broad Marsh Conservation Project | The project will include the acquisition of a 47-acre waterfront property on Shell Point Bay, a part of Onset Bay with exceptional ecological, recreational, and scenic values. | $60,000 |
| Eastham Conservation Foundation | Herring Pond Land Acquisition | The project includes the acquisition of a 1.74-acre residential, pond-front lot that sits between Herring Pond and the Cape Cod Rail Trail. The acquisition will allow for a second public access point to Eastham’s second-largest Great Pond. | $31,200 |
| Orleans Conservation Trust | White’s Lane Conservation Area Acquisition | The project includes the acquisition of a 1.7-acre upland lot that is residentially developable and is forested with a mix of oak and pine. It is one of the few remaining undeveloped lots in the area that has not been put into conservation. The land will mitigate for changing water levels along the coast due to its location. | $85,000 |
| Rochester Land Trust | Walnut Plain Cedar Swamp Conservation Project | The project includes the acquisition of a 78.6-acre parcel containing forested wetland (including Atlantic White Cedar) and buffering upland forest that is part of a large contiguous undeveloped forest area at the headwaters of the Sippican River. | $85,000 |
| Stow Conservation Trust | Small Farm | The project includes the acquisition of a conservation restriction on the 24-acre small farm that was started in 1988 by Dwight Sipler and his late wife Barbara. Mr. Sipler is selling the conservation restriction to the Town of Stow and Stow Conservation Trust at a steeply discounted price so that the land can remain in agricultural use. | $30,825 |
| The 300 Committee Land Trust | Pond Trail at Tony Andrews Farm | The project includes the acquisition of an 11-acre property subdivided for six buildable, pond-front residential lots. The pond-shore is densely wooded with a pure native stand of Cape Cod forest. | $85,000 |
| White Oak Land Conservation Society, Inc. | Wadsworth Brook Conservation | The project includes the acquisition of 16.6 acres of land with extensive meadow, former pasture, descending to a dense thicket of Asiatic bittersweet and striped maple, leveling off to Wadsworth Brook. | $84,600 |
“These generous investments by the State, in partnership with local Conservation Trusts, to preserve open space and critical habitat will protect wildlife, flora, and fauna for generations to come,” said State Representative Sarah Peake (D- Provincetown). “They are also of an important benefit for humankind and the protection of this planet.”
“The Town of Falmouth and the 300 Committee Land Trust have done an incredible job of protecting the natural beauty and ecological features of the Falmouth Community,” said State Senator Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth). “This generous grant from the Baker-Polito Administration will allow them to continue that outstanding conservation work in unique new way at the Andrews Farm property by preserving both its natural beauty and an important part of Falmouth’s agricultural history.”
“Congratulations to the 300 Committee on a well-deserved grant for preserving the Pond Trail at Tony Andrews Farm,” said State Representative Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth). “The town of Falmouth is fortunate to have such beautiful natural resources, and it’s vitally important that we preserve them for future generations to enjoy.”
“I want to thank Secretary Beaton for his commitment to land preservation on Cape Cod. This Conservation Partnership Grant is a critical piece of the public-private partnership put together by the 300 Committee to preserve the historical Andrews farm. This project when completed will preserve for future generations the rich agricultural and Cape Verdean history of East Falmouth,” said State Representative David T. Vieira (R-East Falmouth).
“Our communities deserve thriving, accessible conservation areas, and these funds will help non-profit organizations all over Massachusetts realize the full potential of so many treasured environmental sites,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton). “These entities do a wonderful service for our residents, lands and waters. In Wareham, the Buzzards Bay Coalition will continue their hard work and provide Southeastern Massachusetts with strong wildlife habitats and recreation on Shell Point Bay. I commend them for their success in obtaining this award, and I look forward to seeing this property reach its full potential.”
