Conservation across the Commonwealth Spring 2007 ©Kenneth J. Howard ©Kenneth Humpback whale in Silver Shoals Bank, Dominican Republic Rising to the Challenge “For all at last returns to the sea – to Oceanus, A new wave of conservation strategies emerges the ocean river, like the The Massachusetts coast meanders for 1,500 miles across everfl owing stream a patchwork of diverse landscapes, attracting millions of people to live and play at its inviting edges. From beaches to marshes to of time, the beginning eelgrass beds to shellfi sh reefs, our coasts and near shore seascapes and the end.” provide essential services. (continues on page 4) Rachel Carson in this issue Rising to the Challenge . 1 Early 2007 Milestones . 3 Friends in the Field . 8 From the Director . 2 A Tale of Two Seas . 6 Events and Field Trips. 10 New Trustees . 2 Beyond our Borders . 7 Awards . 12 From the Director Oceans contain 90% of Earth’s framework designed to restore Wayne Klockner life, yet scientists estimate that less and sustain the health, productiv- than 10% of that life has been ity and biodiversity of ecosystems. measured—a statistic once com- This process integrates economic, Taking pared to exploring land by dragging social and economic goals, recog- a butterfl y net behind an airplane. nizes people as key components of Conservation Our diverse coastal habitats act as ecosystems, works across political to the Sea biological engines for this vast net- boundaries, engages multiple work of life. Our salt marshes and stakeholders and incorporates the seagrass beds provide nutrients and dynamic interplay between nurseries that support the entire terrestrial, freshwater and marine marine food web; our shellfi sh reefs systems. are the cold-water equivalents of I believe that by taking this corals from a biodiversity perspec- holistic approach to the sea, we tive; and estuaries, where rivers can protect ocean and coastal meet the sea, support the most habitats in ways that benefi t marine productive waters we know. life, local communities and coastal Our Chapter’s Marine Program economies. Just as ocean species are has spent its fi rst year assessing the dynamic and wide-ranging, so must challenges to these vital ecosystems we be in our approach. With scien- and identifying important ways tists and staff in every state and 32 that conservation of tidelands (sub- countries developing and piloting ©Angela Ellis, TNC merged lands and tidal fl ats) differs innovative conservation tools in Wayne Klockner, Massachusetts State Director from the work we excel at on shore. their own communities, we are In Massachusetts all lands from ideally positioned to contribute to I keep a topographical map of the low tide mark seaward are held this vital effort. the Massachusetts coastline close in trust by the State for the pub- Oceans are downstream from at hand. I like maps, and this is a lic good; each of us has access to all of us—from the highest peaks good one. The detail reminds me these lands for fi shing, fowling and to the fl attest plains. I encourage that our coasts and the seabed navigation. One of many questions you to explore this new realm with beyond are contiguous with the ahead is how best to apply legal us. And remember, your support is land we walk every day. Our land- mechanisms for the conservation what makes this work possible—at scapes and seascapes were both of these tidelands—an end that is every scale and in every landscape. formed by the same glacial events surely in the public good. millennia ago. And while largely There are striking similarities out of view, the underwater terrain as well. As on land, The Nature is as varied and complex as the Conservancy’s approach to marine land itself, with diversity that tests conservation is guided by Eco- the bounds of imagination. system Based Management—a Chapter Welcomes Three Trustees to Board The Massachusetts Chapter is proud to announce he founded the Biodiversity Initiative, protected the addition of three well-regarded members of the 150,000 acres of open space and developed an scientifi c and business communities to its Board of environmental justice policy and global warming Trustees. These volunteer leaders are an integral part of strategy for the Commonwealth. Prior to that, the Chapter’s work, providing guidance and generating Bob served as Majority Whip in the State Senate support for our mission in Massachusetts and around and authored landmark environmental legislation the world. including The Rivers Protection Act, The Community Preservation Act and The Brownfi elds Act. Bob has Bob Durand is a cofounder of Durand & Anastas received countless awards for his environmental Environmental Strategies, Inc. a strategic planning achievements, and we look forward to his continued fi rm for projects subject to environmental review advocacy as a Board member. and permitting. Bob is the former Secretary of Environmental Affairs of Massachusetts and former Paul Elias is an investment manager and trustee Chair of the Water Resources