Land Conservation Conference On March 22 Expected To Draw 500

Annual Statewide Environmental Gathering in Worcester Focuses on Land Protection, Health

Release Date:
March 4, 2014

LINCOLN—The annual Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference, the nation’s largest regional gathering of environmental advocates, returns Saturday, March 22 to Worcester Technical High School for a full day of workshops on improving our quality of life through land protection.

The 2014 Conference, titled  “Healthy Land—Healthy Communities,” is expected to attract upwards of 500 participants, including land trust staff and volunteers, representatives from other nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies, students, benefactors, and others.

This year, Mass Audubon has made a greater commitment than ever to this event, as a Benefactor-level sponsor along with The Trustees of Reservations. Conference convener, the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition, has enlisted the support of more than 20 additional organizations and funders.

The more than 30 presentations range from promoting climate-conscious land protection strategies and bird-friendly habitats to advances in renewable energy and tips on effective community involvement and advocacy.

The keynote speaker is Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Eric Chivian, founder of Harvard Medical School's Center for Health and the Global Environment and an authority on the public health benefits of preserving biodiversity and the associated impacts of climate change.

Mass Audubon President Henry Tepper lauded the Conference as a testament to the growing importance of collaboration in addressing 21st-century environmental challenges.

“Attendees will be able to network and compare notes with partners from many conservation organizations,” Tepper said. “More importantly, what participants take away from the workshops will inspire the statewide conservation community to work more efficiently and effectively on behalf of the Massachusetts environment.”

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Mass Audubon protects more than 38,000 acres of land throughout Massachusetts, saving birds and other wildlife, and making nature accessible to all. As Massachusetts' largest nature conservation nonprofit, we welcome more than a half million visitors a year to our wildlife sanctuaries and 20 nature centers. From inspiring hilltop views to breathtaking coastal landscapes, serene woods, and working farms, we believe in protecting our state's natural treasures for wildlife and for all people's vision shared in 1896 by our founders, two extraordinary Boston women.

Today, Mass Audubon is a nationally recognized environmental education leader, offering thousands of camp, school, and adult programs that get over 225,000 kids and adults outdoors every year. With more than 135,000 members and supporters, we advocate on Beacon Hill and beyond, and conduct conservation research to preserve the natural heritage of our beautiful state for today's and future generations. We welcome you to explore a nearby sanctuary, find inspiration, and get involved. Learn how at www.massaudubon.org.

The Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition is a voluntary association of land trusts founded to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information, to increase the effectiveness of Massachusetts land trusts in working with the state legislature and environmental agencies, and to promote high professional standards. The Coalition has played a crucial role in supporting key conservation legislation and has become an important networking resource for the state’s land trusts. MLTC counts over 130 organizations as Members and Friends, land trusts as well as watershed associations, open space committees, and advocacy groups.