What is Ecological Extension Service (EES)?

The Ecological Extension Service (EES) is a program through which Mass Audubon shares with conservation partners (land trusts, cities and towns, state and federal agencies) the considerable expertise we've developed in managing 34,000 acres.

What we do

• Natural resource inventories & land management planning
  Whether it’s a piece of land being considered for protection or a long-held parcel in need of a management plan, we use maps and time in the field to develop a thorough understanding of the plant and animal species present and then offer detailed recommendations for managing land to maximize its values. 


• Wildlife research & habitat restoration
  We design and implement projects grounded in conservation biology and a vision of the potential for each landscape. Our restoration work incorporates an understanding of local geology and soils and how plants will respond to management. Our habitat restoration work includes unique experience creating grassland bird habitat on recently closed landfills.


• Conservation restriction baseline reports and monitoring
  We create baseline documentation reports for conservation restrictions (CR) owned by towns, land trusts, and state agencies ranging in size from 1 to 3,000 acres. These reports detail the condition of the land in maps and photos and serve as a basis for future stewardship of the land. We also work with conservation land owners to perform annual monitoring.


• GIS Mapping and Analysis
  We use desktop, mobile, and web-based GIS software to create analyses, graphics, and data collection and visualization tools. We have developed custom mobile GIS applications and web maps for collecting invasive species data and completing CR baseline surveys. 


• Land records management (webLIS)
  Along with the Mass Audubon Land Protection and Information Technology Departments, we developed webLIS, an online map-driven database for accessing important information about the land we protect. We can develop a custom webLIS for your organization, putting all of your land records, documents, and field photos a mouse-click away.

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