Authority. As Secretary, in his role as Partner at J.M. Forbes & Co. He has a 2 Conservation Across the Commonwealth Spring 2007 Local Results Chapter Welcomes Three Trustees Early 2007 Milestones to Board Nature may take it easy in (continued from previous page) the winter, but the Massa- chusetts Chapter has been history of close collaboration as active as ever. Thanks to with the Conservancy, the generous support of our coordinating conservation donors and members, we can research and grassland already report some major restoration efforts on several of conservation achievements. the Elizabeth Islands. A special We wish to convey special interest of Paul’s is defi ning the thanks to Jane’s Trust, The goals of conservation in places, Kohlberg Foundation, like coastal New England, Lowe’s Educational and that have been subject to long Charitable Foundation, the histories of human activity, Sheehan Family Foundation, geological change and evolving Fields Pond Foundation and state Aquifer, a 199-square-mile under- climate. With graduate degrees Senators Therese Murray and Marc ground resource that nourishes in organismal biology from Pacheco for their leadership in seven rivers and supplies clean and U.C. Berkeley and Harvard helping us to reach these milestones: healthy drinking water to hundreds and professional experience in of thousands of area citizens. science publishing, Paul’s broad Partnered with the Massachusetts knowledge of conservation will Riverways Project to remove the Initiated the Martha’s Vineyard be a great asset as we identify Ballou Dam in Becket, Massachu- Prescribed Fire Partnership, a and implement effective land setts, helping to restore approxi- collaborative including The Nature stewardship strategies. mately 30 miles of river and Conservancy, The Trustees of stream continuity downstream Reservations, Sheriff’s Meadow Katharine Parsons is a on the Westfi eld River and eight Foundation, Polly Hill Arboretum senior scientist at Manomet miles of the Yokum Brook and its and Mass Audubon’s Felix Neck Center for Conservation tributaries, signifi cantly improving sanctuary, designed to share Science, where she serves as movement for Atlantic salmon and resources and apply safe and Director for the Wildlife and eastern brook trout. effective ecological fi re management. Wetlands program. After obtaining an A.B. in Biological Protected an additional 30 acres Inaugurated the Westfi eld Sciences from Smith College, at our Greene Swamp Preserve Highlands Forest Partnership, a her interest in avian ecology at Mt. Toby in Sunderland, coalition of community organiza- led her to Rutgers University, Massachusetts. The preserve is tions, landowners and other where she earned her Ph.D. in home to several types of forest, stakeholders working toward Ecology. Katharine has worked spring ephemerals, rare salamanders a shared vision: a healthy, free- extensively on issues affecting and turtles. fl owing Westfi eld River surrounded coastal and colonial waterbirds, by a connected network of forest and has been widely published Helped Manchester Essex reserves and sustainably-managed in that fi eld. Dr. Parsons was Conservation Trust preserve 100 working woodlands. drawn to The Nature Conser- acres of oak and pine woodland, vancy’s commitment to using wetlands and vernal pools in Essex, Helped launch the Taunton River scientifi c data to identify, Massachusetts. Watershed Study, which will help manage and protect essential local communities, state agencies habitat. The Board welcomes Re-launched the Plymouth and river and land use advocates her outstanding science back- Carver Aquifer Advisory determine how to manage additio- ground, critical reasoning and Committee, which is developing nal wastewater and storm water strong conservation ethic. a regional plan to manage the while sustaining river fl ow and Plymouth Carver Sole Source water supply. Conservation Across the Commonwealth Spring 2007 3 Marine Conservation Rising to the Challenge (continued from page 1) They are our principal ports of Franks Taylor, “must therefore ©Robb Johnson, TNC commerce, our fi rst lines of defense work across the entire watershed.” against storm systems and a key The Chapter’s advocacy for source of food and economic reducing nitrogen inputs into livelihood. And the oceans contain ponds and estuaries on Martha’s 90% of Earth’s life. Vineyard benefi ts marine vegetation The Massachusetts Chapter is working with “With so many functions, the and shellfi sh, and our efforts to partners to restore natural tidal fl ow to 1,100 acres pressures on our ocean resources restore and maintain fl ow in the of salt marsh along the Herring River in Wellfl eet. are intense,” says the Massachu- Westfi eld, Connecticut and Taunton setts Chapter’s Marine Program Rivers improves movement for strategy is the Chapter’s work Manager Rachael Franks Taylor. diadromous fi sh, like alewife and to restore the Herring River salt And with new proposals for Atlantic salmon, which travel marsh on Cape Cod.