Baker-Polito Administration Announces $300,000 in Wildlife Habitat Management Grants

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $300,000 in Wildlife Habitat Management Grants

BOSTON – January 13, 2016 – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $320,464 in grants for 13 wildlife habitat improvement projects in 12 Massachusetts communities from the Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW).

“These grants will allow municipalities and conservation organizations to improve wildlife habitats and enhance recreational opportunities for people who enjoy hunting, bird watching and other outdoor recreation,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This grant underscores our commitment to protecting the Commonwealth’s natural resources.”

“We are proud to offer resources for habitat improvement efforts previously unavailable to municipalities and private landowners,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “This will greatly strengthen municipal and private wildlife conservation efforts throughout the Commonwealth.”

“Land protection and wildlife conservation have been important goals of the Baker-Polito Administration in its first year,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “With this new grant program, we are able to provide needed resources for forward-thinking local projects that will ensure the Commonwealth’s native species are being conserved.”

The new MassWildlife Habitat Management Grant Program provides financial assistance to private and municipal landowners of conserved lands to improve and manage habitat for wildlife deemed in greatest conservation need and for game species. The projects will also expand opportunities for hunting, fishing, trapping, and other outdoor recreation, and complement the ongoing habitat management efforts on state lands.

“Wildlife in special need of conservation and some game species will benefit directly from these habitat management activities,” said Department of Fish and Game Commissioner George Peterson.  “In addition, the sporting community, birders, naturalists, and other wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy better recreational opportunities as a result of this program.”

“Though the Division is responsible for the conservation of wildlife and the habitat upon which it depends, the reality is that 80 percent of Massachusetts’ lands where wildlife lives is held in private ownership,” said DFW Director Jack Buckley. “It makes sense as an agency to apply science-based habitat management activities with committed private landowners, thereby protecting their investment in wildlife and habitat.”

During its first round of grants, DFW awarded funds to ten municipalities and organizations. The approved projects are listed below.

·         Athol—Using $24,610 in grant funds, the Town of Athol Conservation Commission will conduct forestry activities to create young forest habitats on Athol’s Bearsden Conservation Area. 

·         Brookfield and Ware — The East Quabbin Land Trust has been awarded $16,730 to use fire to promote native wildlife in Pitch Pine-Scrub Oak and wet meadow habitats on Frohloff Farm and Wendemuth Meadow Preserve.

·         Dartmouth—The Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust has been awarded $18,096 for field and grassland creation and restoration at Smith Farm Reserve.

·         Edgartown — The Nature Conservancy has been awarded $32,908 to conduct prescribed burns to maintain sandplain grassland habitat on the Katama Plains Conservation Area.

·         Great Barrington— For $20,900, the Berkshire Natural Resources Council will work to control invasive plants on the Housatonic Flats Reserve. 

·         Hardwick —The East Quabbin Land Trust has been awarded $16,290 to maintain and promote shrubland and to treat invasive species of plants. 

·         Heath— The Franklin Land Trust will be using $19,899 to create grassland habitat and remove invasive plants on Crowningshield Farm.

·         Monson—The Town of Monson has been awarded $27,750 to restore young forest habitat on its Carpenter Road property.

·         Nantucket —For $20,357, the Nantucket Conservation Foundation will reduce shrub and tree species cover to improve habitat conditions for wildlife dependent on grasslands and heathlands.

·         Sheffield — The Nature Conservancy has been awarded $49,480 to improve fen and grassland habitats through invasive plant control and removal of woody plants on the Schenob Brook Preserve.

·         Sheffield — The Trustees of Reservations has been awarded $33,000 to restore grassland habitat on the West Grumpelt Parcel of Bartholemew’s Cobble Preserve.

·         Wilbraham—Using $11,600 in grant funds, the Town of Wilbraham will treat invasive species and improve meadow and old field habitats at the Thayer Brook Conservation Area.

·         Wilbraham—Using $28,844 in grant funds, the Town of Wilbraham will treat invasive plants, improve young forest habitat, and install shelter for wildlife on its Twelve Mile Brook Conservation Area. 

“Protecting our natural habitats and preserving native species is a delicate and immensely important practice,” said State Senator Anne M. Gobi (D-Spencer). “The East Quabbin Land Trust has a superb history of preservation and I am delighted to learn that they are receiving these grant funds.”

“The East Quabbin Land Trust continues to be a tremendous asset to our community,” said State Representative Todd Smola (R-Warren).“Their work promoting the sustainable use of our natural resources is inspiring and I look forward to seeing how they use these new funds from MassWildlife.”

“I am pleased to learn that the East Quabbin Land Trust will receive more than $30,000 to enrich valuable wildlife habitat at properties they manage in Hardwick, North Brookfield, and Ware,” said State Representative Donald Berthiaume, Jr. (R-Spencer). “This new grant program is an innovative way to assist municipalities, conservation organizations, and private landowners in shared efforts to improve wildlife habitat in the Commonwealth.” 

“Grassland management often is an overlooked aspect of open space protection,” said State Senator Dan Wolf (D-Harwich).  “Using fire to maintain grasslands is a tactic that shows our better understanding of how natural cycles work, so all of us very much appreciate this grant to continue The Nature Conservancy's fine work at Katama Plains on the Vineyard.”

"This is terrific news and this much-needed funding will help to manage these important rare grasslands in Edgartown,” said State Representative Timothy R. Madden (D-Nantucket).

“The partnership commitment between MassWildlife and the Town of Athol Conservation Commission of investing in habitat restoration and management, will benefit generations to come,” said State Representative Susannah Whipps Lee (R-Athol).