Northampton, MA—The Trustees launched the Highland Communities Initiative (HCI) as a pilot program in June 2000 to preserve the landscape and rural heritage of the Highlands of Massachusetts. Impressed by HCI's early results, the Wyomissing Foundation (Wyomissing, PA) awarded The Trustees a second grant to expand the program. Over the next four years, the foundation will disburse $1 million to continue HCI's efforts.
"We're tremendously excited about the ongoing support of the Wyomissing Foundation," says Western Regional Director Steve McMahon. "Their continued backing allows us to make an enduring difference in the region."
HCI's initial work focused on assessing landscape resources and threats among the region's 28 town and launching a regional website, www.highlandcommunities.org. Additionally, a small grants program and ongoing research supported regional conservation and land-use planning efforts.
The second grant will support existing programs and fund new initiatives. HCI will offer technical assistance in the form of additional training and an experienced land protection specialist who will work with individual town boards and land trusts. HCI will also commission a study to document the community benefits of additional conservation, and publish design guidelines for compatible single-family development in the Highlands.
According to Land Protection Specialist Charlie Wyman, the second grant creates a major opportunity to further assist these communities in preserving their rural quality of life. But he notes that even with this level of funding, HCI's resources are only sufficient to catalyze regional conservation efforts. Protecting the land will require far greater resources.
"Still it's hard not to be optimistic," says Charlie. "In September, more than a hundred town and land trust leaders attended a regional conference sponsored by HCI in Cummington. That level of commitment indicates a strong desire to protect the natural and working landscapes of the region."