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Join ALPINE for our upcoming webinar:
Assessing Local Economic Impacts and Opportunities for Land Protection in New England

Thursday, December 3rd, 12:30pm-1:30pm

Katharine Sims will present research about the economic impacts of land protection in New England, conducted in collaboration with partners at the Harvard Forest and the Highstead Foundation. The project uses data from towns and cities across New England between 1990 and 2015 to understand how new land protection has affected local are

There’s still time to register for the day-long 2020 RCP Network Gathering (9am - 3pm, November 19th) focusing on building resilient communities on regional, state, and municipal levels. 

Register here to be part of a dynamic day of learning, discussion and brainstorming about plans and goals for collaborative land protection efforts in the region for the next 10 years! Click here to learn more about the panel topics. Registration closes on November 17 at 3 pm. 

Check out our in-depth Story Map

Is all conserved land created equal? For many animals and plants facing warming temperatures and dwindling habitats, the answer is no. One of the greatest challenges in conserving biodiversity is that coveted plants and animals are often already on the move, fleeing habitats that will become inhospitable in the near future due to rising global temperatures, increased flooding, and other climate changing forces. 

So where will these organisms go? And where should we prioritize conservation? For t

What do Stamford, CT; Bethel; ME, and Grand Lake Stream, ME have in common? They were able to bring communities together to invest in conserving land by focusing on – and delivering on – the economic value to the community.

Highstead has developed three case studies centered on the stories and experiences of these three New England communities. The case study summary and the individual case studies can be printed and downloaded as a communication tool to help translate the true economic value of

AMC's Conservation Conversations Webinar Oct. 14, 7 pm - 8 pm

Register here: https://outdoors.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kCChEH2IQk6-u4PVpdBDQg

Forests, trees, and green spaces make up 71% of the land in the Northeast. They protect communities—urban, suburban, and rural—in countless ways and are vital to our health and wellbeing. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened our dependence on nature as people look to the outdoors for exercise, recreation, relaxation, and connection. Now more than ever w

The Northeast Forest Network (NFN), our sister network which is also coordinated by Highstead Foundation, is excited to launch the STAND UP FOR FORESTS campaign and wants to invite you to investigate our new website and the Forests Make Us Healthier messaging toolkit.

We consider protecting and stewarding forests, trees, and green spaces as the most important things we can do to mitigate the impacts of climate change in the Northeast. With your help we can expand our reach and urge all of our pr

The Long Island Sound Regional Conservation Partnership Program (LISW-RCPP) has announced its 2020 healthy forest reserve program grant round for Vermont only. The enrollment period runs from June 23 to July 24, 2020.

The purpose of the LISW-RCPP Healthy Forest Reserve Program (HFRP) grant round is to assist landowners, on a voluntary basis, in helping to restore, enhance and protect forestland resources on private lands through permanent conservation easements. The LISW-RCPP has developed this

It's #NationalDrinkingWaterWeek! Thank you to all of our partners who make #sustainingthesaco and protecting our drinking water sources possible! We appreciate you and all the work that you do.

National Drinking Water Week 2020

Do you speak at conferences, public meetings, or other events where you need to convey a specific message? Have you ever felt like you couldn't quite hold the attention of your audience members? Would you like to learn a simpler, more effective way to design your slides? Join presentation coach and trainer, Cathy Angell, for a fast-paced and entertaining class that will show you how to:

In many Zoom meetings I've been attending, when there is a check-in, people talk about how they're dealing with the pandemic, with social distancing, and trying to balance their work and family life under these extraordinary circumstances. In these sharings, I hear concerns for others, uncertainty, and anxiousness punctuated by gratitude, strength, hope, innovation, and resilience.  

According to resilience researcher Lucy Hone, resilient people have three strategies that help them get through t

Call for presentations! The RCP Network invites submissions of highly interactive and results-oriented workshop proposals for the 2020 RCP Network Gathering, which will be held on November 19, 2020, at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

The theme of this year’s gathering is Resilient Regions and Communities, and we’re especially looking to members of the RCP Network to share their expertise on the role which land protection and other collaborative conservation activities can play in slowi

Pictured above: Golden-winged warbler. Photo by Caleb Putnam CC-BY-SA-2.0.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has recently announced a funding opportunity through the Cornell Small Grant Program to support land trusts’ efforts to advance bird conservation. These awards are intended to bolster bird conservation on private lands through land-trust-related initiatives such as land stewardship, capacity building, strategic planning, and more. This funding opportunity comes in two award values: three $5,0

Pictured above: 2017 Salmon Falls Success Safari, photo courtesy of Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative

Article by Kristen Thompson, Highstead Conservation Intern Fall 2019

Despite challenges with the current lack of funding and heavy turnover in the past six to seven years, the Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative (SFW) is “the little engine that could.” Their secret to success? A forward-looking attitude and focus on achievements through projects such as their Success Safari.

The SFW Collaborati

The Highlands Conservation Act Competitive Grant Round #2 is now available at grants.gov (search for "F19AS00365" or "Highlands”).

The deadline is December 2, 2019.

Up to $5,497,000 are available for eligible land conservation projects in the Highlands Conservation Act region of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.

The Highlands Conservation Act (HCA) (H.R. 1964, 2004; 16 U.S.C. 3901) is designed to assist Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania in conserving land and

On November 7-8 in Westborough, MA, natural resource professionals who work within and manage water supply forests are invited to a workshop to consider the impacts of climate change on forested watersheds with particular emphasis on water supply management. This event will provide opportunities to learn more about current and anticipated effects of climate change on forested watersheds in the Northeast; and to explore relevant climate tools and case studies from ongoing forest adaptation effort

I am pleased to be able to share with you news that registration for the 2019 RCP Network Gathering is officially open! 

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Gathering and the first time we are squarely addressing climate change--our theme is Natural Climate Solutions for All, and we'll have 24 workshops (six more than last year) presented by over 70 faculty in eight thematic tracks covering topics such as climate resilience, regional land use issues, conservation finance, collaborative l