A program of The Trustees of Reservations, The Highland Communities Initiative (HCI) is a group of neighbors and volunteers working to enhance the quality of life and rural character of our communities.
The Highlands of western Massachusetts are home to one of the greatest expanses of forest in southern New England, providing rich ecological diversity, clean water, outdoor recreation and wildlife habitat. The Highlands are also a remarkable patchwork of rural towns, whose long tradition of agriculture and forest stewardship has yielded a landscape of farm fields and compact villages set amidst the working woodlots, rolling hills, and pristine rivers.
HCI grew out of the concerns of local residents who recognized that the tide of unplanned development covering much of Massachusetts had reached the rural Highlands, threatening to ruin hilltop views and irreparably fragment forest habitat and productive farmland.
HCI seeks to encourage conservation of the natural and cultural landscapes in 38 rural Highland towns, providing municipal boards, land trusts, community leaders, and others concerned about the future of the Highlands with the information and tools they need to be effective advocates and caretakers of the land.
HCI’s Vision
The Highland Communities Initiative (HCI) works towards a broad and ambitious vision: that a network of informed and engaged citizens can protect and preserve important community resources, shape and steer new development to meet community needs, and create a forward-thinking and comprehensive plan of action. As development continues to press into the rural hills and valleys, forever changing the special landscape and character of the Highlands, HCI’s work grows increasingly critical.
