| We lose 44 acres of open space
in Massachusetts every day.
We are focusing on three critical parks and open space bills which
will help protect our public lands for future generations.
Public Lands Protection Act (Article 97)
Currently, if a city or town wishes to take parkland for
construction (museum, library, housing), it only requires a 2/3 vote
in the legislature - which is customarily granted.
This bill would make it the policy of the Commonwealth that when
taking parklands, the city/town must replace it with an equivalent
park AND that there is no feasible alternative. In other words, taking
public parks can only be done when there is no net loss.
For more information on this bill,
click here
Public Input Bill
Currently, there is no requirement that Massachusetts state
agencies and authorities provide advance notice or hold public
hearings, before felling trees, clearing land, building structures, or
making other alterations to public lands.
Abutters, walkers, joggers, and other users of parks, forests, and
other public lands, frequently find out about changes only when they
see the spray paint on the trees or the backhoes on site.
The Public Input Bill (2009/2010 bill H. 739) An Act to Provide
Public Input Into Changes to Public Lands and Buildings Located
Thereon would require public notice and input before for significant
physical alterations to state parks and other public natural resource
lands could take place.
For more information on this bill,
click here
Old Growth Forest Bill
Old growth forests are parcels of land that have been left
undisturbed since Europeans arrived in the Americas. In Massachusetts
they contain trees that are hundreds of years old, some of which are
100 to 150 feet high.
Old growth forests are a link to the grandeur of the natural world.
They are among the most biologically diverse landscape. And they are
very rare.
Even though these exemplary gems of nature are found on state
lands, the old growth stands lack statutory protection necessary to
withstand inconsistent state agency management policies. For example,
the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation recently
permitted the destruction of 12 acres for a snowboard park beside the
rare and biologically rich old-growth forest at Wachusett Mountain
State Reservation - contrary to the agency's resource management plan
for the forest.
The Old Growth Forest Bill (2009/2010 bill H. 797) would require an
inventory of forests on state lands, identify old growth forest
reserves, and develop plans for the management and protection of the
reserves.
For more information on this bill,
click here
What you can do to help
We urge you to join the fight. Take a few minutes today and support
this critical legislation. Here are a few simple ways you can make your
voice heard:
- Call, visit, or write
to your state senator and state representative
- Attend a public hearing
in support of the legislation
- Write a letter to the
editor in your local newspaper
- Drop off flyers at your
local library, grocery store, or other high-traffic area
We welcome other suggestions from those interested in protecting
natural spaces here in Massachusetts. Please call 617-423-5775 or email
us at
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