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. HCI is a grant-funded program to promote land conservation and community preservation in rural western Massachusetts. We seek to encourage conservation of the natural and cultural landscapes of the Highlands Region: the 38 towns that lie between the Housatonic and Connecticut River Valleys, and the Vermont and Connecticut borders. HCI connects people and provides them with the information and support they need to preserve the special natural and cultural landscapes of the Highlands region.

HCI grew out of the concerns of several Highlands residents who recognized the importance and difficulty of maintaining the quality of life and rural character of their communities in the face of rising development pressures. In response, they established an initiative that would provide municipal boards, land trusts, community leaders, and others concerned about the future of the Highlands landscape with the information and tools they need to be effective advocates for conservation and community preservation.

For more information, contact us at: