On Saturday, February 1, the Southeastern Mass Land Trust Convocation took place at Bourne’s Upper Cape Technical High School. Co-sponsored by the Buzzards Bay Coalition and The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts, the event welcomed land conservationists from both sides of the Cape Cod Canal.

The convocation, held against the backdrop of a rising tide of environmental challenges, brought together land trusts, municipal and state agency employees, civic leaders, and conservation-minded community members from across the region. The day’s programming, comprised of presentations, workshops, and discussions, was designed to better equip land trusts and the volunteers that work with them in carrying out their conservation missions.

After introductions from Mark Rasmussen, President of the Coalition, and Mark Robinson, Executive Director of the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts, the day included the following workshops:

How to Operate a Land Trust Responsibly: A Practical Approach to Standards and Practices
Advancing conservation excellence has many pieces to it. It is about building sustainable land trusts, as well as compliant ones. Speakers walked us through the process of implementing a land conservation project to highlight the importance of Standards and Practices.
Robb Johnson, Executive Director, Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition
Tom Evans, Board President, Harwich Conservation Trust

What Do We Do with This Building? Advancing Conservation Projects that Include Structures
Many land protection opportunities in our area involve parcels with existing buildings and infrastructure. The presentation discussed how these complications can be leveraged to advance a land trust’s mission.
John Chester, Real Estate Project Manager, Buzzards Bay Coalition
Stephen O’Grady, Executive Director, Orleans Conservation Trust

The Importance of Local Land Conservation for Promoting Biodiversity and Climate Resilience
A disproportionate share of regional biodiversity occurs in patch habitats or hotspots of small areas that are widespread on municipal and land trust lands. Management and restoration of these patches plays a critical role in sustaining biodiversity and promoting resilience in the face of climate change. The presentation reviewed recent assessments of plant diversity across the region and reported on restoration successes of wetland restoration in cranberry bogs and continuing challenges for the management of biodiversity-rich patch habitats.
Chris Neill, Ph.D., Woodwell Climate Research Center

Engaging Young People in Our Programs: Lessons Learned by Doing
How can we promote youth, teen, family, and young adult engagement with the environment? The speakers explored successes and challenges in attracting younger demographics to your organization.
David Fryxell, Ph.D., Executive Director and Leeza Barstein, TerraCorps Member Dennis Conservation Land Trust
Angie Weldon, Center Director, Buzzards Bay Coalition’s Onset Bay Center

Managing Forests in the Face of Insect, Disease, and Climate Threats
The forests we protect in Southeastern Massachusetts face an increasing number of threats. Options for managing forests owned by land trusts and municipalities were discussed with emphasis will be on Southern Pine Beetle and Beech Leaf Disease.
Jim Rassman, Service Forester-Southeast Region, MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation
Ross Moran, Executive Director, Westport Land Conservation Trust
Kelly Barber, Director of Land Stewardship, Barnstable Land Trust
Kristen Geagan, Director of Stewardship, Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation