Forest and Trails Committee
Meeting Schedule: 4th Wednesday at 6:30 PM
Next 2 meetings:
- Wed, Jan 22 at 6:30 PM -- Town Offices
- Wed, Feb 19 at 6:00 PM -- Town Office
Members
5 of 6 seats. 3 years each seat.
- Cynthia Lawton-Singer, Associate. June, 2025.
- Deb Donaldson, Co-chair. June, 2027.
- Courtney Gilligan, Member. June, 2025.
- Jennifer Heilig, Member. June, 2027.
- Priscilla Lynch, Secretary. June, 2026.
- VACANT
Forest and Trails Committee
In 2020 the town engaged experts in forestry management to help the community assess our vision and desires for the two town-owned parcels of land, the Fournier Lot and the Town Farm Forest. The products of that contract are two very detailed Forest Stewardship Plans.
During the process of developing those plans, it became clear after surveying our community that our top priorities for these parcels were:
- To value the gifts of clean air, water, carbon sequestration and to support the biodiversity that our forests provide.
- To enjoy the beauty of wildlife and nature allowing only the natural forest processes to change over time, while also maintaining our access to the woodlands.
In June 2021 the Forest & Trails Committee was formed to implement these plans. We see our tasks as the following:
- Foster community, education and connection with our woodlands.
- Prioritize and implement aspects of the Forest Stewardship Plans and encourage the health of the town forests.
The committee generally meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday at 6:30pm. Please join us.
Land acknowledgment
We recognize and honor that these are the unceded lands of the Pocumtuck and Nipmuc. Many Indigenous people survived the brutal practices of colonization by the European settlers of North America and live today in the area of what is now known as Conway. It is imperative that we both see and hear them.
As Indigenous cultures teach us, the land is part of who we are. We honor native connection to the land as well as native respect and gratitude for all beings. We honor the trees and forests, the lakes, ponds, streams and rivers, all plants and beings.
The Conway Forest and Trails Committee is committed to working with local Indigenous people and to continue the path of healing from the cultural and social effects of colonization.
Volunteers wanted
One stated objective of the Stewardship Plans developed to guide the care for these properties is removing invasive species which have become numerous in some areas on both properties. Asiatic bittersweet, honeysuckle, barberry and multiflora rose are some of the most commonly found perennial invasive species. They threaten the healthy native plant communities which sustain biological richness, plant diversity and forest resilience.
If you are interested in invasive species removal, in planting native ground covers, shrubs and understory trees or in trail maintenance, please let us know by texting or calling Deb Donaldson at ?(508) 380-4154? so we can keep you informed when these work dates are being planned.
Resources
The Forest Center of Northwest Massachusetts (sponsored by the Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts MVP program) is a resource provided by the Forest Climate Resilience Program, a multi-partner initiative hosted by Mass Audubon. This website provides community members with information on the region's forest, threats to their healthy functioning, and options for land stewardship.
Previous meetings:
- Wed, Dec 18, 2024 at 06:00 PM -- Town Office
- Wed, Nov 27, 2024 at 06:30 PM -- Town Office
- Wed, Nov 20, 2024 at 06:30 PM -- Town Offices
- Wed, Oct 23, 2024 at 06:30 PM -- Town Office
- Wed, Sep 25, 2024 at 06:30 PM -- Town Office
- Wed, Aug 28, 2024 at 06:30 PM -- Town Office
- Wed, Jul 24, 2024 at 06:30 PM -- Town Office
- Wed, Jun 26, 2024 at 06:30 PM -- Town Office
- Wed, May 22, 2024 at 06:30 PM -- Town Office
- Sun, May 5, 2024 at 01:00 PM -- Town Hall
- Show 46 More...